Seventeen Elon Law alumni are featured in a 2012 alumni profile series focusing on lawyers excelling in judicial clerkships, business law and public interest law.
In each profile, alumni describe their current work, reflect on the value of their Elon education and provide professional development insights for current law students.
Law school dean George R. Johnson, Jr. said the achievements and insights of Elon Law alumni indicate the values of the law school community.
“We are proud of Elon Law’s alumni for their remarkable achievements,” Johnson said. “These men and women embody the dedication to professionalism, justice, and service that we seek to foster at Elon.”
ALUMNI INSIGHTS FROM ELON LAW’S 2012 ALUMNI PROFILE SERIES:
Employment Reflections
“My office is unique because it is one, if not the only, free-standing facility in the country that provides 24-7 crisis intervention, on-site forensic medical examinations, advocacy and legal services under one roof. We provide free legal assistance to victims of sexual assault in the following areas: safety, privacy, employment, immigration, housing, financial, education and family law.” – Katherine Bobb L’09, Gwinnett Sexual Assault Center and Children’s Advocacy Center, Duluth, Ga.
“I get to work with real heroes every day. My colleagues work with law enforcement to save victims of domestic violence from their attackers, to save families from homelessness and to gain access to services and educational opportunities for children struggling with disabilities. These men and women give justice hands and feet. The law does not get more relevant than that.” – Miriam Heard L’09, Legal Aid of North Carolina, Greensboro, N.C.
“My firm, MacCord Mason PLLC, focuses exclusively on various aspects of intellectual property practice. We assist business clients in developing and implementing competitive strategies that include the acquisition and enforcement of commercially valuable patents, trademarks and copyrights and also help them avoid infringement of the intellectual property rights of others.” – Kelly Robinson L’09, MacCord Mason, PLLC, Greensboro, N.C.
“I have had the honor of playing a significant role in two ongoing cases currently before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals involving a state occupational licensing board and the Federal Trade Commission. In these cases, I have co-authored briefs on issues at the intersection of constitutional, administrative, and antitrust law.” – Nathan Standley L’11, Allen, Pinnix & Nichols, P.A., Raleigh, N.C.
Insights about Elon Law
“Elon Law prepared me for success because my legal education did not end at legal theory. Elon Law went a step further, teaching the practical application of the law and showing me how to use my skills to serve clients and the community. My job title is attorney, but my real job is ‘professional problem solver’ and my focus is on providing economical and practical solutions for my clients.” – Rachael Dimont L’10, Blanco Tackabery & Matamoros, P.A., Winston Salem, N.C.
“The combination of resources Elon offers prepared me incredibly well for my work. The classes I took provided me with the substantive knowledge needed to be successful and the combination of the business and litigation classes, my externship and clerkship with the Business Court and the experience I gained working with my father prepared me extremely well for private practice.” – Jason Burton L’11, Kilpatrick, Townsend & Stockton, LLP, Raleigh, N.C.
“My business law courses along with a few electives – accounting for lawyers and international business regulations – gave me the base knowledge I needed to be successful in the corporate law field on day one. The knowledge I gained of basic business law and corporate structure is essential to my success here at Goldman on a daily basis.” – Michael Cowart L’10, Goldman Sachs & Company, New York, N.Y.
“The professors that taught at Elon were superior in preparing us for the practice of law. Law school and law practice are definitely two different worlds, but without the knowledge and preparation that Elon went above and beyond providing us, we would not have been able to accomplish what we have in such a short period of time. The way the professors were so accessible and personable towards students made learning more engaging and memorable.” – Amanda & Tyler Moffatt L’10, Moffatt & Moffatt, PLLC, Boone, N.C.
Advice for Current Law Students
“Take advantage of opportunities Elon provides outside of the classroom and network with preceptors, professors and Elon law alumni. In addition, take advantage of the local courts by going and watching court proceedings whenever you get a chance to observe how the legal system functions beyond what is contained in casebooks. During your job search, consider volunteering as a legal intern. That is the path that I took and it led to my current full time position.” – Tyler Conklin L’11, Georgia Public Defender Standards Council, Atlanta, Ga.
“If you are considering a clerkship, really research various jurisdictions and the judges. A state clerkship is going to be different than a federal one, and clerking in a trial court is different than clerking at the appellate level. Also, get an idea of the hiring process and do some research on the people who have clerked in the past to understand what the judges are looking for in a law clerk. I would also encourage anyone interested in clerking to pay close attention to deadlines because they come up very early in fall and in some cases are in late summer.” – Tiffany Gray L’12, City of Richmond Circuit Court, Richmond, Va.
“To make the most of your education I think you have to be willing to put a lot of fun things aside during the school year and concentrate on school. It’s not always easy to stay focused, but if you do, you will see the payoff.” – Pamela Lawrence L’12, Honorable James L. Gale, Special Superior Court Judge for Complex Business Cases, Greensboro, N.C.
“The most important thing, in my opinion, is to get involved in as many activities as you can – student associations, internships, externships, community service groups, the preceptor program – and to take everything you get involved with seriously. You never know who’s watching or where your first real job opportunity will come from, so approach each project like it is your job.” – Michael Sprague L’11, TIMCO Aviation Services, Inc., Greensboro, N.C.
Third-year Elon Law student Courtney Roller contributed significantly to the development of the law school’s 2012 Alumni Profile Series.