Raleigh Attorney Robert Zaytoun pledges $250,000 gift to Blanchard Community Law Clinic
A prominent Raleigh attorney is giving Campbell University’s School of Law a quarter of a million dollars to support the work of the Blanchard Community Law Clinic, Dean J. Rich Leonard has announced. Robert Zaytoun is a principal in the Raleigh law firm of Zaytoun Ballew & Taylor, where for the past 35 years his practice has focused on a wide range of litigation areas, including catastrophic personal injury, medical negligence, commercial litigation, health care fraud and regulatory compliance liability, representation of physicians in various contract and non-compete disputes, maritime law litigation and 1983 Civil Rights cases. “I am thrilled to support the Blanchard Community Law Clinic through this gift as they continue to give voice to the diverse populations coming into contact with our civil justice system,” Zaytoun said. “It’s also an honor to continue the legacy of Charlie Blanchard, one of my heroes, through the clinic his generosity established, which allows law students the opportunity to obtain real-world trial experience. Additionally, I have always admired Campbell Law School for its pragmatic approach to legal education and community involvement. Dean Rich Leonard, who I have known and admired for over 30 years, along with his capable and dedicated faculty and staff, do incredible work in educating students to become outstanding trial lawyers who go on to become leaders throughout our state’s urban and rural communities.” Learn more at this link.
Campbell Law advocates make history at Kilpatrick Townsend 1L Mock Trial Competition
A group of first-year Campbell Law School advocates made history on Jan. 22 by winning the UNC Law's Kilpatrick Townsend 1L Mock Trial Championship. “We are so humbled and proud to be the FIRST Campbell Law team to EVER make it to the championship and the first EVER team from Campbell Law to win,” wrote Megan Pope '25 on Facebook. Out of 38 competing teams, 22 teams were from Campbell. Another teammate, Olivia Reiff '25, wrote on Facebook: "It was a pleasure to win the 2023 Kilpatrick Townsend 1L Mock Trial Competition this weekend, but it was even more of a pleasure to do it with these ladies! The last two weeks were crazy and after three days of competition, all of our hard work paid off. Our impeccable preparation served us well, but what I really want to tell you all is how truly talented each of these women are. They are poised, confident and so quick and bright. Whether an attorney, a witness or audience of the round, I knew each of us were thinking three steps ahead while mentally planning what should happen next to convince our jury. It is an incredible feeling to earn the title 'Champions' with competence and integrity. We are proud to bring home a win for Campbell Law!" Learn more at this link.
Wake County Legal Support Center opens to public
A recent statewide assessment found around 70 percent of low-income families encounter at least one legal issue a year with 91 percent of those families listing cost as a top barrier, according to the North Carolina Equal Access to Justice Commission and the Equal Justice Alliance. That’s why the new Wake County Legal Support Center is so important to Judge Ashleigh Dunston, who, as the county’s lead child support judge, spearheaded this project. County, court and community leaders, including Campbell Law School’s Dean J. Rich Leonard and Clinical Professor Emily Mistr, were on hand for a formal ribbon cutting at the center on Friday, Jan. 13, in the Wake County Justice Center. In its first week, organizers say the center has served more than 50 residents. The mission of the Legal Support Center is to increase access to justice for residents of Wake County by serving as a resource hub for self-represented litigants in civil legal matters. Located on the Wake County Civil Courthouse’s first floor in Room 150 at 316 Fayetteville St., the center is currently open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Campbell Law School, which plans on sending clinical law students to help in the center later this year, is among the organizations supporting the new center including Wake County, the N.C. Administrative Office of Courts, N.C. IOLTA and the Wake County Bar Foundation. Learn more at this link.
Campbell Law Alumni Association to host virtual CLE on Feb. 8
The Campbell Law Alumni Association is hosting a VIRTUAL three-hour Continuing Legal Education (CLE) opportunity entitled, “Campbell Law Community," from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Feb. 8. The CLE will include one hour of general technology credit, one hour of ethics credit and one hour of mental health/substance abuse credit from the N.C. State Bar. Alumni Association members may register for FREE. For all others, the cost is $75. To register or learn more visit this link.
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Campbell Law Review to host symposium on March 30
Campbell Law Review will host its annual symposium, “The Chilling Impact on First Amendment Rights and #MeToo after Depp v. Heard,” on the evening of Thursday, March 30. The 2023 symposium, which will be held at Jitti in downtown Raleigh, will focus on the legal and cultural implications of the Depp v. Heard defamation trial, according to organizers. Participants can earn up to three CLE credits from the North Carolina Bar. Learn more and register at this link.
Alumni Association kicks off new year
The Campbell Law Alumni Association Board of Directors held its first meeting of 2023 on Jan. 24 to discuss future events including two upcoming CLEs -- a virtual one on Feb. 8 and an in-person one on Oct. 27, the North Carolina Bar Association alumni reception on June 22 and a U.S. Supreme Court Bar swearing-in trip in November, among others. Find the list of 2023 Alumni Association Board of Directors at this link.
Miranda Cromley ’23 awarded LANC scholarship
Campbell Law School third-year student Miranda Cromley has been awarded the Clifton W. Everett Sr. Community Lawyer Fellowship from Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) following graduation. This fellowship is awarded to a recent graduate who is passionate about providing legal services to those living in low-income, rural communities in North Carolina. Learn more about Cromley and the LANC fellowship at this link.
In honor of Black History Month, Campbell Law School’s chapter of Black Law Student Association (BLSA) plans to host a number of events throughout the month of February. Starting Feb. 1, students are encouraged to take a walk through history by visiting BLSA’s "Black Voices in Law" display in front of the Commons, which will be up all month long. From 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, BLSA will host the “Black History Month Kickoff Cookout” at Essary Place. The event will include “food, fun and culture! Pop in and out as we take it back to our roots with African drumming as well as embracing cookout culture,” organizers said. Learn more about these and other events by visiting this link.
Campbell Law student publishes first fiction novel
Emily Almanza, a third-year Campbell Law School student, has co-authored and published a fantasy novel entitled, “The Traitors Schemes,” which is now available on Amazon. “The Traitors Schemes” is the first of the Curoria Chronicles, and it follows the titular character, Liara, as she encounters fantastical creatures and political threats on her journey to freedom. Almanza said she chose to blend traditional fantasy elements with political schemes in order to analyze the duality of morality within the law, and the complexities of this dual nature when viewed from the lens of a law student. Learn more about Almanza and her novel at this link.
Blanchard Community Law Clinic to host expunction event Feb. 25
Campbell Law’s Blanchard Community Law Clinic (BCLC) hopes to serve approximately 60 residents of Wake County at a free expunction event on Saturday, Feb. 25. In an effort to provide a second chance, law students and their supervising attorneys will be at Wake County Courthouse in downtown Raleigh to work with clients in an effort to expunge charges from their criminal records. Pre-registration for an appointment is required to participate. Learn more at this link.
Volunteer judges needed for National Trial Competition (NTC) Region V on Feb. 17-19
Earn CLE, win an iPad
Campbell Law and the Wake County Courthouse will serve as the Region V hosts of the National Trial Competition (NTC)’s annual tournament from Feb. 17-19, 2023. Trial teams from virtually every law school in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia will attend the competition. Volunteers can earn CLE credit from the North Carolina Bar as well as be entered into multiple drawings to win Apple products including an iPad and Airbuds. “We need your help to make this event a success,” explained Jamie Bellomy, the Wallace Leadership Fellow. “As such, we invite you to serve as a presiding and/or scoring judge for the regional competition by registering online at this link. The information with specific dates/times can be found in the link as well. As we approach Feb. 1, we will reach out regarding assigned rounds and roles to those of you who opt to volunteer.” To sign-up to volunteer or learn more, visit this link.
Spring 2023 On-Campus Interview and Resume Collect
In Spring 2023, Campbell Law's Career and Professional Development Center will host on-campus interviews (OCIs) with employers and collect resumes based on the following schedule. To participate, visit this link. If you want to learn more about these recruiting opportunities or have any questions as to how to connect with the talent of Campbell Law, please email lawcareercenter@campbell.edu.
Spring 2023 On-Campus Interview and Resume Collect
SAVE THE DATE
- Alumni Association Three-Hour CLE (VIRTUAL) Feb. 8
- National Trial Competition (NTC) Region V Annual Tournament Feb. 17-19
- Annual Campbell Law Scholarship Luncheon (invitation only) March 2
- FLEX JD In-Person Information Session March 9
- SBA Golf Tournament March 24
- Family Law Day and Law Awards Banquet March 25
- Campbell Law Review Symposium March 30
- Alumni Reunions Classes of 1983, 1998, 2013 and 2018 April 15
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.