Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) welcomed several legal professionals as guest speakers in Professor Elizabeth Jaffe’s Pretrial Practice & Procedure and Domestic Relations classes this October. The sessions aimed to provide students with practical insights into courtroom procedure, ethics, and family law.
Chief Judge Scott Smith addressed the importance of ethics and preparation when appearing before a judge. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in Georgia’s Cherokee Judicial Circuit, he shared: "He emphasized the importance of preparation, clarity, professionalism, and integrity in the courtroom." Smith began his career as a prosecutor, was appointed to the Superior Court in 2005, and now serves as Chief Judge. He has previously spoken at AJMLS in other courses.
Nathan Gaffney discussed how artificial intelligence is affecting litigation and document drafting. As a partner at Fried Goldberg LLC with experience in catastrophic injury defense and personal-injury litigation, Gaffney highlighted: "He discussed how technology continues to shape the legal landscape and the importance of using AI responsibly, particularly with regard to accuracy, ethics, and client confidentiality."
Randy Kessler brought perspectives from representing high-profile clients in family law. With over 35 years of experience as founding partner at Kessler & Solomiany, LLC, Kessler told students: "He shared insights into representing clients in complex domestic relations matters, emphasizing the balance between legal expertise and client sensitivity." He is also an adjunct professor at Emory Law School.
Suzanne Oldweiler, a 2025 graduate of AJMLS who now practices family law at Kessler & Solomiany, LLC in Atlanta, spoke about her transition from student to practitioner. She reflected on her time as Editor-in-Chief of the John Marshall Law Journal and involvement with programs supporting survivors of domestic violence. According to Oldweiler: "During her talk, she drew on her student-experience at AJMLS, the transition to practice, and insights from representing clients in custody, divorce, and modification matters."
Professor Jaffe has taught at AJMLS since 2006. Her focus includes social-media liability and cyberbullying along with family law practice.
The school thanked all guest speakers for their contributions during these classroom visits.