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Planting Seeds in the Desert: Interviews with Legal Oasis Interns (Part 12)

Jim, a white man with grey and brown hair, wears a white shirt, pale blue tie and navy suit.
Jimbo Perry

In this blog post series, interns who are participating in the Legal Oasis Internship program discuss their participation in the program and why they choose to live and serve in an underserved area. Background on this program can be found in the initial blog post of this series. It is our hope that others will be inspired by these stories.

This post in this series is an interview with Sarah Kate Hamrick, a 2L at Campbell Law School. 

The interview was conducted by James S. Perry, a small-town practitioner in Kinston. Mr. Perry is also on the Professionalism Committee with the NCBA and is currently the Executive Director of the Chief Justice Commission on Professionalism.

Hamrick is from Huntersville, North Carolina. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with degrees in political science and journalism.

Sarah, a white woman with blond hair, wears a black blouse.

Sarah Kate Hamrick

How did you know you wanted to go to law school?

Growing up, I knew I wanted to enter a career field that could create a real impact on people’s lives. My interest in law was first sparked when my dad told me, “You need to go to law school. You love to prove a point!”

As I went through high school and college, I realized my dad was right: I did have the right skill set for law and advocacy. My interest in law school was solidified the summer of my junior year of college when I interned at the Cabarrus County Courthouse. Observing hearings and trials showed me firsthand that attorneys speak a secret language most people don’t understand, and I wanted to learn it. With lawyers making up only 0.4% of the U.S. population, according to the American Bar Association, mastering that language felt like a calling to serve my community.

What did you do this summer, and did it prepare you for your future?

This past summer, I had the opportunity to return to Cabarrus County through the Legal Oasis Internship program. I spent three weeks with the Cabarrus County Judges’ Office, and five weeks with Hartsell & Williams, P.A. in Concord, NC. Navigating both the bench and private practice gave me a unique, hands-on experience that enhanced my legal education and better prepared me for practice.

My time with the Judges’ Office was important for understanding courtroom proceedings and observing different approaches from practicing attorneys. My experience at Hartsell & Williams was just as informative, as it strengthened both my legal knowledge and interpersonal skills through communicating with clients and working on cases with attorneys.

Returning to Cabarrus County, just miles away from my hometown of Huntersville, was especially important because it is a smaller community facing the challenge of being a legal desert. During my time there, I witnessed the critical need for accessible legal representation and gained a deep appreciation for the close-knit relationships that define the community; these insights made the work even more meaningful for me.

Would you recommend other students do the same?

I am so grateful for the opportunity I had through the Legal Oasis Internship program, and I strongly encourage my fellow students to apply. Even if you don’t necessarily see yourself practicing in a smaller community, an experience similar to mine may change your perspective. A sincere thank you to Mr. Perry for his guidance and support throughout this experience!