As Mayar Elgeyoshi L’26 describes trying her first criminal cases, her eyes lock in — intense, focused and flashing with amusement at the contradiction in her words.

She’s serious, but she’s having fun.

Last summer, she prosecuted two cases in a Randolph County courtroom under a student practice certificate. The first involved a driver accused of traveling nearly 30 mph over the speed limit. The second was an assault case.

“In the beginning, you’re completely stiff,” she said. “Then after a while, you start to get comfortable. You realize, ‘Oh, hey. I can do this.’”

She found herself thinking “a step — or five — ahead.” The state won both cases.

“Haven’t lost a case yet,” she said wryly.

The experience confirmed what years of studying and working alongside prosecutors and public defenders made clear: She belongs in a courtroom.

“It’s just a rush that can’t be recreated.”

That rush draws Elgeyoshi to the courtroom. What first led her toward the law — an innate desire to first understand people, and then to help them — has much deeper roots.

Born in Alexandria, Egypt, Elgeyoshi came to the United States with her family at 5 years old. She grew up in Asheboro, North Carolina, the oldest of three children, watching her parents build a new life from scratch. Her mother had earned an accounting degree in Egypt. Her father’s relentless work ethic eventually led him to found Omar’s Italian Restaurant in nearby Biscoe, where Elgeyoshi has worked alongside him.

The restaurant bears her younger brother’s name. “I’m clearly not the favorite child,” she quipped.

Behind the humor is abiding respect for what her parents risked.

“It’s not easy to leave the home that you’ve owned, the only home that you’ve ever known, for a chance,” Elgeyoshi said. “It’s not even guaranteed. It’s just a chance.”

“She is incredibly good at seeing different sides of people and understanding different walks of life.”

— Barron Thompson L’09, �鶹��Ƶ Law Advisory Board member

Their determination imbued a kind of obligation: “I want to provide for my family in the way that they’ve sacrificed everything for us.”

At UNC Greensboro, Elgeyoshi studied political science and sociology, and met the Hon. Barron Thompson L’09, a North Carolina District Court judge in nearby Randolph County who taught her Introduction to Law course as an adjunct professor.

Thompson, a member of �鶹��Ƶ Law’s charter class and the school’s Advisory Board, remembers an inquisitive student whose curiosity made her memorable. They stayed in touch after she graduated, and he saw that curiosity paired with a drive to serve. Working as a state driver’s license examiner, Elgeyoshi saw a need among Spanish-speaking customers.

“So, she learned Spanish to better serve them,” Thompson said. “She is incredibly good at seeing different sides of people and understanding different walks of life.”

When Elgeyoshi was deciding on law school, Thompson encouraged her toward his alma mater.

Upholding the law as ‘the greatest honor’

Her first up-close experience with criminal law involved the kind of grisly reality and high stakes most law students only imagine.

After her first year at �鶹��Ƶ Law, she interned with the Randolph County District Attorney’s Office, helping prosecutors prepare for the capital murder trial of Joel Vilchis Valdez-Beltran, accused of killing his girlfriend’s 14-month-old child.

“It doesn’t get more complex than a capital case,” said Randolph County District Attorney Andrew “Andy” Gregson.

A jury convicted Valdez-Beltran of first-degree murder in August 2025 and sentenced him to death — the county’s first death sentence since 2006. Elgeyoshi reviewed evidence, researched legal questions and organized trial materials. She also produced a video from previously admitted evidence that Chief Assistant District Attorney Walt Jones used during closing arguments.

Elgeyoshi returned the following summer with a student practice certificate and tried cases herself. Her performance led Gregson to offer her a position contingent on passing the bar exam.

“She has a great attitude, a great work ethic,” Gregson said. “She just jumped right in and was a great teammate.”

Between those summers, Elgeyoshi crossed to the other side of the courtroom.

During her full-time Residency-in-Practice with the Guilford County Public Defender’s Office, she visited clients in jail and worked alongside attorneys representing people facing criminal charges. She now externs with Greensboro defense attorney Christon Halkiotis.

She refuses to view criminal law through a single lens.

“It gives you entirely different perspectives,” Elgeyoshi said. “To uphold justice on both sides, while ensuring the Constitution is upheld, is the greatest honor.”

The lawyer she aspires to be

Associate Professor Eric Fink, Elgeyoshi’s academic adviser, watched her adjust to the unfamiliar demands of law school and become a stronger student. What drives her, he said, isn’t law as an intellectual exercise.

“She sees the law as a way to address real people’s real problems in their real lives,” Fink said.

Bob Minarcin, an adjunct professor who helps oversee �鶹��Ƶ Law’s Mock Trial program, watched her progress from first-year witness to team member and trial advocate. Her final performance in his trial practice course, he said, was “years ahead of where most law students are at that stage.

“She’s the real deal.”

“Regardless of where I end up, I want to be the type of criminal attorney who never forgets to be human.”

— Mayar Elgeyoshi L’26

Her classmates see the same commitment. Olivia Domowitz L’26 said Elgeyoshi shows people they matter by giving them her time despite an overcrowded schedule, while Lindsay Hetzel L’26 points to her 250-plus pro bono hours and public-service work as a reminder that “serving real people is the true prize of pursuing the legal profession.”

She hasn’t decided which side of the courtroom will be hers. But her experiences have clarified something more fundamental: The attorney she wants to become.

“Laws are written by people. Crimes are committed by people. And people are those who enforce, from law enforcement to the attorneys and judges. People make people mistakes, from all ends,” Elgeyoshi said.

“Regardless of where I end up, I want to be the type of criminal attorney who never forgets to be human.”

Members of the �鶹��Ƶ School of Law Advisory Board gathered in Greensboro this week for their regular fall meeting, providing strategic guidance and professional insights to university and law school administrators while devoting significant time to students through panel discussions and small-group mentoring conversations shared over meals.

The 21-member board includes prominent attorneys, judges and business leaders from across the country who advise �鶹��Ƶ Law and �鶹��Ƶ leaders on the law school’s development and strategic direction.

A Wednesday, Sept. 16, panel featured Jennifer Bowden L’09, principal at R. Steve Bowden & Associates; Marla Crawford, general counsel at Cimplifi; and Gerald Walden G’14, general counsel at The Fresh Market. Student Bar Association President Trey McClenny L’26 moderated.

Their conversation offered students practical advice drawn from careers spanning private practice, corporate law, litigation and emerging legal technology. Among their key takeaways:

Treat law school like your first professional job.

Bowden encouraged students to take advantage of access to professors and seek their guidance rather than trying to navigate difficult material alone. Walden similarly urged students to make law school a priority and to be intentional about learning from classmates who excel in different legal areas, as well as faculty.

Stay open to where a legal career can lead.

All three panelists described careers that evolved in directions they hadn’t necessarily anticipated in law school. Crawford encouraged students not to arrive with a fixed idea of where they must end up. Opportunities others overlook, she said, can sometimes become defining moments in a career. For her, that arose through first managing discovery, which became her specialty and led to managing the nation’s first electronic discovery case in the complex Enron case that began in 2001. She then leveraged that skill to become an expert in technology and the law, and is now focused on AI.

Get legal experience (even if it isn’t your dream job).

The panelists emphasized internships, summer work and other law-related opportunities as ways to test practice areas and workplace environments. Students can learn as much from discovering what they don’t enjoy as from finding an immediate fit.

Build relationships deliberately.

Walden reminded students that their professional networks already include the classmates sitting beside them. When meeting practicing attorneys, he advised students to follow up, reference the conversation and give the attorney something memorable to know about their own interests and goals.

Referencing a specific conversation and expressing interest in continuing it can help turn a brief introduction into a meaningful professional connection, he said.

The panel was only one part of the board’s interaction with students. Members joined students for a community dinner in the �鶹��Ƶ Law Library on Wednesday, Sept. 16, creating opportunities for informal conversations about careers, law school and professional life.

Those connections continued Thursday, Sept. 17, when board members met with students in smaller mentoring conversations over lunch.

The interactions reflect �鶹��Ƶ Law’s emphasis on connecting students with practicing attorneys, judges and other leaders throughout their legal education, as well as the Advisory Board’s dedication to providing top-notch law school experience to law students as they develop professional networks and clearer understanding of opportunities available.

The record surpassed the previous high of 82.7%, set by �鶹��Ƶ Law’s charter class in 2009. In all, 132 of 136 December graduates sat for a bar examination in winter and spring 2026.

“We are incredibly proud of the Class of 2025,” Dean Zak Kramer said. “Our graduates put in the work and supported each other along the way. Together, they raised the bar for all future �鶹��Ƶ Law graduates.”

The nationwide result comes two months after �鶹��Ƶ Law announced a record 91.96% first-time pass rate on the February 2026 North Carolina Bar Exam. The newly compiled data provides a broader measure of graduate success, showing that 90.9% of the law school’s 132 graduates who sat for a bar examination passed on their first attempt, regardless of jurisdiction.

The results also reflect the advantages of �鶹��Ƶ Law’s accelerated 2.5-year J.D. curriculum in Greensboro and — beginning in Fall 2027 — Charlotte. Students graduate in December, sit for the February bar exam and, upon passing, can begin practicing law months earlier than graduates of traditional law programs. The accelerated timeline allows graduates to enter the profession and begin earning sooner.

The energy in the building around the bar exam has changed. They feel it. We all feel it. We’re looking forward to continuing this trajectory.

– Assistant Dean for Academic Success Jenny Lane

This year’s record-setting performance reflects a culture shift at �鶹��Ƶ Law and growing momentum around the law school’s programs and outcomes. �鶹��Ƶ Law adopted a “One and Done” motto and mindset around the bar exam, with faculty and staff expanding academic support initiatives. In particular, the Office of Academic Success provided additional coaching, workshops, practice examinations and individualized support to reinforce that message throughout students’ legal education and bar preparation.

“What is special about this class is that they truly embodied �鶹��Ƶ Law’s ‘One and Done’ mission,” said Jenny Lane, assistant dean for academic success. “They understood the power of coming together as a community and conquering the bar exam.

“It matters when we invest in students and believe in them. The energy in the building around the bar exam has changed. They feel it. We all feel it. We’re looking forward to continuing this trajectory.”

Twenty graduates sat for bar examinations in 11 states outside North Carolina. Seventeen passed on their first attempt, including every graduate who sat in nine of those jurisdictions.

For graduates, passing the bar exam marks the culmination of years of legal study and the beginning of professional practice. For �鶹��Ƶ Law, the Class of 2025’s record-setting results reflect the success of a model of legal education built around experiential learning, practical training, and preparing students to enter the legal profession ready to serve clients and communities from day one.

“The value proposition of this law school is incredible,” Kramer said. “A skills-based education, in 2.5 years, with incredible outcomes like this. Big things are happening at �鶹��Ƶ Law and we’re just getting started.”

Presiding over the ceremony were The Hon. Catherine C. Eagles of the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, The Hon. Stephanie L. Reese of the North Carolina Superior Court and The Hon. Bill Davis of the North Carolina District Court. Graduates were presented to the court by sponsoring attorneys before being admitted to practice before the state bar, the federal bar or both.

“Today is the day you can represent people, represent clients and call yourself a lawyer,” Eagles said during the Thursday, May 21, session. “It’s your job to stand up for people and to stand up for the rule of law. It is your job to conduct yourself uprightly and according to law, and to look after our system of justice every day in everything that you do.”

The ceremony was hosted by the ’s Young Lawyers Section, one of many held across North Carolina and the nation as members of �鶹��Ƶ Law’s Class of 2025 complete their legal studies after December graduations and successful performances on the February 2026 bar examinations. Dean of �鶹��Ƶ Law Zak Kramer delivered remarks welcoming new attorneys, calling the ceremony “the culmination of years of work and sacrifice by our graduates and their families.”

Jonathan M. Parisi, president of the Young Lawyers Section, encouraged newly licensed attorneys to engage in the legal profession and broader community as they begin their careers.

“This is not the end of your learning journey. It’s just the beginning,” Parisi said. “Seek out mentors, get involved in your legal community, and find ways to serve.”

Davis reminded them that their professional reputation will shape their careers.

“Your reputation is your greatest tool and your greatest asset,” Davis said. “Be thoughtful about how you interact with judges, lawyers, clients and court staff. Build a reputation that will serve you well and help you succeed.”

Reese emphasized the responsibility attorneys assume when clients place their trust, livelihoods and futures in lawyers’ hands.

“You’ve shown incredible strength and character in making it to this point,” Reese told the newly admitted attorneys. “People put their very lives in your hands. From today forward, you have that responsibility, and no one else can carry it for you. You are their voice. You are their guide and their strength in the storm.”

Eagles also encouraged the graduates to pursue civic leadership beyond courtrooms and law offices.

“Lawyers are often the people making the nonlegal parts of our community work,” Eagles said. “Find your place where you can make a contribution beyond the courtroom and your office.”

Presiding over the ceremonial court sessions were:

The Hon. Catherine C. Eagles of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina

The Hon. Stephanie L. Reese of North Carolina Superior Court for the 24th District

The Hon. Bill Davis of North Carolina District Court for the 24th District

�鶹��Ƶ Law graduates admitted to federal and state court

�鶹��Ƶ law graduates seeking admission only to federal court

�鶹��Ƶ Law graduates seeking admission only to state court

����’25

�鶹��Ƶ �鶹��Ƶ Law

�鶹��Ƶ Law is the preeminent school for engaged and experiential learning in law. With a focus on learning by doing, it integrates traditional classroom instruction with a required residency-in-practice field placement for all full-time students during the winter or spring of their second year. The law school’s distinctive full-time curriculum provides a logically sequenced program of professional preparation and is accomplished in 2.5 years, which offers exceptional value by lowering tuition and permitting graduates early entry into their careers.

�鶹��Ƶ Law has graduated more than 2,000 alumni since opening its doors in downtown Greensboro in 2006. Its annual enrollment now tops 500 students. The law school is regularly featured in PreLaw Magazine’s “Best Schools for Practical Training” rankings, maintaining an A+ rating each year since 2023. �鶹��Ƶ Law was also among schools highlighted by Bloomberg Law in 2023 for its innovative approach to student development.

�鶹��Ƶ has applied to the American Bar Association to open a full-time, 2.5-year J.D. program in Charlotte beginning in fall 2027. The �鶹��Ƶ Law Flex Program, a part-time, in-person program of legal study, launched there in 2024. Designed for students balancing work, family and other commitments to earn their J.D. in under four years, it will enroll its third cohort in fall 2026.

�鶹��Ƶ Law received an “A,” the highest rating in of law schools expanding access and success. �鶹��Ƶ Law is among 21 schools to earn an “A” nationally. It is the only law school in North Carolina named to the honor roll and among only three in the Southeast recognized in the list.

Schools were evaluated for the unranked list based on the scope and maturity of their programs, including evidence of scale and measurable impact. According to the National Jurist, institutions rated at an “A” demonstrate “multiple, well-established access strategies that work together to lower barriers to entry and persistence. The Honor Roll is a recognition of meaningful action at a moment when access pathways matter more than ever.”

�鶹��Ƶ Law’s distinctive academic model was singled out, noting that its 2.5-year J.D. program and the part-time Flex Program in Charlotte “reduce cost and widen access” to legal education.

The recognition reflects �鶹��Ƶ Law’s continued focus on removing barriers to the legal profession while preparing students for practice through hands-on learning.

“�鶹��Ƶ Law is the access law school. It’s who we are, and it’s in everything we do,” said Dean of �鶹��Ƶ Law Zak Kramer. “Our job is to open the door to the legal profession and prepare students to walk through it ready to serve with skill, integrity and purpose.”

The school’s accelerated 2.5-year J.D. program in Greensboro allows students to complete their degree more quickly and enter the profession sooner than traditional law programs. The Flex Program in Charlotte provides a part-time evening pathway designed for working professionals and place-bound students seeking greater flexibility.

�鶹��Ƶ and �鶹��Ƶ Law have applied to the American Bar Association to launch a full-time, 2.5-year J.D. program in Charlotte beginning in Fall 2027.

The Honor Roll recognition complements �鶹��Ƶ Law’s strong national reputation for experiential learning. �鶹��Ƶ Law is the only law school in North Carolina to earn an A+ rating for Practical Training from PreLaw Magazine, the National Jurist’s sister publication.  �鶹��Ƶ Law has placed in the top 10 with an A+ rating annually since 2023.

Together, these distinctions highlight �鶹��Ƶ Law’s commitment to expanding access to legal education while ensuring graduates enter the profession with the skills and experience needed to serve clients and communities.

�鶹��Ƶ �鶹��Ƶ Law

�鶹��Ƶ Law is the preeminent school for engaged and experiential learning in law. With a focus on learning by doing, it integrates traditional classroom instruction with a required residency-in-practice field placement for all full-time students during the winter or spring of their second year. The law school’s distinctive full-time curriculum provides a logically sequenced program of professional preparation and is accomplished in 2.5 years, which offers exceptional value by lowering tuition and permitting graduates early entry into their careers.

�鶹��Ƶ Law has graduated nearly 2,000 alumni since opening its doors in 2006. Its annual enrollment now tops 540 students. The law school is regularly featured in PreLaw Magazine’s “Best Schools for Practical Training” rankings, maintaining an A+ rating and Top 10 placement annually since 2023. �鶹��Ƶ Law was also among schools highlighted by Bloomberg Law in 2023 for its innovative approach to student development.

In downtown Greensboro, the �鶹��Ƶ Law campus spans several buildings within a two-block radius adjacent to the judicial hub of central North Carolina. Courts a short walk from the law school include the U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. Several branches of the North Carolina General Court of Justice, including the Superior, District, Drug Treatment, Mental Health and Small Claims Courts, are within walking distance. Dozens of large, medium and small law firms, as well as municipal offices, are likewise located nearby.

�鶹��Ƶ Law is one of only a handful of law schools in the nation to house a working court with the North Carolina Business Court hearing cases in the Robert E. Long Courtroom on the Greensboro campus. The Long Courtroom annually hosts oral arguments of the North Carolina Court of Appeals and has twice welcomed the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

In Charlotte, the �鶹��Ƶ Law Flex Program — a part-time, in-person J.D. program for working professionals and place-bound students, launched in fall 2024. Housed at �鶹��Ƶ’s national campus in Charlotte, the Flex Program is designed to be completed in just under four years. It enrolled its second cohort in fall 2025.

Once the additional program is approved and launched, �鶹��Ƶ Law will offer three North Carolina-based options for law students:

• A full-time, 2.5-year Juris Doctor program in Charlotte
• A part-time, 4-year �鶹��Ƶ Law Flex Program in Charlotte
• A full-time, 2.5-year Juris Doctor program in Greensboro

“The need for graduate and professional programs in one of our nation’s fastest-growing cities makes the launch of a full-time law program a natural next step for �鶹��Ƶ Law,” said �鶹��Ƶ President Connie Ledoux Book. “�鶹��Ƶ is deeply committed to serving the Charlotte community by introducing new and innovative programs that enhance educational offerings for professionals and address the expressed needs of the region.”

�鶹��Ƶ is deeply committed to serving the Charlotte community by introducing new and innovative programs that enhance educational offerings for professionals and address the expressed needs of the region.

– �鶹��Ƶ President Connie Ledoux Book

The new full-time J.D. program in Charlotte will mirror �鶹��Ƶ Law’s existing, nationally recognized curriculum and successful approach to experiential learning. It also will expand the reach of the school’s robust law alumni network in a metropolitan region where a significant number of �鶹��Ƶ Law graduates live and practice.

With the launch of this additional program, �鶹��Ƶ Law will have a full-time presence in two cities that are home to influential federal courts — the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina in Greensboro, and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina in Charlotte — as well as the state court system; federal, state and municipal government agencies; and nonprofits that provide legal services to underserved communities.

The full-time �鶹��Ƶ Law program plans to enroll a class of about 75 students, a size that allows �鶹��Ƶ Law to strategically develop partnerships with Charlotte’s legal community and provide options for future growth. �鶹��Ƶ Law students in Charlotte will complete a full-time, course-connected residency-in-practice with a practicing attorney or judge during their second year.

“�鶹��Ƶ Law’s advantage is that our students learn the law by practicing it in the community,” said Zak Kramer, dean of �鶹��Ƶ School of Law. “We’ve been part of Charlotte for years. This is about deepening those relationships, building new ones and doing more through the community-connected model we’ve developed in Greensboro.”

Beginning in Fall 2027, �鶹��Ƶ Law plans to operate both of its law programs from the Queens University of Charlotte campus, either upon completion of the planned merger of the two institutions or through a lease agreement.

Applications will be accepted starting in August 2026. Per ABA requirements, offers of admission will not be extended until formal permission is granted.

Visit www.elon.edu/law for more information and updates on �鶹��Ƶ Law’s offerings for aspiring attorneys.

What They’re Saying

• “I am delighted to learn that �鶹��Ƶ Law is expanding its presence in Charlotte with the addition of a full-time program. As our city continues its remarkable growth, offering both part-time and full-time law school options will strengthen access to legal education and serve the needs of our community. Charlotte’s dynamic business environment attracts law firms and companies from across the country, creating new opportunities for lawyers and increasing the demand for legal services. �鶹��Ƶ’s expansion ensures that Charlotte remains a hub for legal talent and innovation—a vision we all share and support.  As president of the Mecklenburg Bar Association, I look forward to collaborating with �鶹��Ƶ Law to provide networking and professional development opportunities that will enrich the experience of future lawyers and strengthen our legal community.” – Sarah Motley Stone, partner, Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP, and 2025-26 president of the Mecklenburg Bar Association
• “As a native of Charlotte and a practicing attorney in this community, I am excited about �鶹��Ƶ Law’s plans for a full-time J.D. program in Charlotte. As a major metropolitan region, Charlotte-Mecklenburg has a growing need for legal services across both the public and private sectors. Establishing a law school here creates a pathway for aspiring attorneys to earn their law degrees in Charlotte, benefit from mentorship and experiential opportunities within our region’s legal profession and remain here to begin their legal careers. This will advance the legal profession and broader legal community” – Dena King, partner, Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina
• “Locales in our state and region with far less complexity than Charlotte have long been enriched by local institutions of legal education and training. That same need has persisted here for many years. A growth explosion in our community requires — now more than ever — an expanded pool of skilled and proficient attorneys to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law, particularly in public interest law. The safety and vitality of our community depend on preparing the next generation of prosecutors here in Charlotte, and �鶹��Ƶ Law’s experiential programs cultivate competent and credible practitioners, rooted in a community they can serve and support throughout their legal careers.” – Spencer B. Merriweather III, Mecklenburg County District Attorney

�鶹��Ƶ �鶹��Ƶ School of Law

�鶹��Ƶ Law is the preeminent school for engaged and experiential learning in law. With a focus on learning by doing, it integrates traditional classroom instruction with a required residency-in-practice field placement for all full-time students during the winter or spring of their second year. The law school’s distinctive full-time curriculum provides a logically sequenced program of professional preparation and is accomplished in 2.5 years, which offers exceptional value by lowering tuition and permitting graduates early entry into their careers. �鶹��Ƶ Law is regularly featured in PreLaw Magazine’s “Best Schools for Practical Training” rankings, maintaining an A+ rating and Top 10 placement annually since 2023. The �鶹��Ƶ Law Flex Program, a part-time, in-person program of legal study, launched at �鶹��Ƶ’s Charlotte campus in 2024. Tailored to students whose work or other obligations make Charlotte the ideal place to earn their law degree, the program is designed to be completed in four years and currently enrolls 77 students.

�鶹��Ƶ �鶹��Ƶ

�鶹��Ƶ is a nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, ambitious and ethical citizens of our global culture. At �鶹��Ƶ, more than 7,000 students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff. More than 70 undergraduate majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business administration, business analytics, accounting, education, higher education, physician assistant studies and physical therapy.

An internship at a small law firm confirmed her desire to pursue a legal career and eventually brought her to �鶹��Ƶ School of Law, where a residency-in-practice with Bell Partners sharpened her skills and confidence.

“My residency helped me shift from thinking like a law student to thinking like a practicing attorney,” Hernandez said. “You don’t just research for the sake of it. You’re solving real problems, and that makes you more efficient, more focused, and more prepared.”

�鶹��Ƶ Law’s Residency-in-Practice Program is the cornerstone of an innovative curriculum that emphasizes legal skills through hands-on learning. Every second-year law student spends the winter or spring in a full-time, 10-week placement under the supervision of jurists and lawyers inspired to mentor future legal leaders.

This is the third in a series of conversations with �鶹��Ƶ Law students in the Class of 2025 reflecting on their recent residencies-in-practice.

What inspired you to study law, and why did you select Bell Partners for your residency-in-practice?

From a young age, I was always interested in the law. In college, I majored in criminology and was required to complete an internship. I knew I didn’t want to follow the typical path, like interning with a parole officer, so I sought out my own opportunity and interned at a small law firm near campus. I realized this was something I truly enjoyed, and it confirmed my decision to pursue law school after graduation.

Bell Partners first caught my attention when their senior vice president spoke to one of our student organizations about what in-house counsel work is like. After the meeting, I introduced myself and explained my interest in business law. I even spoke to a former �鶹��Ƶ Law student who had completed a residency there and asked about their experience.

When it came time for the residency match process, Bell Partners was my top choice. I was excited by the opportunity to learn more about in-house counsels’ role — especially at a company focused on investment and real estate, which is an area I have a personal connection to through my family. The combination of business law and real estate made it a great fit.

What were some of your daily responsibilities?

My responsibilities varied day to day, which kept things interesting. Some days, I redlined contracts or non-disclosure agreements. Other days, I focused on legal research, looking into statutes that involve rental properties and issues.

My supervisors also involved me in day-to-day issues. For example, if an urgent legal matter arose and they needed to solve a problem, I was able to assist and support them. It was a great way to learn how fast-paced and dynamic in-house counsel roles can be.

What did you learn in your residency that surprised you?

What surprised me most was how broad in-house legal work really is. My supervisor once told me that in this role, you don’t need to know everything about one thing, you need to know a little bit about a lot of things. That really stuck with me. You don’t need to specialize in certain areas, you need to be versatile and know enough about different areas of the law to be able to research and resolve issues.

One of the biggest things I learned was how important it is to simplify legal language. As law students, we’re trained to explain everything in detail. But in the real world, sometimes the answer needs to be clear and simple — just a “yes” or “no,” especially when working with non-lawyers. I learned to adjust how I communicate based on my audience.

The experience with Bell Partners also improved my legal research skills. I honed abilities I already felt comfortable with, like issue-spotting and being able to analyze information quickly but in a very detail-oriented way. For example, in a contract, maybe you redline those terms you want to revisit and fine-tune in the final version.

Looking toward graduation and launching your career, how did your residency experience prepare you? What essential skills or connections did you develop?

This experience confirmed for me that this is the area of law I want to go into. As an undergraduate, I dabbled in business law and kept it in the back of my head throughout law school. Being able to work and see the daily lives of attorneys in an in-house counsel position proved that this is where I want to be.

My residency experience played a crucial role in preparing me for my job search. I built meaningful connections with my supervisors, several of whom have supported me with recommendations during the application process. The experience also gave me greater confidence in the quality of my work and affirmed my ability to contribute effectively in a legal environment.

Getting a taste of professional legal experience through the Residency-in-Practice Program before we graduate from law school and enter practice is very important. It helped me recognize my value as a potential employee at any law firm. Additionally, I developed stronger communication skills, particularly in understanding how different attorneys approach and respond to various situations. These insights have been essential in shaping my professional growth and readiness for the next step in my career.

Judges John Tyson, April Wood and Christopher Freeman heard arguments on April 3, 2025, in , which involves questions around statutes of limitations that govern when cases can be refiled. Attorneys for Puma Biotechnology argue the trial court erred in determining their case wasn’t re-filed within those prescribed time frames.

Attorneys in also presented arguments in a negligence case arising from a high school lacrosse game where a player was paralyzed during a play. The plaintiff-appellant’s counsel argues that the athlete’s family’s claims of negligence were improperly dismissed by a trial court, which also granted the defendant’s motion for summary judgment.

Arguments took place in the Robert E. Long Courtroom inside �鶹��Ƶ’s downtown Greensboro law school. The N.C. Court of Appeals visits the law school annually to hear cases before students and faculty.

“We learn about, craft and practice oral arguments in class, but seeing experienced attorneys present their cases is completely different. It sets the bar in terms of what we should be aiming for,” said Saniya Pangare L’25, a graduate of North Carolina State University and a McMichael Law and Leadership Fellow at �鶹��Ƶ Law. Pangare is interested in complex litigation and completed her residency with Judge Jimmie V. Reyna in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

“I think the Residency program sets this school apart. I have found that putting students in a legal practice for an extended period of time daily to be invaluable. That’s been a boon for me and my chambers, and I think it shows why so many clerks have been hired from �鶹��Ƶ: You’ve gotten that training and you’re ready.”
– Judge John Tyson, N.C. Court of Appeals

Landon Eckard L’25, who plans a career in appellate advocacy and constitutional litigation, focused on how lawyers responded to questions and the contrast in style among each judges’ questions and attorneys’ arguments.

“The most valuable thing for me was observing the spontaneity between the judges and advocates: how an advocate’s response prompted the judge to inquire further on a particular point or to shift to a different issue the case presented,” said Eckard, who graduated from Appalachian State University and completed his residency this winter with U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan C. Rodriguez in the Western District of North Carolina. “It shows that the true purpose of oral arguments is to engage in conversation with judges and address their concerns.”

New alumni return as court clerks

The hearings marked a homecoming for several recent �鶹��Ƶ graduates now clerking for judges at the N.C. Court of Appeals.

Addie Ackley L’24 began working as a judicial law clerk in Wood’s office last month after completing her Residency-in-Practice and an additional internship with Tyson’s office. Libby Fadl L’24 and Ashton Hopson L’24 both began clerking for Freeman this winter. For Fadl and Hopson, the oral arguments at �鶹��Ƶ Law were the first they’d attended as clerks in their new positions.

During a Q&A session after the hearings, Tyson praised �鶹��Ƶ Law’s experiential curriculum and cited it as a primary reason �鶹��Ƶ Law graduates are frequently hired as clerks by judges on the Court of Appeals.

“I think the Residency program sets this school apart,” Tyson said. “I have found that putting students in a legal practice for an extended period of time daily to be invaluable. That’s been a boon for me and my chambers, and I think it shows why so many clerks have been hired from �鶹��Ƶ: You’ve gotten that training and you’re ready. It makes a difference when you can demonstrate that level of skill.”

Both Fadl and Hopson listened to counsels’ arguments with new perspectives, focused less on how the attorneys made their arguments — which absorbed most of their attention during their law school days — and more on the content and persuasiveness they employed.

“Returning to �鶹��Ƶ Law for our first oral arguments, I felt such a deep sense of gratitude to share a small part of my early career with the community that helped me create it,” Hopson said. “The most important duty we owe to our clients is competency, and when speaking with someone in the legal field, they tell you they ‘practice’ law. I believe our profession always calls for us to be students, which is pretty amazing.”

The student Q&A was moderated by Caroleen Dineen, associate professor of law and director of the Legal Method and Communication Program. Judges and attorneys representing the cases responded to students’ questions about how cases are decided and how lawyers craft persuasive legal briefs. Before the hearings, students and faculty interacted with judges and court staff over lunch.

“We are so excited each year to have the Court of Appeals visit and provide our students the opportunity to learn about advocacy through observing distinguished judges and advocates in action,” said Alan Woodlief, vice dean and professor of law. “Opportunities like these spark student interest in advocacy generally and specifically in pursuing prestigious judicial clerkships upon graduation and Residencies-in-Practice while students. It was a proud moment when the judges recognized several �鶹��Ƶ Law alumni and students in attendance who are currently working with the court.”

�鶹��Ƶ �鶹��Ƶ Law

�鶹��Ƶ Law in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina, is the preeminent school for engaged and experiential learning in law. With a focus on learning by doing, it integrates traditional classroom instruction with a required, full-time residency-in-practice field placement for all full-time students during the winter or spring of their second year. The law school’s distinctive curriculum offers a logically sequenced program of professional preparation and is accomplished in 2.5 years, which provides exceptional value by lowering tuition and permitting graduates early entry into their careers.

�鶹��Ƶ Law has graduated more than 1,500 alumni since opening its doors in 2006. Its annual enrollment now tops 440 students and the law school is regularly featured in PreLaw Magazine’s “Best Schools for Practical Training” rankings, placing in the Top 10 for three consecutive years.

The �鶹��Ƶ Law Flex Program, a part-time, in-person program of legal study for working professionals, launched in Fall 2024 at �鶹��Ƶ’s Charlotte campus.

Assistant Dean Jenny Lane L’15 will lead an Office of Academic Success that offers courses and provides resources to succeed in law school, pass the bar examination, and develop habits that will carry over into a professional setting.

Lane’s return to �鶹��Ƶ Law – she previously worked for a few years in academic support for her alma mater – fully completes the Office of Academic Success. She joins Marty McAuliffe, who joined the law school community in August as director of academic and bar success, and Patrick Ellington L’13, �鶹��Ƶ Law’s academic and bar success specialist.

Assistant Director of Career Development Kristen Covington’s arrival also fully completes the Office of Career and Student Development where she will advise �鶹��Ƶ Law students on a range of topics including personal, career, and leadership development.

“We’re lucky to have Jenny and Kristen on the team. Our people are �鶹��Ƶ Law’s greatest resource, and Jenny and Kristen are already making a difference for our students,” said �鶹��Ƶ Law Dean Zak Kramer. “It’s good to have their offices—the Office of Academic Success and the Office of Career and Student Development—fully staffed and charging forward with and on behalf of our students.”

�鶹��Ƶ the New Staff

Jenny Lane L’15

Jenny Lane’s appointment to serve as assistant dean for academic success brings her back to �鶹��Ƶ School of Law after a year managing the AccessLex Champions Program, a nationwide program of more than 300 student representatives who shared resources in their respective law schools.

Lane had served from 2017-2022 in �鶹��Ƶ Law’s Office of Academic Success as an academic skills instructor and director of bar success programs where, among other responsibilities, she:

• Taught required 1L, 2L, and 3L courses including Bar Exam Foundations and Introduction to Legal Studies
• Designed and led the Bar Exam Mentorship program which connected bar-takers with an alumni or faculty bar mentor to assist in their bar exam journey
• Created the “Texts for Success” Bar Exam Initiative, which featured daily texts containing study tips, motivational quotes, and more to bar-studiers

Lane graduated cum laude from Saint Vincent College before enrolling at �鶹��Ƶ Law. She started her legal career as the Julian T. Pierce Fellowship Attorney for Legal Aid of North Carolina before accepting a full-time position with Legal Aid as a staff attorney in Gastonia.

“I am excited to return to �鶹��Ƶ Law and rejoin this hard-working, intelligent, and inspirational community. As the new Assistant Dean of Academic Success, I’m eager to help graduates prepare for and succeed on the bar exam while supporting our current students’ law school journey. My door is always open!

Kristen Covington

Prior to joining the �鶹��Ƶ Law community in November, Kristen Covington served as director of recruitment and employer development for North Carolina Central University School of Law. In that position, she designed marketing materials and assisted with event planning and promotion, collected data from events and programming, and maintained records for reporting for the American Bar Association.

She also provided career path coaching and directed the School of Law’s mentor program, matching nearly a hundred students with one of dozens of volunteer mentors.

Covington graduated magna cum laude University of South Carolina after double majoring in criminology and criminal justice/African-American Studies. She worked for a few years in the airline industry before returning to North Carolina Center School of Law and serving as a Lexis Nexis Ambassador and with the Women’s Law Caucus, the Durham County Teen Court, and the law school’s Dime Initiative.

“I’m excited to join the �鶹��Ƶ Law community,” Covington said. “I firmly believe that meeting students and building relationships will help me assist them in obtaining their dreams and goals. I look forward to being a resource and providing encouragement and support.”

Krista Contino Saumby was among the professors and instructors on a plenary panel discussion titled “Addressing the Alarming Shortage of Hispanic Law Faculty and Deans: Widening Pipelines, Increasing Representation, and Empowering Our Community” on September 7, 2023, at the Hispanic National Bar Association Annual Convention in Minneapolis.

The session included panelists from the HNBA’s Special Committee on Hispanic Law Faculty and Deans formed in April. Anthony E. Varona, dean and professor of law at Seattle University School of Law, served as moderator.

The panel addressed the reasons for a shortage of Hispanic attorneys in the United States, the imperative to redress the shortage, and various successful strategies to increase the number of Hispanics in the legal academy along with providing specific guidance for Hispanic lawyers and law students interested in pursuing careers in legal academia.

Contino challenged attendees to consider the opportunity to instruct and enter academia.

“I spoke to a law clerk before coming up to the stage today,” she said. “They told me they could not be a professor because they did not go to a T-14 law school. I tell my students to never self-eliminate. I say the same to every individual here.”

As of early 2023, only nine of the almost 200 deans of ABA-accredited law schools in the 50 states and the District of Columbia are Hispanic/Latino, and the percentage of Hispanic/Latino law professors is estimated to be 5%.

According to the most recent ABA Profile of the Legal Profession, only 5.8% of lawyers in the U.S. are Hispanic, despite Hispanics comprising 19% of the general population.

Contino was appointed last year to the role of regional president for Region VI of the Hispanic National Bar Association, the country’s largest professional organization to represent and advocate on behalf of Hispanic attorneys.

Prior to entering legal education, she leveraged her electrical and computer engineering degree from Carnegie Mellon University and law degree to counsel Fortune 500 companies such as Google, Apple, Adobe, Yamaha, and Boeing in patent law.

She joined the Office of Career & Student Development in June 2022 and, in addition to mentoring students who seek her expertise for career assistance, teaches a year-long required course, “Lawyering, Leadership, and Professionalism”, each year for the incoming class.