Campbell Law hosts swearing-in ceremony for 2024 graduates

October 11, 2024

RALEIGH - Thirty recent Campbell Law School graduates participated in the annual swearing-in ceremony at the law school on Friday, Oct. 11, hosted by the Campbell Law Alumni Association.

The Honorable Paul Ridgeway, a 1986 Campbell Law graduate, and the Honorable Damion McCullers, a 2003 Campbell Law graduate, both North Carolina Superior Court judges, administered the oath of office and led the swearing-in of Campbell Law alumni who passed the July 2024 North Carolina Bar Examination.

McCullers told the group gathered in the Dupree Courtroom, "This is one of my favorite days and a day you will never forget. Always remember, you are a Campbell lawyer and that means you are prepared. You are a Camel. It is in your DNA."

He advised the group of new lawyers on the importance of finding a mentor. "It is imperative that you have someone to bounce something off of. We call it the practice of law because we learn something every day. And please, please take care of your mental health. It is a stressful profession and you have to take care of yourself because you have to be at your best for your client."

Ridgeway concluded his remarks in the Britt Courtroom saying, "I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you all. You have heard about some great organizations, the North Carolina Bar Association, the Wake County Bar Association and the Campbell Law Alumni Association and I hope you will take advantage of all they have to offer. Bottom line, we welcome you to the North Carolina Bar and the practice of law."

Bo Walker, a 2006 Campbell Law graduate, and Mark Scruggs, a 1986 Campbell Law graduate, both representing the Campbell Law Alumni Association, gave the welcome and opening remarks followed by Latasia Fields '18 and Jeff Benson, representing the North Carolina Bar Association, and Kimberly Miller '07 and Sarah Privette, representing the Wake County Bar Association. Walker and Miller are both former chairs of the Campbell Law Alumni Association.

Walker said, "Congratulations! Your journey has just begun … I look forward to practicing law with you and I hope to see you at a future Campbell Law Alumni Association event."

Miller added, "I am so excited for you all. I am here as incoming president of the Wake County Bar Association. I want to welcome you to the practice of law and I encourage you to join the local bar wherever you are. A local bar gives you a local community of attorneys at all aspects in their career. One of my favorite quotes is 'With great power comes great responsibility.' You have been given a superpower today. Be good and help people."

Maria Hawkins '12, who sponsored Sydney Kraft '24, was among a number of Campbell Law alumni who sponsored the new bar admittees. In her recommendation, Hawkins told the judge, "I had the pleasure of helping coach Ms. Kraft to victory in numerous trial advocacy competitions."

View the event photo gallery on the Campbell Law School Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/campbelllawschool.

The ceremony offered graduates the opportunity to be sworn in as attorneys with the North Carolina State Bar at their alma mater with their family, friends, professors, classmates and peers encouraging them and sharing the occasion. Each graduate took the oath of office as an attorney at law to support the Constitution of the United States.

"The annual swearing-in ceremony is one of our favorite events because it's the final destination on a long and challenging educational and professional journey," said Campbell Law Assistant Dean of External Relations Megan West Sherron '10. "It's also the beginning of a new career in the legal profession, and it means a great deal to the administration, faculty and staff that every year so many of our alumni return home to share this special occasion with us."

A reception was held in the Pope Foyer following the ceremony.

To learn more about the annual swearing-in ceremony, please contact Dean Sherron at [email protected].

ABOUT CAMPBELL LAW SCHOOL

Since its founding in 1976, Campbell Law School has developed lawyers who possess moral conviction, social compassion, and professional competence, and who view the law as a calling to serve others. Among its accolades, the school has been recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) as having the nation's top Professionalism Program and by the American Academy of Trial Lawyers for having the nation's best Trial Advocacy Program. Campbell Law boasts nearly 5,000 alumni, who make their home in nearly all 50 states and beyond. In 2024, Campbell Law is celebrating 45 years of graduating legal leaders and 15 years of being located in a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of North Carolina's Capital City.

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