Get to Know WIP Members Ashley Oldfield and Amy Schaefer
This month, we are excited to introduce two WIP members: Ashley Oldfield and Amy Schaefer!
Ashley Oldfield
What law school did you attend, and what was your graduation year?
Wake Forest University School of Law, 2020.
Describe what a typical workday is like for you.
If I don’t have a court appearance, I’m usually in my office doing research, writing briefs, or talking with clients.
Describe what you like to do outside of work.
Outside of work, I enjoy crocheting, baking, vegetable gardening, reading, and running.
Please describe a barrier or obstacle you have faced in your professional career.
Navigating law school with an elementary school-age child was difficult at times. Sick days, half days, field trips, teacher workdays, bus pickups and drop-offs, family dinner, story time, bedtime, etc., are not an easy fit with law school.
Please describe your reasons for becoming involved in WIP.
I joined WIP to connect with and support other women in the profession.
Amy Schaefer
What law school did you attend, and what was your graduation year?
Campbell University School of Law.
Describe what a typical workday is like for you.
No two days in land use law are ever the same, and that’s what I love about it. My day might include anything from negotiating a right-of-way settlement with the Department of Transportation, to drafting a special use permit application, to brainstorming creative solutions with developers and planners to make a project work within the code. I could be reviewing site plans, development proposals, or the latest zoning code amendments. I spend a lot of time balancing competing interests, private property rights, community needs, and regulatory requirements, while helping clients move their projects from vision to approval. The work is a blend of law, policy, and problem-solving, and every day brings the satisfaction of shaping the communities where we live and work.
Describe what you like to do outside of work.
Outside of work, I stay deeply involved in affordable housing advocacy. I am a Board member for Good Shepherd, a member of the Cape Fear Housing Coalition, and on the Zoning, Planning, and Land Use Subcommittee for Affordable Housing of the North Carolina State Bar Association. After busy days balancing client meetings and community work, I love slowing down with my family, catching up over dinner, or watching a favorite show together. Those moments remind me why balance matters.
Please describe a barrier or obstacle you have faced in your professional career.
Finding balance as a working parent has been one of my greatest challenges, but family always comes first. Law isn’t a 9-to-5 profession, especially in land use, where public hearings often dictate the schedule. There are times when I have evening public hearings, need to check my email, or take a work call outside regular hours, but that flexibility also allows me to be there for school functions and the moments that matter most. I try to show my daughter that my work helping shape communities and advocating for affordable housing is important. It’s not always easy, but it’s deeply rewarding to try to model both purpose and balance.
Please describe your reasons for becoming involved in WIP.
Throughout my career, I’ve benefitted from strong mentors who helped me find my footing and my voice. Joining Women in the Profession was a way to give back, to pay that support forward and help the next generation of women attorneys build confidence and community.