On September 24, High Point University’s Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law welcomed dozens of employers and attorneys for its inaugural Career Night. Employer tables filled all three floors of the law school, giving students an opportunity to make connections, ask questions, and learn about the many directions a legal career can take them.
Students met with a wide variety of attorneys in private practice, from solo practitioners and boutique firms to larger firms with a national presence. They also connected with representatives from district attorney and public defender offices, Legal Aid of North Carolina, the Children’s Law Center of Central North Carolina, Safe Alliance, and the North Carolina Equal Access to Justice Commission.
Career Night offered HPU Law students a chance to explore practice areas and workplaces through direct conversations with the attorneys in full-time legal roles. For a few of our law students, Career Night was their first opportunity to practice networking with legal professionals and begin building relationships that can grow throughout law school. Maya Martin, a 2L, stated, “I am incredibly grateful that, as students at the Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law, we have opportunities like Career Night to build meaningful connections with attorneys and legal professionals that can lead to future internships, externships, mentorship, and professional opportunities. Events like this allow us to engage directly with members of the legal community while developing the relationships that will help shape our careers. I am especially grateful for our dedicated Career Development staff and the attorneys, firms, and community partners who took the time to invest in us and support our professional growth.”
The evening gave employers an opportunity to meet HPU Law students and share what they value in future colleagues. Reflecting on his team’s participation, Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill praised the students’ enthusiasm and commitment to service.
“The students we met are sharp and motivated. They are already thinking about how to serve their communities,” O’Neill wrote. “High Point is producing some excellent young lawyers.”
Career Night reflects HPU Law’s commitment to helping students build professional relationships and explore meaningful legal careers. Through events like this one, students can connect what they are learning in law school with the people, organizations, and communities they may one day serve. For John Kasprzak, Director of Career Development at HPU Law, the breadth of employer participation highlights the school’s growing reach and the relationships that support students as they enter the profession.
“With seven law schools in North Carolina and countless demands on attorneys’ time, we were thrilled by both the variety of practice areas and the geographic diversity represented by participating employers,” Kasprzak said. “Their engagement demonstrates HPU Law’s potential impact as an institution and reflects the strong relationships our staff and faculty have built with practitioners. These connections will help our students transition from learner to lawyer.”
Mark Martin, former NC Supreme Court Chief Justice and founding dean, commented,
“We so appreciate every attorney and organization that took time to offer insight and encouragement to our students at Career Night, and we look forward to seeing the connections made that evening continue to grow!“