Campbell Law School advocates once again rank among Top 10 in Fordham's trial competition
Campbell Law School ranks ninth in Fordham University School of Law’s Trial Competition Performance Ranking (TCPR) for the 2016-2024 academic years, Dean J. Rich Leonard has announced. Campbell Law advocates have earned a cumulative total of 65 points since Fall 2016. Campbell Law is in good company tying with Harvard in ninth place with 65 cumulative points since Fall 2016. During the 2023-24 Academic Year, Campbell Law also ranked ninth with a total of 10 points tying with law schools at Mercer University, the University of Illinois, Georgetown University and the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Campbell Law is the only North Carolina law school to make both lists. “I am delighted to share the highly respected Fordham Trial Competition rankings, which has us at a solid 9th place for the past academic year, and, more impressively, also in 9th place based on the past eight years,” Leonard said. “Congratulations to all who make this possible.” Learn more at this link.
Campbell Law to host 6th annual bike ride fundraiser for student-led Pro Bono Projects
Campbell Law is hosting its 6th annual Fundraising Bike Ride on Saturday, Oct. 19. Co-sponsored by the Campbell Law Pro Bono Council, Raleigh Brewing Cary, Crabtree and The Bicycle Chain, the ride will feature several options including a 45-mile ride, a 15-mile (or less) ride and a virtual ride, with all proceeds going to Campbell Law’s student-led pro bono projects. The cost is $45 for general riders in honor of the law school celebrating 45 years of making great lawyers, $25 for Campbell Law Alumni and $15 for ALL Campbell University students, faculty and staff. To ensure you receive the correct t-shirt size, please be sure to sign up at this link by Oct. 1 .
Campbell Law brings back professionalism lecture series for students
Throughout its 45-year history, Campbell Law has been committed to a genuinely professional education that combines legal theory with practical skills. Campbell Law’s faculty recently approved a “Professional Identity Lecture Series” to introduce first-year students to general professional practices as they relate to clients and to members of the legal profession. This program, however, is not new to longtime Campbell Law professors and many alumni. “The ‘Professional Identity Lecture Series’ is based, at least in part, on the successful ‘Professionalism Lecture Series’ from earlier in the law school’s history,” explained Professor Johnny Chriscoe ’90, who heads up the program’s steering committee that includes Professor Richard Bowser, Professor Bobbi Jo Boyd, Assistant Professor Marcus Gadson and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs John DeStefano. The series is made possible thanks to the generosity of alumnus Billy Richardson ’80, a Fayetteville attorney who served in the North Carolina Legislature for more than a decade, said Dean J. Rich Leonard. Learn more at this link.
Campbell Law students form first ABA Student Judicial Division Chapter in the nation
Campbell Law students are known for being trailblazers, so it should come as no surprise to learn they have formed a student organization that is the first of its kind in the nation. Caleb Fisher ‘26 and Pierce Shipway ‘26 have co-founded the American Bar Association Student Judicial Division (ABASJD). With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association (ABA) is the largest voluntary professional organization in the world. There are many different chapters and student chapters of the ABA, but this is the first to be completely centered around the judicial division, according to organizers. They hosted their inaugural event on Sept. 5, featuring Dean J. Rich Leonard and former Solicitor General Chris Browning, who shared the importance of the ABA, how to get connected with jobs within the judiciary and answered questions students had about how to get involved. Shipway and Fisher were approached late last year by the ABA’s Judicial Division leadership, who have helped the student leaders get the club organized. Learn more at this link.
Dean Emerita Melissa Essary, two alumnae recognized among N.C. 50 Most Influential Women
Campbell Law Dean Emerita Melissa Essary and two alumnae have been named among the "50 Most Influential Women" in the state by N.C. Lawyers Weekly. Adrienne S. Blocker ’98 of DeMayo Law Firm in Charlotte and Administrative Law Judge Melissa Owens Lassiter ‘90 of the N.C. Office of Administrative Hearings are also being honored at an event set for Thursday, Oct. 24, in Charlotte. The "50 Most Influential Women" event spotlights the important role women leaders play in North Carolina’s legal and business community, according to organizers. Honorees are selected for their leadership, business acumen, mentoring and community involvement. “It’s an honor to receive this award on behalf of the thousands of women across our state who are impacting their communities, large and small, for good,” Essary said. Learn more at this link.
Campbell Law advocates finish as semi-finalists in National Flash Trial Competition
Third-year Campbell Law students Samantha Border and Megan Pope finished as semi-finalists at the National Flash Trial Competition held Sept. 5-8 in San Francisco, California. The team was coached by Brittany Stiltner ’16. The National Flash Trial Competition is hosted by Berkeley Law School and comes with an interesting hook: Teams are given a separate problem for each round shortly before they must try the case. Border and Pope tried five cases in three days with as little as 45 minutes to prep each case and each brought home a trophy for their efforts. “I am incredibly proud of both Megan and Samantha,” said Mary Ann Matney ’17, director of the Competitive Advocacy Program. “They endured extreme pressure and went up against highly skilled teams. That alone was a test of their skills, but when you add in little time to prepare, they rose to the challenge. They tried each of their cases effectively and zealously.” Border and Pope faced off against the University of California at Los Angeles Law School, Baylor University School of Law, University of Denver Sturm College of Law and the University of South Carolina School of Law. Learn more at this link.
Campbell Law celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
Law students help N.C. State students test video games about U.S. legal system
A new video game aiming to teach accurate representation of the American legal system is currently being developed by students at North Carolina State University (NCSU) with a little help from their friends at Campbell Law. On Sept. 20, a team of NCSU students, led by Diane Wells, had Campbell Law students test two previous games and the paper prototypes of their sequel to the game known as “Impartial Justice for All." All three games fall into the “edutainment” category as they aim to entertain their audience while exploring the intricacies of the legal system, according to Wells. “The game is based on my real-life prosecution, aiming to engage players by showing them the complexities and consequences of the U.S. criminal justice system,” Wells explained. ”By integrating fun gameplay with serious legal processes, we hope to foster a deeper understanding and provoke thought about the impactful decisions made within our justice system.” The NCSU team came to Campbell Law to test the game both in a gameplay sense and to let students provide feedback on the accuracy of the games, Wells added. Learn more at this link.
Campbell Law students launch new Pro Bono Project 'People Not Property'
“People Not Property” is a new student-led Pro Bono Project offering that was started in the Fall 2024 semester at Campbell Law. In this collaborative project, students work to transcribe pre-Civil War slave deeds in North Carolina for historic preservation purposes, student organizers say. These records will then be available to the public, including historians, archeologists and other professionals. The project is a collaboration with the University of North Carolina-Greensboro (UNCG) Libraries, the North Carolina Division of Archives and Records and the North Carolina Registers of Deeds, among others. Utilizing a $300,000 grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, participants work to digitize thousands of slave deeds and bills from 26 different counties. These documents are often the only written records of the enslaved person before the Civil War. “When complete, ‘People Not Property’ will include robust metadata, high-resolution images and searchable abstracts,” states the People Not Property website. Learn more at this link.
Campbell Law Spotlights
Campbell Law alumna Miriam Sheppard ’22 clerked for Judge Adam M. Conrad at the North Carolina Business Court in Charlotte before starting her career as an associate attorney in the business litigation group at Womble Bond Dickinson. Sheppard’s journey to becoming an attorney was anything but conventional. With nine years between her undergraduate studies and law school, she entered Campbell Law with both experience and a passion for the legal field. Learn more at this link. William “Nick” Green ’25 is a third-year student at Campbell Law. Prior to law school, his experience included working as a paralegal at Cranfill Sumner LLP. While in law school, he has had an internship with Duke Energy and an externships with Advance Auto Parts and the North Carolina Utilities Commission. Green says he believe that participating in externships is key to understanding the legal field. Learn more at this link. Despite her long-standing inclination towards social justice, Monica Veno ‘21 initially hesitated to pursue it professionally, fearing burnout. However, through her involvement with Campbell Law’s Restorative Justice Clinic, she quickly learned that she could turn her passion into a career. From a young age, Veno knew she wanted to become an attorney and had a clear vision of her path to that goal. She went to Campbell University for her undergraduate degree where she began to expedite her path to law school. Learn more at this link. Sarah Summa ’24 began her academic journey studying art and marketing at Samford University. After graduating, she delved into the world of marketing, where she worked at an e-commerce company for more than four years. However, despite enjoying her job, she found herself reassessing her career trajectory and questioning whether it aligned with her long-term goals. Reflecting on her childhood aspirations and family influences, Summa realized that law school had always been on her mind. Learn more at this link.
Blanchard Community Law Clinic (BCLC) participates in ACORNS Community Service Fair
Blanchard Community Law Clinic (BCLC) students and staff recently participated in the ACORNS Community Service Fair in downtown Raleigh organized by the Raleigh Police Department – ACORNS Unit. BCLC students connected with other local organizations that were present to share community resources and services in the following areas: housing, legal, veterans, medical/mental health, hygiene, food and nutrition, veterinary, and more. Assistant Clinical Professor Laura Clark, who teaches the civil track of the BCLC, said clinic students spoke with Raleigh residents, some of whom were unhoused, about the free legal services the clinic offers to low-income residents in the areas of criminal law and landlord-tenant matters. Additionally, students handed out food, water and other items to residents. Clark said this was the third time she and the clinic students have participated in the annual event. Learn more at this link.
Campbell Law Alumni Association to host annual CLE on Oct. 25
The Campbell Law School Alumni Association will host its annual Continuing Legal Education (CLE) from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25, at the law school. This event, which will be held in-person, offers participants the opportunity to earn up to six hours of CLE credit from the North Carolina State Bar. The CLE is free for Alumni Association members and $125 for non-members or $75 for a half-day. Lunch will be provided. Registration is available at this link.
Career Center hosts Small Town Practice Panel for students
Campbell Law’s Career and Professional Development Center hosted another popular Small Town Practice panel on Sept. 18. More than 60 students attended the panel made up of a mix of judges and attorneys, including several alumni, working in government, private firms and nonprofits in small towns across the state. “We wanted representatives from a variety of small town practice settings so that students could be exposed to a variety of career paths,” said Assistant Dean of Career and Professional Development Mallory Underwood. “It’s a really great way for students to learn and get access to people who can help connect them to job opportunities in areas where attorneys are needed.” Learn more at this link.
Looking for a few good employers
Campbell Law's annual Career Night is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at Union Hall in Raleigh's Union Station in downtown Raleigh. If you (or a representative from your firm or organization) would like to participate in this signature networking opportunity with our students, please email us at lawcareercenter@campbell.edu and we will be glad to add you to our invitation list. Space for this event is limited, so please let us know ASAP if you would like to join us.
SAVE THE DATE
- Wilmington Alumni Event: First Friday Coffee from 8 to 10 a.m. at Drift, 3501 Oleander Dr. October 4
- U.S. District Court Judge Hoyt presents his book, "A Legal Lynching" October 16
- Campbell Law's 6th Annual Bike Ride October 19
- Alumni Association Annual CLE October 25
- Blanchard Community Law Clinic Fundraiser October 29
- Annual Career Night November 6
- Campbell Giving Day November 13
- Alumni Association U.S. Supreme Court Swearing-In Trip February 24, 2025
Get your Campbell Law swag
Looking for Campbell Law apparel? Our Campbell Law brand shop is ready and open for business! All orders are made on demand and ship in approximately 15 days. We have T-shirts, polos, sweatshirts, sweaters, jackets, hats, scarves, tumblers, coasters and more! Click here to shop.
Are you a Campbell Law judge?
If you or anyone you know is a Campbell Law alumna/nus and also a current or past judge, we are expanding our "Judges of Campbell Law" wall we unveiled in 2021! The exhibit honors alumni who have served on a variety of judicial benches. Read more at this link. Please contact Coordinator of External Relations Sharon Sparks at ssparks@campbell.edu or call 919-865-4652 for more information.