Campbell Law earns 2026 Excellence in Innovation Award for African judicial clerkships
Campbell Law School has received the 2026 Excellence in Innovation Award: Law Schools from Insight Into Academia magazine, the nation’s longest-running publication advancing best practices in higher education, Dean J. Rich Leonard has announced. This new honor celebrates law schools redefining the future of legal education. Through transformative programs and initiatives, these schools are reimagining curriculum, experiential learning, technology and AI integration, access to legal education, professional pathways and more to better serve the evolving needs of students and meet the changing demands of today’s workforce. Insight Into Academia magazine selected Campbell Law for its new Joseph E. Zaytoun International Judicial Clerkship Initiative. Eight Campbell Law students are currently working as judicial clerks in the high courts in three African nations. And three of those students working in Namibia were featured recently in a national news story on NBC News about the Supreme Court Chief Justice Peter Shivute's visit with United States Ambassador John Giordano (see video below). Learn more at this link.
Alumnus Tim Young joins law school as director of development
Tim Young, a 2000 Campbell University graduate, joined Campbell University Institutional Advancement as director of development for the law school on June 1, Vice President for Institutional Advancement John Latteri announced. “Tim brings to this role a deep and well‑rounded understanding of higher education advancement, shaped by professional experiences at several institutions,” Latteri said. “As an alumnus and longtime advocate of the university, Tim has a strong understanding of Campbell’s mission, culture and community, along with a sincere commitment to helping move the university forward.” In his new role, Young will lead fundraising efforts for Campbell Law, working to strengthen relationships with alumni, donors and friends while supporting the law school’s strategic priorities and future growth. “I am looking forward to connecting with Campbell Law alumni and friends and building on the law school’s firm foundation as well as helping advance its mission of educating legal leaders,” Young said. Learn more at this link.
Five Campbell Law graduates earn Stubbs Bankruptcy Fellowships
Five recent Campbell Law graduates who studied bankruptcy law have earned the 2026 Stubbs Bankruptcy Fellowships, Dean J. Rich Leonard has announced. Liam Blackerby ‘26, Casey Bouker ‘26, Dylan Long ‘26, Elizabeth Robertson ‘26 and Tabb Shea ‘26 have each earned a $5,000 scholarship after completing the three bankruptcy courses offered by the law school. Several years ago, Leonard, a former U.S. Bankruptcy judge, and others were worried that not enough young lawyers were going into bankruptcy law. So Leonard asked the law school’s Stubbs Bankruptcy Law Clinic namesake Trawick Stubbs, the patriarch of the bankruptcy bar in North Carolina and the senior partner in Stubbs Perdue, if he would be willing to sponsor a unique scholarship to encourage law students to take at least three bankruptcy courses in their time at Campbell Law. Learn more at this link.
Campbell Law Spotlight: Brian Horvick '27
When Brian Horvick ‘27 moved from a small farming community outside Casselton, North Dakota, to Holly Springs, North Carolina, in third grade, the transition was more than a change in scenery, it was a lesson in adaptation. Years later, that willingness to embrace change would lead him from the classroom to the courtroom. The decision wasn’t immediate. After serving in the military and a few years in the classroom, Horvick knew he wanted a career where he could make a more direct impact on people’s lives. He wanted to find a career that bridged the gap between his heart for service and drive for a challenge. Encouragement came in the form of his first date with his now-fiancée (and fellow Campbell Law student), who at the time worked as a paralegal and was studying for the LSAT. Learn more at this link.
Professor Lucas Osborn chosen as inaugural recipient of Pryor Prize for writing
Campbell Law Professor Lucas Osborn has been chosen as the inaugural recipient of the Pryor Prize, Dean J. Rich Leonard has announced. The Pryor Prize, a new $10,000 annual award for the best piece of academic writing by a faculty member, was established in January 2026 by an anonymous alumni donor in honor of Professor Emeritus Scott Pryor, who retired in 2025. A committee composed of Pryor, Dean Emerita Melissa Essary and the donor independently evaluated the four papers submitted for the prize, Pryor said. “We appreciated the opportunity to read all of them and each of us agreed the best was Lucas Osborn, ‘Copyright, Creativity, and Skill: Authorship and AI-Assisted Works,’ 12 Belmont L. Rev 594 (2025),” Pryor wrote in an email. “I’m honored (and amazed) to have received the inaugural Pryor Prize for academic writing at Campbell Law School,” Osborn wrote in an email. “I want to express my sincere gratitude to the committee for the work they do for our community and for selecting my article as the recipient of the Pryor Prize! It is a tremendous honor to receive this recognition, especially given the high quality of scholarship produced by my colleagues. “I would also like to thank the founder of the Pryor Prize for establishing and supporting this award. Academic research can sometimes feel like an obscure endeavor, but this prize is such an encouragement to our community! I am grateful to be among those who have benefited from this profound commitment.” Learn more at this link.
Western New England Professor Barbara Reich to visit Campbell Law this fall
Law Professor Barbara Reich will join Campbell Law as a visiting professor for the 2026 fall semester beginning Aug. 1, Dean J. Rich Leonard has announced. Reich, who joined the Western New England University School of Law faculty in 2005, will teach Torts, a course she has regularly taught throughout her career as a professor. “I am thrilled to announce Professor Barbara Reich will be joining us this fall to teach Torts,” Leonard said. Reich, who has also taught courses on a variety of health law subjects, has served as a member of Mercy Hospital’s Ethics and Social Justice Committee and Ethics Consultation Committee and as a member of Baystate Medical Center’s Institutional Review Board. Before joining the faculty at Western New England University, she taught health law and bioethics courses for eight years at the University of Florida’s Colleges of Law, Medicine and Health Professions as a Lecturer in Law. Reich also has prior experience as a member of a hospital ethics committee and institutional review board at Florida’s teaching hospital. Learn more at this link.
Laura Neal Gibson ’10 earns 2026 Award for Extraordinary Contributions to Indigent Defense Training Programs
Campbell Law alumna Laura Neal Gibson ’10 is the recipient of the 2026 Professor John Rubin “Ruby” Award for Extraordinary Contributions to Indigent Defense Training Programs. Gibson, who practices in Washington, North Carolina, was given the award by Phil Dixon and John Rubin at the 2026 Spring Public Defender Conference held in May in Cherokee, N.C. The Office of Indigent Defense Services (IDS) hosts the annual conference which includes an awards ceremony honoring public defenders across the state. The Commission on Indigent Defense Services voted unanimously to recognize Gibson with this honor at its February 2026 meeting, according to the IDS website. Learn more at this link.
Three Campbell Law alumnae named among 2026 TBJ’s ’40 Under 40′
Three Campbell Law alumnae Meghan Reece Brown ’13, Tiffany Gidley '14 and Devon Williams ‘12 have been named among the 2026 Triangle Business Journal’s “40 Under 40.” A celebratwas held on June 24 at A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater. Each year, the "40 Under 40" Awards honor 40 rising stars in the local business world who have distinguished themselves in their companies, their communities and their industries – all before their 40th birthday. These young professionals are executives, innovators and entrepreneurs who represent our region’s next generation of business leaders, according to the TBJ. Learn more at this link.
Save the Date: Campbell Law 50th Anniversary Gala Celebration
Campbell Law will celebrate marking half a century of training lawyers to lead with purpose at its 50th Anniversary Gala on Thursday, Sept. 17, at Raleigh's Union Station. The law school is highlighting this year's milestone with several signature festivities including the unveiling of a historic timeline in the law school's lobby, a Women in Law student group panel featuring Campbell Law alumnae, the Gala and more. Alumni, students, faculty and friends are invited to attend the event scheduled for 6 to 10 p.m. Follow this link to purchase Gala tickets as soon as they are available.
Registration now open for 2026 On-Campus Recruiting and Resume Collect
Registration is now open for employers who would like to join Campbell Law’s 2026 On-Campus Recruiting and Resume Collect program. Email lawcareercenter@campbell.edu for a schedule or a link to register. "Whether you are recruiting for a summer intern or a post graduate, entry-level position, we would be delighted to introduce you to our talented students," said Assistant Dean of Career and Professional Development Mallory Underwood. Campbell Law prides itself on training students to be great lawyers. Whether you are recruiting students for summer 2027 internships or postgraduate opportunities, we invite you to join us for our 2026 On-Campus Interview and Resume Collect recruiting program. We now offer even more flexible recruiting options throughout the year to best accommodate your hiring needs. We look forward to introducing you to our talented students! Registration is now OPEN for Sessions 6-10. Learn more at this link.
Alumni News and Class Notes now available online
Did you get married, have a baby, get a promotion, get elected, retire or experience any other exciting life change? We want to hear about it! Submit your alumni note for inclusion in our newly published online Alumni News and Class Notes at this link. Send your updates to Coordinator of External Events Sharon Sparks at ssparks@campbell.edu or Director of Communications and Marketing Lisa Snedeker at lsnedeker@campbell.edu.
SAVE THE DATE
- Orientation Kickoff August 7
- Campbell Advantage August 10
- Classes Begin August 17
- Campbell Law's 50th Anniversary Gala September 17
Campbell Law swag available
Looking for Campbell Law apparel? Our Campbell Law Brand Shop is open for business! All orders are made on demand and ship in about 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.