Campbell Law welcomes the Class of 2026
The first-year law students entering the 2023 academic year at Campbell Law School represent a significant milestone. These 189 1L students come from 68 different undergraduate institutions and 13 different states, including California, New York and Florida. It’s also one of the most diverse classes to enter the law school with nearly 25 percent of its members identifying as students of color. Dean J. Rich Leonard talked about the law school’s award-winning trial advocacy program, its extensive externship and internships, its growing pro bono clinics, dual degrees and international opportunities during his welcome remarks. “All those things make this a special place,” he said. “I see my job as dean as keeping a balance between our rigorous curriculum and very vibrant external opportunities." On Aug. 11, the students took the Professionalism Oath delivered by North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge Michael Stading ‘06 in the morning followed by the Dean’s annual afternoon Court Crawl. Learn more at this link or to see more photos use this link.
Best-selling author, activist Anthony Ray Hinton visits Campbell Law
On one of the hottest days in July 1985 in Birmingham, Alabama, Anthony Ray Hinton was cutting the grass at his mother’s house for about 25 minutes when the then 29-year-old saw two white men he had never seen walking toward him. “I cut the mower off and asked them how can I help you?,” he explained. “They said they had a warrant for my arrest. I asked what for and the Birmingham police detectives said they would tell me later and then they handcuffed me.” Thus would begin a 30-year odyssey for Hinton, who was eventually wrongfully convicted on two counts of capital murder. Campbell Law was honored on Aug. 30 to host best-selling author and activist Hinton, who joined Pro Bono Council students, faculty and staff for lunch and gave a thought-provoking presentation to the entire Campbell Law community later that evening. Learn more at this link.
Campbell Law welcomes Regina Chavis '20 as Assistant Dean of Student Life, Pro Bono Opportunities and Belonging
Regina Chavis, a 2020 Campbell Law graduate, joined the law school as Assistant Dean of Student Life, Pro Bono Opportunities and Belonging effective Sept. 5. Chavis is returning to the law school after working with Legal Aid of North Carolina as a staff attorney with the Disaster Relief Project since 2020. Learn more at this link.
Professor Greg Wallace featured on best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell's podcast
Campbell Law Professor Greg Wallace is featured in a new podcast series on “Guns” by best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell, who wrote “The Tipping Point,” “Blink,” “Outliers,” “What the Dog Saw” and “David and Goliath.” He is also the co-founder of Pushkin Industries, an audio content company that produces podcasts. The six-part podcast series that features Wallace airs weekly on Gladwell’s “Revisionist History” podcast, starting Thursday, Aug. 31. Wallace is featured in Part 3, entitled “Guns Part 3: A Shooting Lesson,” which airs on Sept. 14. Read more at this link.
T.G. Falcon, Stephen Gordon join Campbell Law as visiting professors
T.G. Falcon (below) and Stephen Gordon have joined Campbell Law as visiting professors for the 2023-24 academic year, Dean J. Rich Leonard has announced. Falcon, who is an associate at Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan LLP, will teach property for the law school this fall. Gordon, who has been a federal public defender for the Eastern District of North Carolina since 2021, where he served as an assistant Federal Public Defender from 1997 to 2021, is teaching criminal law. Learn more at this link.
Campbell Law announces FLEX JD information sessions
Campbell Law has scheduled four information sessions for its groundbreaking Campbell FLEX JD program, which allows students to earn a life-changing degree at their own pace. The sessions begin in November 2023 and run through April 2024. A premium option of study for area residents looking to pursue alternative career paths, the Campbell FLEX program enables entering law students to earn a Juris Doctor degree by taking fewer hours each semester than required by the traditional full-time program. Learn more at this link. Sign up for a session here.
Professors Nicole Ligon and Erin Kenny join Campbell Law
Professors Erin Kenny (above) and Nicole Ligon have joined the Campbell Law faculty effective Aug. 14, 2023, Dean J. Rich Leonard has announced. Both served as visiting professors during the 2022-23 academic year. Kenny teaches Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure and Trial Advocacy. Ligon teaches Professional Responsibility, Trial Advocacy and Media Law. Learn more at this link.
Dean J. Rich Leonard headed to Bhutan as Fulbright Specialist Scholar
Dean J. Rich Leonard was awarded the prestigious designation of a Fulbright Specialist Scholar in August 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. State Department delayed the designation by three years, but on Sept. 2, Leonard finally headed to Bhutan for five weeks to teach an international comparative bankruptcy course to law students. He will cover bankruptcy laws in the U.S., China, India and the European Union using real case examples with a focus on cross border insolvency laws in each jurisdiction. Learn more at this link.
North Carolina First Lady Kristin Cooper '82 to be recognized among distinguished alumni
Kristin Cooper '82, the First Lady of North Carolina and wife of Gov. Roy Cooper, will receive the prestigious distinction as a Campbell University Distinguished Alumni at a formal dinner and ceremony Oct. 20. She will join a group of 184 individuals recognized as Distinguished Alumni in the University’s 147-year history. Learn more at this link.
Campbell Law to host its 5th annual fundraiser bike ride to support Pro Bono Projects
Wheels up! Campbell Law is hosting its 5th annual Fundraising Bike Ride on Saturday, Oct. 21. Co-sponsored by Crabtree, the Bicycle Chain, Raleigh Brewing Co. and the Campbell Law Pro Bono Council, the ride will feature a 10-mile, a 50-mile or a virtual-ride option, with all proceeds going to Campbell Law’s student-led pro bono projects. Talk about a wheelie good cause! The in-person routes begin and end at Raleigh Brewing and all ride levels are welcome to participate. There are rest stops along the routes, as well as SAG vehicles and rider sweeps courtesy of the Bicycle Chain. Upon registration, all riders will receive a limited-edition 2023 Campbell Law Bike Ride T-shirt and other swag, plus be entered into a drawing for great prizes like a one-on-one coffee with Campbell Law Dean Rich Leonard at A Place at the Table, a gift card for Crabtree Valley Mall, an $80 bike tune-up and more. Following the ride, participants will be able to rest up and throw back a beverage from Raleigh Brewing while jamming out to live music — because you’ll deserve it. A general ticket to ride is $35, while Campbell Law alumni can join in for a discounted ticket of $20. Campbell University students, faculty and staff can ride for FREE! Sign up to ride at this link.
Join Campbell Law for the 2023 Homecoming Fighting Camels football tailgate on Saturday, Oct. 21! Sign up at this link.
Assistant Dean of Admissions Miguel Hernandez featured in TBJ, NC Lawyers Weekly
Campbell Law's Assistant Dean of Admissions Miguel Hernandez was recently featured in the Triangle Business Journal, which takes an in-depth look at the importance of the Latino influence on the Triangle. Learn more at this link. He was also featured in N.C. Lawyers Weekly, where he was quoted as saying admission to Campbell Law is determined by holistic reviews of all applicants, regardless of ethnicity, and that he does not expect the process to change much, if at all. “I, along with peers at law school admissions offices around the country, have anticipated this ruling for a few years now and have geared our evaluation process toward a holistic review as did the University of California system following the passing of Proposition 209 which … prohibited state governmental institutions from considering race, sex or ethnicity,” Hernandez said. “It’s important to note that our reality as a country is that we continue to become more diverse, and as this happens, our institutions of higher learning will inevitably follow suit.” Learn more at this link.
SAVE THE DATE
- Annual Swearing-In Ceremony October 6
- 5th Annual Bike Ride Fundraiser October 21
- Campbell Law Homecoming Tailgate October 21
- Annual Alumni Association CLE October 27
- U.S Supreme Court Swearing-in Trip November 6
- FLEX JD Program Information Session November 8
- Campbell Law School Annual Career Night November 9
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 October! 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.