EJI attorney shares insight with eighth grade
Following their discussion on the criminal justice system in social studies class, students heard from an attorney who works to end mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States.
By Sierra Smith, Communications Specialist
Eighth-grade students filled the Auditorium with their attention fixed on the projector at the front of the room where attorney Alison Mollman waved to them from a Zoom meeting room. On Friday, January 14, they welcomed Mollman, with the Equal Justice Initiative, to USN virtually after learning about the nonprofit committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States in “Just Mercy,” the autobiographical story of EJI’s founder Bryan Stevenson as he navigates his career seeking justice for disadvantaged clients. Students read the book as an assignment in Social Studies Teacher Jared LaCroix’s class.
As the class read the book, students learned about the criminal justice system, discussed capital punishment, studied the jury selection process, and considered the legal system through the lens of racial and socioeconomic injustice. In addition to reading the book, students watched the film adaptation of “Just Mercy” to compare and contrast various plot points and details.
As Mollman spoke to the class, she shared her personal experience on how she chose to pursue a law degree, why she chose to work for EJI, and why the organization’s mission matters. She also answered many questions from students to offer them an in-depth look at what it’s like to work for an organization focused on providing legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused in state jails and prisons.
“It was a really eye-opening and informative opportunity,” shared Henry Knowles ’26. “It was interesting to hear about her personal experiences and hear her firsthand knowledge about the cases we read about.”
Mollman offered the students updates on cases in “Just Mercy,” shared insight from the filmmaking process, and finished the speaking engagement with heartwarming anecdotes of former clients she’d remained in touch with.
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Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
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University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.