Atlanta's John Marshall Law School Forum

[D. Professor]

Hello all,

I am new to this forum and would like to say that I found the information provided in this section to be useful and extremely helpful in my current pursuit of law schools.

I would like to ask has anyone here heard any feedback regarding the Atlanta's John Marshall Law School? Per wiki, (and other online resources), it appears to be a fairly new program (only a few decades old) and has ABA accredidation. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

D. Professor

[OssumPossum]

Traditional wisdom warns against attending third-rate schools. I personally don't subscribe to the doom and gloom of it all, but people will caution you against paying high prices for low-ranked educations. I work with lawyers from all kinds of low-ranked law schools (Cooley included) and although they're not exactly Boston Legal types, they seem to at least be average-type successful.

I live in suburban atlanta, work in a north GA law firm, and hadn't heard of John Marshall until a few months ago when I saw it was a MARTA stop. I hope you can find more info on it, but personally I'd say go guns blazing for GSU.

[jennylynn]

I've spoken to a couple lawyers in Atlanta and they said to avoid John Marshall. If you can get into Georgia State, you might as well attend it since it's a school with a much better reputation for 1/3 the cost!

[USC 201?]

Id advise against it. A co-worker of mine is attending their part time / night program, and he constantly tells me how he regrets it and doesn't feel like he is going to land a respectful job afterward. Unfortunately he has no other option being the only p/t program in Georgia. Take the others advise, and go for GSU or UGA. Unless the p/t gig is what your goin' for.

[jennylynn]

Does GSU not have a part time program? I could have sworn they did...but then again, I've been reading so much about so many schools, I could be confused.

[texaslawyer]

I have heard that John Marshall is pretty good. I didn't know they were the only PT program in Georgia. GSU is a very good school, particularily for non-trads like me. It's a state school and much less expensive. If I had my choice of any school 9in Georgia, I'd pick Emory.

[D. Professor]

Thanks guys.

I will unfortunately need to pursue a part time program (or evening program) due to my current job schedule and marriage. My desire is to attend Emory and maintain my current position with Thomson Reuters. But as many of you are aware, Emory does not have part time or even time courses for law school. So I that means I will be attending GSU.

While conducting some law school research via Princeton Review, I came across a description for this school. From what I have found, the info seems shody and all over the place. (I guess this should serve as a warning, but curiousity got the best of me.)

I will definitely stick to GSU or continue looking for a way to pursue Emory.

Thanks again gang.

[texaslawyer]

DProfessor that sounds like the smart thing to do.

[Connelly]

GSU definitely has a PT program, as I am in it. If there is any way you can get into GSU over John Marshall, do so. The value disparity is alarming. JM is $976 per credit hour compared to $390 (in-state, which it sounds like you are) for GSU. That's $87k vs. $35k for a legal education. GSU is significantly higher rated than JM and seems to place much better in the Atlanta area. If there was a way to do Emory PT, then that would be a better choice for many people, but you have to consider value as well.

[sc24evr]

it's been over a year since the last response and I was wondering what do people think of the school now. Have opinions changed at all since the accreditation process has been completed?

[red 2010]

asfsaf

[lunar87]

it's been over a year since the last response and I was wondering what do people think of the school now. Have opinions changed at all since the accreditation process has been completed?

Well i was looking into a law program and so far I did not hear as many bad things about the school from my Pre-Law Department or other students. (this may be a different case out in the job market but that's for another day). as stated in earlier threads, the hierarchy is still intact in terms of it being Emory-UGA-GSU-Mercer-John Marshall but I think that as time goes on the standing of the school will improve.

if you're looking for a sure bet and aren't worrying much about location i would take Mercer and the others over John Marshall. I chose John Marshall because they helped me out in terms of Financial Aid, they talked to me personally, and I wanted to be closer to the Atlanta area.

[ggocat]

Gina Van Detta, Class of 2003.

http://jmlsatlanta.blogspot.com/

I don't remember the whole story, but she was married to a prof at the law school, and for some reason she didn't pass her C&F evaluation. When her original website was still up, it was a good read. Looks like much of the info is now missing.

[Grizz]

Still not a good idea to go, especially for the full cost. JM is the lowest school in the pecking order for the ATL market. You have a good chance of not even getting a law job upon graduation if what I've been hearing is true.

[Golden D]

Does anyone know when Atlanta Law School (880 West Peachtree St - Atlanta GA) opened and when it closed?

[sc24evr]

Does anyone know when Atlanta Law School (880 West Peachtree St - Atlanta GA) opened and when it closed?

It hasn't closed

[Grizz]

--ImageRemoved--

Saw this on ATL. Fake? Who knows. Who cares? Just don't go to John Marshall.

http://abovethelaw.com/2010/05/open-thr ... urth-tier/

[jennylynn]

--ImageRemoved--

Saw this on ATL. Fake? Who knows. Who cares? Just don't go to John Marshall.

http://abovethelaw.com/2010/05/open-thr ... urth-tier/

It may be a fake, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was real. Every brochure or letter they sent me was full of typos and grammar errors.

[Kaneloa]

It was an unaccredited night school for years and years and years, maybe decades and decades, before the state decided that only ABA-accredited school grads qualified to take the state bar. All the other little fly-by-nights closed up rather than have to try to get accredited (e.g., Woodrow Wilson School of Law and Atlanta Law School). I know someone who got in back in the 70s whose LSAT was under 300, which in today's terms means under 130. I know it took her at least four tries to pass the bar exam.
I'm sure it's improved now that it's raking in money for its investors, but I would avoid it.

[SallyStenger]

I have looked at the certificate and I admit it's rather sad. Frankly, however, in my personal opinion, spelling is overrated. I do agree they should have proofed it first. I don't know whether it is authentic or not. However, I have just completed my fifth week of law school here and I am pleased with it so far.

[Aqualibrium]

Go to John Marshall if daddy is a lawyer and is willing to pay for your schooling. Otherwise, it makes little sense to pay that much money when GSU is a respectable option.

I had a callback with a large Atlanta based firm a few weeks ago. During one interview the interviewer, a 5th generation Atlantan and member of the hiring committee, took the time to disparage Mercer and John Marshall and said it was "pure lunacy to go to a second rate school and pay those prices."

[Grizz]

I have looked at the certificate and I admit it's rather sad. Frankly, however, in my personal opinion, spelling is overrated. I do agree they should have proofed it first. I don't know whether it is authentic or not. However, I have just completed my fifth week of law school here and I am pleased with it so far.

gud luk wit teh jorb surch

[johnnysweet]

[lawguy2011]

Got info from them and was not impressed. The campus is an absolute pit, practically falling apart. On top of that, the tuition vs job prospects would make anyone think twice. I really love their marketing: trying to convince you shell out 100k+ with pretty colors & smiles....lol

[oxeatheman]

don't do it bro.