20 Things You Didn’t Know about John Marshall Law School
Residents of Atlanta, Georgia, who are interested in a career in law do not need to look far for a fully accredited law school to attend for preparation. Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School provides courses, clinics, and specialized training for general and niche areas of the law. If you’re not yet familiar with the institution, here are twenty things you probably didn’t know about John Marshall Law School to bring you up to speed and help you determine if it is the right choice for you.
1. The John Marshall Law School will celebrate its 90th year in operation soon
The John Marshall Law School’s official website confirms that the John Marshall Law School was founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1933. In 2023, the school will celebrate the 90th anniversary of its founding. S.B Fenster and other founders established the school as a freestanding educational institution to fill the gap in quality educational opportunities for adult learners and non-traditional students previously underserved by the legal education system in Georgia.
2. The John Marshall Law School served those who were denied access at other schools
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School was one of the first law schools in the south to welcome a diverse student body since its inception. Traditionally, women were denied admission to law schools that favored male students in the 1930s. The school integrated its student body from the beginning and allowed women to enter the programs. The first John Marshall Law School graduating classes included women who completed their educations at the school. It was one of the earliest progressive law schools in the south to admit women.
3. The John Marshall Law School continues its legacy as a haven for the underprivileged
Criteria for gaining access to law school at the more prestigious and older institutions are strict. Many students with bright prospects for becoming efficient and qualified professionals in law careers were prevented from attending accredited institutions because of admissions standards that overlooked those with less than stellar academic careers, or those lacking other requirements for admission preference, such as community service or other impressive achievements. Stiff competition cuts out up to 80 percent of applicants at some law schools. Since its inception, the John Marshall Law School has remained committed to providing access to legal education to Georgia residents who were denied access for whatever reason.
4. More than 3,500 John Marshall Law School students went on to serve in prestigious law positions
If you’re wondering about the quality education offered at the John Marshall Law School, the statistics attest to the school’s academic rigor and quality by highlighting alums who went on to serve as public officials, government officials, judges, and members of the Georgia State Bar. The school is recognized for the many alumni who went on to enjoy successful legal careers at high levels.
5. The John Marshall Law School received ABA approval in 1978
The John Marshall Law School is an American Bar Association-approved institution. The school is fully accredited to provide courses and programs that lead to the conference of a degree in legal studies in preparation for the practice of the law upon passing the bar exam. Since receiving its initial approval, the school’s ABA rating was renewed between 1978 through 1987. When SCOTUS established new requirements, the Board of Trustees for the school put a plan in action to comply with the new ABA standards. the school was fully approved by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association in 2009. It went through a period of a few decades without the rating, but the school remedied its deficiencies.
6. The John Marshall Law School is the only law school in Atlanta, Georgia serving the underserved
The John Marshall Law School is the only school that offers admission to underserved students. It offers students access to legal education with evening and part-time programs that grant non-traditional students courses and associated activities that fit in with their work schedules. The school continues to grow with numerous projects expanding the facilities from its original building at 805 Peachtree St. NE #400 to a new location at 1422 West Peachtree St NW. Aerial walkways connect two of the buildings on the 7th and 8th floors. The school occupies nine floors of the 1422 structure. The expansion was necessary to accommodate a growing student body and the new programs added. The new and improved campus offers students more opportunities in their educational experiences. More locations were added at 245 Peachtree Center Ave NE in 2021 adding three floors of space for the law school.
7. The John Marshall Law School is moderately difficult to enter
Law School reports that in 2020, applications for the class of 2023 were accepted. A total of 980 students applied for admissions. It’s a high number of applications for the small private law school to process. It kept admissions committees busy during the processing period. Although the John Marshall Law School has less stringent admissions requirements than most accredited law schools it still maintains high standards. Of the 980 students who applied for admission, only 363 were accepted and received offers of admission. Just 37.04 percent of applications received approval. The 2020 incoming class yielded 116 new students.
8. Students must meet minimum requirements
The class of 2023 cohort of students offers an example of the minimum requirements to get accepted for admission at the John Marshall Law School. The median LSAT score of students in the group is 150 with a median undergraduate GPA of 2.93. Seventy-five percent of the class had an LSAT score of 149 or better with a GPA of 2.48 or better. If your GPA and LSAT scores fall within that range, the odds of admissions approval are higher.
9. Scholarships are available for students at the John Marshall Law School
Scholarships help defray the cost of an education. Many students at the John Marshall Law School receive some type of scholarship to help them pay for their education. Of 306 students 117 or 38.24 percent receive scholarship assistance. Forty-two or 13.73 percent receive less than half-tuition scholarships. Seventy-two or 23.52 percent receive half to full tuition and 3 students, or less than one percent receive full-tuition scholarships.
10. Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School looks for students with a social conscience
The Law School Admission Council reports that the mission of Atlanta’s John Marshal Law School is explicit about the qualities of applicants for admissions that the school is looking for. It clearly states that it is looking for students who wish to prepare for law careers leading to certification as professional lawyers with a strong social conscience. The institution further seeks students from both traditional and nontraditional backgrounds who possess critical reasoning skills and are committed to attaining high skills and maintaining strong ethics in their practice of the law.
11. The John Marshall Law School provides rigorous academic programs
The John Marshall Law School maintains a challenging curriculum that is rigorous in its standards of quality and content, with the overarching goal of producing lawyers that are both ethical and competent. The school expects that its alumni will evidence a dedication to helping people in underserved communities and maintain an obligation to pursue justice over personal gain. The school seeks to graduate talented professionals who will improve society, placing client service over personal ambition as their core values.
12. The John Marshall Law School offers JD programs
Law students may pursue their doctoral-level degrees in law at the John Marshall Law School. It has full or part-time Juris doctor programs. It is a rigorous program of legal study that prepares students with intellectual, analytical, and lawyering skill development, promoting enhanced critical reasoning skills. Years one through three focus on practical skill development. Students at the upper level have access to multiple areas of interest through a selection of elective courses within the program.
13. The John Marshall Law School has a Criminal Justice Certificate Program
students interested in pursuing additional certification to practice criminal law, and become a prosecutor or defender, may opt for the Criminal Justice Certificate Program. It equips students with strategies for entering the criminal justice area and making a difference for their clients. The program requires all students to take a Criminal Procedure course in their second year during the spring. The Criminal Justice Certificate is optional for students who have completed their second year of law school and only after completing the course. The program requires students to complete 300 hours of work in the field during the summers of their second and third years of law school.
14. The John Marshall Law School is committed to diversity
The John Marshall Law School maintains a diverse student body within the city of Atlanta, Georgia. Students from 23 states entered the Fall 2021 program from 77 different undergraduate institutions with majors in over 35 subjects. Sixty-seven percent of the class is minority students, with eight percent military, sixty-two percent female, and diverse in student life experience and professional backgrounds. Diversity provides greater learning in the interactive learning environment to provide a range of differing perspectives in the classroom to stimulate contemplation of broader issues.
15. The John Marshall Law School is home to a chapter of the Black Law Students ASsociation
The BLSA emerged in 1971 at the John Marshall Law School. The purpose of the student-led organization is to address the concerns of black law students and attorneys. The organization helps acquaint students with professional opportunities and their responsibilities and preparation for problems after becoming practicing members of the Bar Association. The group helps to increase the addition of minorities within the law school and the professional practice of law.
16. The Charlotte E Ray Law Society is an Atlanta John Marshall Law School organization for black female students
The CERLS is a student-led organization at the John Marshall Law School to help enhance the graduation rates of black female law students. The group helps to encourage sisterhood among members and bridge the transition between the legal profession and female students of color. The organization is open to all students. One of its overarching goals is to increase the number of black female law students who pass the bar exam upon graduation.
17. AJMLS Christian Legal Society is a faith-based campus organization
In keeping with its commitment to diversity, the Atlanta John Marshall School of Law is the home of the Christian Legal Society. It is a student-led organization that is faith-based and encourages the legal community and its members to love the Lord. It fosters a sense of choices and attitudes that are consistent with Christian values while encouraging law students to develop and use practices that hold to these values throughout their legal careers.
18. The John Marshall Law School has a sports and entertainment law society
The Sports and Entertainment Law Society is a student-led organization that supports law students interested in sports and entertainment law. The group brings guest lecturers from entertainment and sports firms to speak to law students. It also sponsors sports and entertainment law events to help students develop professional networks. The organization also sponsors outings and workshops featuring speakers from successful firms in sports and entertainment law. The group seeks to educate law students about the entertainment and sports law market and to highlight current trends.
19. The John Marshall Law School has a Law Journal
The Law Journal of the John Marshall Law School is a student-run publication that features a student board of editors. The boars are responsible for acquiring articles, editing them, and publishing articles and book reviews in their publication. They solicit work from practicing attorneys, judges, and scholars. Much of the content of the Journal is written by students. Students learn how to work together to enhance high levels of analytical and writing skills within the topic of law. it is a professional literature publication that enhances legal writing and publishing skills.
20. The John Marshall Law School offers a Moot Court
The Moot Court at the Atlanta John Marshall Law School is an academic organization that is selective about participants. The court sponsors competitions in legal writing and oratory skills, preparing students for local and national competitions. Students receive mock problems. They write appellate briefs and present oral arguments to a panel of practicing judges and attorneys. The competition gives them exposure to attorneys and judges in the legal profession, providing them with practical experience in oral advocacy and effective legal writing.
