Meet the 2021-22 NCBA Law Student Representatives
By The NCBA Young Lawyers Division created the Law Student Representative program to empower law students to serve their schools and the NCBA through programming and networking. Law Student Representatives provide information to their colleagues about the NCBA and create opportunities for themselves and others to interface with the NCBA through events.
Below, meet the 2021-22 NCBA Law Student Representatives!
Anna Beck, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
Why are you involved in the NCBA?
I am involved in the NCBA because the NCBA events I attended as a 1L helped me think about my future career and allowed me to practice networking. I also wanted to encourage students at my school to engage with the NCBA because networking is key to success as an attorney, and you never know where a connection might lead!
What advice would you give to a 1L?
Give yourself grace – law school is a learning curve for everyone!
What is your area of practice interest?
Litigation
Why did you go to law school?
I went to law school so that I could use my passions of writing and storytelling to help others.
Cameron Benton, North Carolina Central University
Why are you involved in the NCBA?
I joined the NCBA because I was looking to be able to build a community and build professional connections within the state, as I am an out-of-state student from Georgia and had minimal contacts otherwise. So far, I’ve gotten just that and more. My time with the NCBA has made starting law school during an isolating and unusual time feel a lot more normal.
What advice would you give to a 1L?
(1) work smarter, not just harder, (2) go to sleep, and (3) always remember that it’s not what you know, or even who you know, but it’s who knows you.
- A major key to success in law school is finding and maintaining the right pace for you and most importantly, making sure it’s a feasible pace. This requires one to be honest with themselves in accessing what they can and can’t do on a daily/weekly basis and for how long they can actually maintain it without breaking down or getting overwhelmed. A consistent, feasible pace will help build good habits and allow for a much less stressful arrival to whatever academic goal/destination a student may have.
- This brings me to my next point, go to sleep. It is a dangerous trap to confuse activity with productivity. The human brain literally is not working anywhere near its full capacity when it’s sleep-deprived, and there are dozens of reputable peer-reviewed scientific studies on this. A sleep-deprived brain has to work much harder to process information, store newly learned information, and so on. That means one must prioritize an amount of daily sleep that will allow their minds to be the sharpest and literally help your brain not have to work so hard (again, work smarter not just harder.)
- Finally, “it’s not who you know, it’s who knows you” is a testament to the importance of joining organizations like the NCBA and networking horizontally with established attorneys but also horizontally with peers, whether they be from your school or otherwise. For example, I know President Biden, but President Biden has no idea who I am and therefore couldn’t help me with any plugs to his giant tree of connections. So, get out there, and make sure people know you.
What is your area of practice interest?
Currently, my practice interests are IP and technology, including but not limited to data privacy and security, tech startups, as well as blockchain and other smart contract-based emerging technologies.
Why did you go to law school?
Throughout the various career paths I thought I’ve wanted in my life, helping people has always been at the crux. I came to law school because I realized that law was consistently one of the main factors in the ability to help people, and in order to most effectively help the most people possible, I would have to achieve it via the law. Furthermore, I wanted a career where I could be challenged on a regular basis and be able to use critical thinking and problem-solving skills while helping people.
Sam Brady, Wake Forest University
Why are you involved in the NCBA?
I believe the NCBA has a lot to offer new legal professionals, and I want to showcase what an asset the NCBA can be to my peers at Wake Law.
What advice would you give to a 1L?
The legal world around you is filled with professionals who treasure mentorship. Find someone who has been there before and pick their brain – you will find plenty of people who are happy to connect with you.
What is your area of practice interest?
Civil Litigation
Why did you go to law school?
I’m a nontraditional law student who came to law school with a family, a wife, and two lovely children. Law school was always an ambition but doing it with and for my kids has been a true joy. I wanted to show them that anything is possible through hard work.
Tiqeece Brown, Campbell University
Why are you involved in the NCBA?
Life is a treasure map. It is about unlocking your full potential in different stages. The answers are within. Sometimes tools of enlightenment to better oneself come in the forms of events or people one meets along the way. They unknowingly may have the keys and clues to unlock different vaults of enlightenment on one’s journey. I want to be that pipeline for others to connect them to opportunities to help their growth on their journey. The NCBA has the tools to do that for my colleagues and me at my school.
What advice would you give to a 1L?
(1) If you were not capable, the opportunity would not have presented itself to you. (2) You belong. (3) Use your superpowers to do work in the name of creation. (4) Lead with purpose. On days you do not feel up to the challenge, your purpose will lead you. (5) Self care; mental health is wealth. (6) Celebrate the first downs.
What is your area of practice interest?
Education Law, Civil Rights Litigation/Public Interest, Sports Entertainment, Administrative Law
Why did you go to law school?
I wanted to use my superpowers of charisma, inquisition, empathy, passion, resiliency, authenticity and inclusivity to be an advocate for stifled voices to create a more just society. We are not meant to be human doings, but rather human beings.
Annie DeHart, North Carolina Central University
Why are you involved in the NCBA?
I am involved in the NCBA because I want to help facilitate furthered connection and opportunities between students at NCCU School of Law and the NCBA.
What advice would you give to a 1L?
I would advise any 1L to try different approaches to the new material and find what works best for them personally – there is no “right” way to navigate 1L year material!
What is your area of practice interest?
Juvenile Law, Health Law
Trey Ellis, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
Why are you involved in the NCBA?
I am involved in the NCBA because I love serving others, and I want to be the bridge between the NCBA and my own law school community.
What advice would you give to a 1L?
Trust yourself and follow your passion!
What is your area of practice interest?
Corporate Law
Why did you go to law school?
I went to law school to gain knowledge that will allow me to provide effective assistance and representation to those who need it.
Shelby Gilmer, Wake Forest
Why are you involved in the NCBA?
I am involved at the NCBA because I want to find ways to connect North Carolina attorneys with their future colleagues.
What advice would you give to a 1L?
Find an organization, pro bono project, or competition that interests you. There’s more to law school than classes.
What is your area of practice interest?
Labor & Employment.
Why did you go to law school?
I went to law school to learn how to effectively advocate for people and businesses when they are in their toughest situations.
Melissa Gustafson, Duke University
Why are you involved in the NCBA?
I became involved in NCBA because I wanted to help bridge the gap between law students and practicing attorneys. As a first-generation law student, the mentorship that I have received from practitioners in the area has been imperative to my growth and I want to ensure that students in the future are also able to benefit from such support.
What advice would you give to a 1L?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You will never truly learn if you are too afraid to seek the help and guidance of others.
What is your area of practice interest?
Litigation
Why did you go to law school?
I came to law school because I wanted to have a challenging career that always keeps me on my toes while also remaining engaged in my local community and serving the people.
Bryan Howard, North Carolina Central University
Why are you involved in the NCBA?
I am involved in the NCBA to bring more awareness of the Bar Association to evening students, and to provide evening students with invaluable opportunities.
What is your area of practice interest?
Employment Law
Marino Leone, Duke University
Why are you involved in the NCBA?
I became involved in the NCBA to learn more about this fantastic organization, the great work it does, and to help bridge the gap between NC and Duke Law.
What advice would you give to a 1L?
Take all advice with a grain of salt; do what you believe is right for you!
What is your area of practice interest?
Transactional, Business, Corporate, M&A and Finance.
Why did you go to law school?
I went to law school to challenge myself and become better positioned to give back to my community through pro bono service.
Leah McLean, Elon University
Why are you involved in the NCBA?
I am involved with the NCBA in order to help make better connections for my fellow classmates and my school as a whole.
What advice would you give to a 1L?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help; it will benefit you in the long run!
What is your area of practice interest?
Criminal Law
Why did you go to law school?
I came to law school because I want to help alleviate problems for marginalized communities that are impacted by systemic inequality.
Kristen Renburg, Duke University
Why are you involved in the NCBA?
I am involved with NCBA to assist students with the transition from legal education into the legal profession.
What advice would you give to a 1L?
Get involved in pro bono opportunities!
Why did you go to law school?
Laws are how we structure our society and learning those structures and how to make them more fair has always appealed to me.
Victoria Waddell, Elon University
Why are you involved in the NCBA?
I believe that networking and effective relationship building is the key to success.
What advice would you give to a 1L?
You belong here, so go be great!
What is your area of practice interest?
Corporate Law, Tax Law, Mergers & Acquisitions
Why did you go to law school?
I went to law school to learn how to use my analytical skills to solve complex business and legal issues.
Julia Zabinski, Wake Forest University
Why are you involved in the NCBA?
I am involved in the NCBA because I think it is important to be actively networking and I want to help bring those opportunities to my law school colleagues.
What advice would you give to a 1L?
Do not let other people get into your headspace. Focus on yourself and what you want to accomplish.
What is your area of practice interest?
Public Defense
Why did you go to law school?
I want to work towards equal access and treatment in the criminal justice system.
Five additional law students will serve as NCBA Law Student Representatives this year:
Emmanuel Agyemang-Dua, Elon University
Adhitya Mahesh, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
August Mustillo, Campbell University
Sarah Robey, Campbell University