On April 6, 2024, HPU Law sponsored an event titled “Calling All Majors,” featuring programming designed to increase diversity among law school applicants and diversity in the legal profession. The event was packed with helpful information about the law school application process, law school academic life, and the professional life of lawyers. The law school invited pre-law advisors and undergraduate students from throughout North Carolina and Virginia.
Founding Dean and Professor of Law Mark Martin welcomed the attendees and shared about the vision for HPU Law. Doug Hall, HPU Vice President of Career and Professional Development, then spoke about his personal professional journey and provided attendees with suggestions on how best to attain professional success. Jay Shively, HPU Law Associate Dean of Admissions and Lecturer on Law, next spoke on navigating the law school admission process.
After lunch, Scott Gaylord, who will begin this August as HPU Professor of Law, presented on how best students can prepare for law school academic life; and he even showed one of his law school exams to the attendees to help them better understand the academic expectations in law school. The event concluded with an interactive panel on life as a law student and lawyer. The panel (featured in the photos) was moderated by Judge Marcus Shields, former North Carolina District Court Judge and current litigator at Ellis & Winters; and the panelists included Alexus Acree, Associate at Fox Rothschild, Jaime McCoy, HPU graduate and current Attorney Advisor at the Federal Communications Commission, and Jeremy Thompson, HPU graduate and current student at Washington and Lee University School of Law.
In reflecting on the event, Dean Martin stated, “One aspect of HPU Law’s mission is to promote diversity of thought, background, and experience in legal education and the legal profession. Hosting Calling All Majors was one of the many initiatives HPU Law will undertake to carry out this mission and inspire undergraduates to dream about the many ways they can serve others through serving as a lawyer.”
Dr. Hall shared: “In the Office of Career and Professional Development, we appreciate the invaluable partnership with HPU Law in guiding undergraduate students towards clarity in their professional journey. This collaboration has provided crucial insights for students to properly discern whether law school aligns with their career aspirations and calling.”
Patricia Ford, HPU Law Office Administrator who led the efforts in organizing the event, added: “In my many years working as a registered nurse and then an attorney, I witnessed how seasoned professors and practitioners can instill in students a passion for justice. It was so gratifying to participate in this event in which we helped equip students with practical strategies for how best to succeed in law school and pursue that passion.”