Legal Link Year in Review

By Brittany Harry, Cherell Harris, Chazle’ Woodley, Quinn Byars, Huma Khursheed, and Zack Kaplan

Introduction

The YLD’s Legal Link Committee has been on the move in 2025. Through nine events (and counting) in communities across the state, committee members and guest speakers have engaged with hundreds of middle and high school students in a variety of settings with one shared goal: sparking interest in and access to legal careers among students historically and currently underrepresented in our profession.

There is no way of knowing how many of the seeds of interest planted within students during these events will grow into future lawyers, judges, and community leaders. But based on our interactions with students during these events, one thing is clear: the future of our profession is bright.

January: Durham County Youth Home

Quinn Byars

In January, Legal Link visited the Durham County Youth Home (juvenile detention center). It was an experience that profoundly impacted me. Our mission was to engage with the youth and share insights from our legal journeys. The panel featured four attorneys with diverse legal backgrounds. This helped to create a dynamic atmosphere for the youth who participated in a hypothetical case involving theft. Their enthusiasm and critical thinking were inspiring and reminded me of my own experiences as a young person navigating the complexities of the legal system.

As we delved into discussions, it was rewarding to listen to their thoughts and watch them advocate for their positions. They were not mere observers; they actively engaged in a dialogue about justice, fairness, and the implications of their arguments. This interaction highlighted the importance of critical thinking, not just in law but in life.

The panel event underscored the transformative power of legal education. I left feeling energized and hopeful about the future, believing that the seeds of knowledge we planted could grow into advocacy and change in their lives. I was moved to share a bit of my own story about overcoming challenges in the juvenile justice system. I hope it helped forge deeper connections and reminded this group of youth that their dreams and aspirations are attainable.

February: Hillside High School

Zack Kaplan

On February 28, the Legal Link Committee wrapped up Black History Month in a place brimming with North Carolina Black history and excellence: Durham’s Hillside High School. Panelists Quinn Byars, Ricardo Velasquez, and Andrew Simpson met with about 40 students in the Hillside library to discuss their legal careers and the particular challenges faced by lawyers of color.

First, the students engaged in a criminal law hypothetical involving a high school student, “Josh,” accused of stealing a classmate’s laptop. Perhaps unsurprisingly, most students rushed to Josh’s defense, keenly pointing out that all of the evidence implicating Josh in the alleged theft was circumstantial, that the testimony of Josh’s ex-girlfriend Lily was patently unreliable, and that Josh had a reasonable expectation of the privacy of the contents of his backpack from unauthorized searches while at school. It quickly became clear that we had some skilled and passionate future criminal defense attorneys among us.

Next, students peppered the panelists with career questions. Most Hillside students are Black or Latinx, and many were curious about the particular challenges and joys experienced by lawyers of color. The panelists shared candidly about their experiences across that spectrum, from the sting of being mistaken for a defendant in court to the purpose found in serving the same communities that supported your success. As students nodded along in implicit understanding, you could feel the space between the world as it is and the world as it should be shrinking, if only just a little.

The panel’s setting made the conversation even more meaningful. Included among Hillside’s many illustrious alumni is Pauli Murray, the Durham-raised lawyer, scholar, and theologian who laid the legal and philosophical foundation for both the racial justice work of Thurgood Marshall and the gender equality work of Ruth Bader Ginsburg well before Kimberle Crenshaw coined the phrase “intersectionality.” Engaging with future Black history-makers, during Black History month, in a school chock-full of Black history felt like a winning tic-tac-toe for Legal Link.

March: MIP Conference

Brittany Harry and Cherell Harris

In March, Legal Link partnered with the NCBA Minorities in the Profession Committee for this year’s Pre-Law Conference titled “Bringing Order to Chaos: Is Law School the Answer?” The conference was held at North Carolina Central University School of Law in Durham and offered a full day of events for nearly 100+ registered participants, ranging from high school students to individuals considering a second career in law. Throughout the day, attendees had the opportunity to sit in on a mock Constitutional Law class, listen to a panel discussion featuring various attorneys from different practice areas, engage in conversations with judges, and meet admissions representatives from several North Carolina law schools, among other opportunities.

One of the most memorable segments of the day was the mock class. Every seat was filled, and the discussion about the establishment of the Constitution, particularly our rights under the First Amendment and freedom of speech, ignited meaningful conversation. This dialogue delineated what the legal field embodies, a melting pot of diverse interpretations of the law and its application among the people. Following this, a few other attorneys and I were able to continue the discussion with some of the attendees, learning more about their “why,” offering encouragement and tips as they prepare for their journey, and creating opportunities for connection and mentorship.

This event was a full-circle moment for me. Not only did it take place at the law school from which I graduated, but I, too, was a participant of a pre-law conference, years ago. The insights I gained about the legal profession and the opportunity to speak with professionals actively working in the field were invaluable. These experiences were crucial in maintaining my momentum to pursue a career in law, and I am sure many of the attendees felt the same way.

April: Dillard Dr. Magnet School

Chazle’ Woodley

In April, Legal Link hosted two panels at Dillard Drive Magnet School. On April 11, we hosted a panel titled “Women in the Law,” in which female attorneys spoke about their experiences as a woman in the legal profession and male counterparts spoke about their advocacy and support of their female colleagues. One of the most engaging parts of the panel was when attorney panelists shared real-life stories with the students about times in which they were treated differently or less than their counterparts due to their gender, and how they navigated those scenarios and didn’t allow them to discourage them from moving forward in the profession.

On April 25, we hosted a session titled, “Plaintiff v. Defendant.” We had attorneys from both sides of the “v” in both the criminal and civil world to discuss what their jobs entail, and what it looks like to “fight” the other side on a daily basis. An interesting question raised and answered was, “Are you enemies in real life?”, to which we explained that each attorney has a duty to zealously advocate for their clients, but cordiality and professionalism is key. In fact, we told them that many of us are friends in real life and don’t consider each other true enemies.

We ended each session by providing encouragement to all students in the room telling them to never give up on their dream, whatever it may be, and we provided tips to success such as keeping their grades up, getting involved in extracurricular activities, and shadowing a few attorneys for a day to see what they do on a regular basis.

April: Student U Future Careers Day

Huma Khursheed

In April, Legal Link participated in Future Careers Day at Student U, a Durham-based nonprofit that serves students who would be first in their families to attend college. Attorneys met with high school students across all grade levels, including students who may be considering a career in the legal profession. Attorneys presented the students with a fun search-and-seizure hypothetical to introduce them to criminal law, and more importantly, the idea of “thinking like a lawyer.” Students were tasked with providing the argument for both the defense and prosecution, which allowed them to get an idea of what some attorneys do everyday, particularly when it comes to building an argument, anticipating counterarguments, or detecting what questions remain unanswered – the infamous “grey areas” where lawyering thrives.

Following the activity, each attorney introduced themselves. Students were able to learn about different practice areas, including criminal defense, family law, personal injury, and civil rights. Students were able to ask questions and the discussion ranged from general questions about being a lawyer to planning for law school while in either high school or college to even what each lawyer’s most interesting case had been. It was a great learning experience not only for the students but also for the attorneys as they exchanged stories about how they handled interesting or difficult cases. Attorneys also shared their motivations for becoming lawyers or how their paths ultimately led them to law even after careers in different industries. One particular moment was when a student asked about the path to getting to law school, posing whether the path is closed off if one, for example, experiences academic setbacks. The attorneys shared their own personal challenges on the path to law, stressing that there is no linear or perfect path and that the opportunity will be there if one is passionate about becoming a lawyer.

Each session ended on a positive note with the students seemingly excited to either learn more about law or connect with attorneys. Students also enjoyed engaging with the activity and offered answers that demonstrated an understanding of larger concepts that attorneys engage with everyday, such as critical analysis of a factual scenario. We left feeling encouraged and excited, hoping that we may have inspired some students to consider a career in law.

Conclusion

As we reflect on this bar year, the Legal Link Committee is proud of the seeds of possibility planted at each of these events and others. Especially during a time of great division and doom in our state and national psyche, it was encouraging to leave these events with a brighter sense of the future of our profession. Put differently, the kids are alright.