Campbell Law Alumni Association hosts annual swearing-in ceremony for newest members
Campbell Law School held its annual swearing-in ceremony for 35 recent graduates at the law school on Friday, Oct. 10, hosted by the Campbell Law Alumni Association. The Honorable Damion McCullers ‘03, a Wake County District Court judge, and the Honorable Hoyt Tessener ‘88, a Special Superior Court Judge in North Carolina’s Third Judicial Division, administered the oath of office and led the swearing-in of Campbell Law alumni who passed the July 2025 North Carolina Bar Examination. With more than 200 family and friends attending the event, it was the largest celebration of its kind the law school has sponsored, according to Assistant Dean of External Relations Megan Sherron ‘10. Learn more at this link.
Campbell University will hold its annual Giving Day on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Campbell Giving Day is a time when alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and friends are encouraged to make a donation to Campbell, wear orange to show their pride and share why they give. For supporters of the law school, it presents an unparalleled opportunity to invest in the initiatives and programs that keep Campbell Law a leader in preparing the best attorneys in North Carolina and beyond. In preparation for Campbell Giving Day, Dean J. Rich Leonard has announced several competitions, including four separate matches of $5,000, $10,000 and $20,000 and to ensure every gift makes its biggest impact. Learn more at this link.
Katherine Frye '01 sworn in as new president of the North Carolina State Bar
North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby administered the oath of office to Katherine A. Frye '01, who will serve as president of the North Carolina State Bar, at the State Bar’s annual dinner on Oct. 30. Frye is the second Campbell Law graduate to lead the state bar. A native of Hickory and a Raleigh family law attorney, Frye brings extensive experience and a strong vision for the future of the profession. Since joining the State Bar Council in 2016, she has served as vice-chair of the Grievance Committee, chaired both the Communications and Ethics Committees, and held officer positions as vice-president and president-elect before assuming the presidency. Learn more at this link.
Gailor Family Law Litigation Clinic reaches 400th case milestone
The Gailor Family Law Litigation Clinic reached a milestone earlier this month by opening its 400th case since opening in August 2021. The pro bono clinic provides representation and legal services to indigent residents of Wake County. The clinic addresses challenging family law issues including divorce, paternity, child custody and child support among other family law issues where it is often difficult to find representation for low-income individuals. The needs assessment completed in 2021 by the Chief Justice’s Commission on Access to Justice found this to be the greatest area of unmet need for legal services among North Carolinians of modest resources. “We’re now at 403 cases actually,” explained Clinic Director Richard Waugaman III ’12, ‘09, who also serves as the law school’s Assistant Dean of Experiential Learning. The clinic currently has 58 active cases and a full waitlist, Waugaman added. “What we have found is that the need is just enormous,” he said. Learn more at this link.
BCLC students help restore driver’s licenses for inmates
The Blanchard Community Law Clinic (BCLC) recently partnered with the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction to serve about 40 clients at a Driver’s License Restoration Clinic held at the Sampson Correctional Institution. The clinic, which was held on Sept. 26 and served soon-to-be-released clients, included BCLC Staff Attorney Kristin Parks, the BCLC clinic students and the BCLC social work intern Rachel Lea. The following law students participated: Ariana Benbenek, Shannon Conrad, Adrian Frisbee, Ambar Gomez, Grant Harris, Erica Howard, Robert Massey, Jared Nava and Aleisha Santos. “The clinic was well organized, staffed and provided an awesome service for our population,” said Warden Robert J. Van Gorder. “The Clinic staff and students met with each client, one on one, about possibilities in working toward having their driver’s license restored prior to release.” Throughout the semester, BCLC students study the collateral effects of criminal convictions, such as the loss of driver’s license privileges for unpaid court fines and fees. They also learn how to guide their incarcerated clients through the process of restoring those driving privileges so they can legally drive upon release. Learn more at this link.
Clinic students help prevent disabled client’s eviction
Campbell Law clinical students have successfully intervened to prevent the eviction of a disabled woman after her landlord sought to remove her due to issues stemming from her disability — an action that would have jeopardized her Housing Choice Voucher (formerly “Section 8”) and left her at risk of homelessness. Alyssa Giorgino ‘27 and Margaret Ireland ‘26 were enrolled in the Fall 2025 section of the Civil Track of the Blanchard Community Law Clinic (BCLC) taught by Assistant Clinical Professor Laura Clark. Learn more at this link.
Professor Raluca Papadima earns tenure, promotion
Professor Raluca Papadima has been promoted to Associate Professor and granted tenure by the Campbell University Board of Trustees. The board approved Papadima’s promotion and grant of tenure at its October 2025 meeting. Papadima, who joined Campbell Law in 2019, teaches Business Organizations, Sales & Leases, Mergers and Acquisitions, International Business Transactions and International Arbitration. She also helps coach the teams competing in the Willem C. Vis international Moot Court Competition in international commercial contracts and arbitration. Learn more at this link.
David Childers ’81 inducted into N.C. Music Hall of Fame
David Childers ‘81 has been called one of North Carolina’s most underrated song writers. The Campbell Law alumnus practiced law with his father, Max Childers, in his Gaston County hometown of Mount Holly after graduation. For more than a decade, Childers handled everything from criminal to domestic cases to DUIs, ”just whatever was thrown at me,” he told music writer Mark Kemp in this story from The Charlotte Ledger in August 2025. Childers began writing songs on his acoustic Gibson guitar, basing them loosely on some of the characters and their lives he saw through his law practice. He started performing in small Charlotte clubs. He released his first CD when he was 45 with his then group, The Mount Holly Hellcats. Childers continued to practice law along with his music making throughout the late ’90s, recording three more albums with a variety of notable musicians, including members of Charlotte bands Lou Ford and The Rank Outsiders and the late West Coast guitarist Duane Jarvis, who played with Lucinda Williams. Learn more at this link.
Taryn Wilkins '25 receives North Carolina State Bar Pro Bono Student Award
Taryn Wilkins '25 has been selected as Campbell Law School's 2025 recipient of the North Carolina State Bar’s Pro Bono Student Award. The award was presented at the State Bar Headquarters in downtown Raleigh during the official meeting of the State Bar Council on Friday, Oct. 31. Wilkins said about the award, "I’m honored to be one of six students to receive the Student Pro Bono Service Award from the North Carolina State Bar. I decided to become a lawyer to increase access to justice for all people. Some of the most meaningful moments of law school came through pro bono work — learning from dedicated advocates and communities who show how the law is a powerful tool to create a more just and compassionate world. I’m deeply grateful to the mentors, classmates, and organizations who made this work possible and continue to inspire me as I start my career." Regina Chavis '20, Assistant Dean of Students, Pro Bono and Belonging, added, "Please join me in congratulating Taryn for her outstanding commitment to service and to the ideals of our profession."
You're invited to join the 2025 Presidential Welcome Tour
Come enjoy a series of special evenings with Campbell University President Dr. William M. Downs and First Lady Kim Downs. These relaxed receptions will include the opportunity to enjoy fellowship, food and the chance to hear firsthand about the vision for our university’s future. We hope you'll join us and be part of the conversation! Following a number of successful events including one at the law school on Oct. 2, there is one event left for you to attend in Wilmington on Thursday, Nov. 6. The event is free and open to all Campbell alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends. Pre-registration is required. Register at this link.
Faces of Campbell Law
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
- Campbell Forward Tour in Wilmington November 6
- Campbell Law Board of Visitors Fall Meeting November 7
- Campbell Law Annual Career Night November 10
- Campbell Giving Day November 12
- Dessert and Cider November 24
- Thanksgiving Break November 26, 27, 28
- Alumni Association Board of Directors Meeting December 9
Check out 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.