RALEIGH — Campbell Law School students have formed a new organization known as the Plaintiffs’ Advocacy & Litigation Society (PALS).
The student-led organization was co-founded by Jessica McClellan ‘25, Talley Ridgeway ‘26, Emmy Barcelona ‘26, Allison Wade ‘25 and Garret Anderson ’25, who make up the inaugural executive board.
“PALS was created to meet students’ growing interest in connecting with plaintiff’s attorneys and gaining a deeper understanding of the realities of trial practice,” explained McClellan. “Our goal is to foster a welcoming community for aspiring trial lawyers, providing mentorship, practical insights and professional development opportunities.
“This organization would not have come to life without Talley‘s exceptional ability to keep logistics in order, Emmy‘s keen eye for editing, Allison‘s creativity in our launch, and Garrett’s natural talent for engaging every student who walked through the door. I’m beyond proud of this amazing team for making PALS a reality!”
The PALS executive board plans to collaborate with the outstanding resources already available through the Campbell Law Career Center while creating direct pathways for students to connect with plaintiff’s attorneys in their desired practice areas, McClellan added.
“Our immediate priority is to grow our membership and establish relationships with practicing attorneys,” she explained. “Looking ahead, we aim to develop a mentorship program pairing 1Ls with 3Ls who have taken litigation-focused courses, providing guidance and support to incoming students.”
Organizers also aspire to send Campbell Law students to national trial attorney conventions, enhancing both professional opportunities and Campbell Law’s presence on a broader stage.
PALS sponsored a “Donuts with PALS” event on Feb. 6, which provided students the opportunity to learn more about the organization’s mission. “We couldn’t be more thrilled with the incredible response from students at our first event this morning,” McClellan wrote on a LinkedIn post.
This semester, PALS plans include introducing a Trial Lawyer Lecture Series and panels to provide practical insights and strategies for excelling in trial advocacy courses and preparing for summer advocacy opportunities as well as organizing a service project to allow Campbell Law students to give back to the community, McClellan added.
ABOUT CAMPBELL LAW SCHOOL
Since its founding in 1976, Campbell Law 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 celebrated 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.