Campbell Law celebrates Class of 2023 during 45th graduation ceremony
Campbell Law conferred 145 Juris Doctor degrees on May 12 during its 45th hooding and graduation ceremony at the J.S. Dorton Arena. “Today is a transitional point in your lives,” Dean J. Rich Leonard told the graduates. “For the rest of your days, no matter what you are doing, whether you are a prosecutor or a public defender, a civil litigator or criminal defense attorney, a judge, a corporate officer, a government official, or a parent at home raising children, when the question is asked, ‘What do you do?’ you are entitled to proudly answer, ‘I am a lawyer.’” Nottingham Law School Deputy Dean Matthew Homewood on behalf of Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom, bestowed four Master of Laws (LL.M.) degrees to Heidi M. High of Hankasalmi, Finland, Erin Leigh Basinger of Kannapolis, LeAnne McAbee of Wilkesboro and Judge Donna Elizabeth “Beth” Tanner of Kinston. “Enjoy every part of this day and take a moment to reflect on what you have achieved,” Homewood said. “It’s amazing.” Find more photos of the ceremony on the law school’s Facebook page at this link and watch the graduation ceremony’s Live Stream recording at this link. Learn more at this link.
Campbell Law inducts two more alumni into Hall of Fame, gives out advocacy awards
Campbell Law announced two new inductees into the law school’s Advocacy Hall of Fame as well as a variety of competitive advocacy awards and honors at the 2023 Campbell Law Advocacy Graduation Reception held May 10. Alumni Terry Brown Jr. ‘15 and Andrew Shores ‘13 were inducted into the Campbell Law Advocacy Hall of Fame along with the inaugural inductees Lauren Fussell ‘15, Kevin Littlejohn II ‘20, Katelyn Miller ‘19, Jacob Morse ‘17, Casey Peaden ‘17, Kaitlin Rothecker ‘15, Lydia Stoney ‘20 and Tatiana Terry ‘19. Learn more at this link.
Sydney Kraft '24 competes in 2023 Top Gun National Mock Trial Competition
Campbell Law rising third-year student Sydney Kraft of Fayetteville has been selected to compete in the 2023 Top Gun National Mock Trial Competition on May 31-June 4, hosted by Baylor Law School in Waco, Texas. This is the 14th Top Gun Competition and the second to be held in-person since the pandemic began. The law firm of Don Marcari ’85 is sponsoring Campbell Law’s bid in the competition. Brandon Minella ’24 will accompany Kraft to the competition, said Director of Competitive Advocacy Mary Ann Matney ’17. During the National Trial Competition (NTC) – Region V, Kraft was named Best Overall Advocate after the preliminary rounds – sweeping every best advocate ballot in every preliminary trial. She was then named Most Outstanding Advocate in her championship round during the NTC Regionals and her team advanced to the 48th annual National Trial Competition (NTC). Learn more at this link.
Raven Byrne ‘06 promoted to Vice Dean of Campbell Law
Dean J. Rich Leonard has announced Raven Byrne has been promoted to Vice Dean effective May 22, 2023. Byrne, a 2006 Campbell Law graduate, joined the law school as Director of Student Life and Pro Bono Opportunities in September 2021 and was promoted to Assistant Dean of Student Life and Pro Bono Opportunities in August 2022. “Her superb tenure here at the law school, coupled with her experience founding and running her own law firm before coming here, makes her the ideal choice,” Leonard said. Byrne returned to Campbell Law after working in private practice for 15 years. She operated her own firm, Brooks & Byrne, from 2007 to 2020, where she worked to provide proactive representation in a cost-effective way. Most recently, as an associate attorney with Breeden Law Office, she counseled clients on a variety of family law matters. In her new role, Byrne will oversee all of the law school administrative, budgetary and supervisory responsibilities for the departments of Admissions, Career Services, External Relations and Student Life and Pro Bono Opportunities. Learn more at this link.
A dozen 2022 Campbell Law graduates are serving as judicial law clerks
For the first time in Campbell Law’s history, a dozen 2022 graduates are currently serving as judicial law clerks in a variety of federal and state courts, said Mallory Underwood, director of the Career and Professional Development Center. “A judicial clerkship is one of the most valuable experiences a Campbell Law graduate can pursue following graduation,” she explained. “Judicial clerks have the benefit of an on-the-job education that also serves as a stepping stone into the legal market. It can be a significant asset to a legal career, regardless of which specialty or position a graduate wants to pursue. A judicial clerkship is also a valuable life experience that offers a unique opportunity to look behind the scenes of a courtroom into the practical workings of a judge’s chambers.” Find out which courts and judges our alumni are clerking for at this link.
Campbell Law announces 2023 competitive scholarship recipients
Dean J. Rich Leonard has announced that Imani Henderson, Christian Ray, Haydn Bauer and Margaret Ireland are the 2023 recipients of the law school’s four highly prestigious, full-tuition competitive scholarships. “I am thrilled to announce the recipients of our competitive scholarships from the incoming class of 2026,” Leonard said. “Our law school is committed to doing all we can to make sure that every qualified student that wants to use the law as a means to serve others has the opportunity to do so.” Learn more at this link.
Melissa Peacock joins Campbell Law Career Center
Melissa Peacock joined the Campbell Law's Career Center in May 2023 as Recruitment Coordinator and Office Manager. Prior to joining the Career Center, she served as a Faculty Administrative Assistant with the law school. In the Career Center, Peacock serves both employers and students with recruiting efforts, including on-campus interviews, resume collects and job fairs. She maintains job postings for current law students and alumni through the job posting board, Symplicity. Her work also includes coordinating fall, spring and summer externship postings for students and maintaining relationships with externship host sites. In addition to her role as Recruiting Coordinator, Peacock is the office manager for Suite 101, which includes the Career Center, Director of Development and Director of Communications and Marketing. Peacock graduated from Campbell University in 2020 with a bachelor’s in social work and a minor in psychology and she graduated from Liberty University in 2022 with a Master’s in Higher Education: Student Affairs. She can be reached at mpeacock@campbell.edu. For more information about the Career Center visit this link.
SAVE THE DATE
- Alumni Association Class of 2023 Ice Cream Social June 6
- Orientation August 4
- Annual Alumni Association CLE October 27
- U.S Supreme Court Swearing-in Trip November 6
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.