Following a spring 2014 semester-in-practice with Judge Martin Reidinger of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Hannah Davies L'14 accepted the opportunity to serve as judicial assistant and law clerk to Judge Reidinger beginning in August.
Davies said she enjoyed researching for over thirty cases and drafting numerous court orders, bench memoranda, research memoranda and case summaries.
“My semester-in-practice experience was invaluable,” Davies said. “I participated in many meetings discussing cases, met numerous attorneys and accompanied Judge Reidinger in court for a criminal jury trial, a weeklong civil jury trial, summary judgment hearings, pre-trial conferences, discovery hearings, supervised release violation hearings and numerous criminal sentencing hearings.”
Davies engaged in an array of cases involving civil procedure, evidence, negligence and product liability, criminal law, federal criminal sentencing, contracts, social security disability, foreclosure, banking, business and tax law, civil rights, professional responsibility, patent law, sovereign and qualified immunity, and immigration, among others.
Davies said she was grateful for the opportunity provided by Judge Reidinger, as well as the efforts and commitment of every professor at Elon Law who enabled her to develop the knowledge needed to excel in the position.
“Judge Reidinger, his chambers’ staff and the other courthouse staff were a great support,” Davies said. “Each day of my experience truly enhanced my legal education, with all of my law school courses coming directly into practical application. I am especially thankful for the legal foundations obtained from the teaching of excellent Elon Law professors, and the lessons that prepared me to serve as an asset to Judge Reidinger and his staff.”
Before commencing law school and during summer 2012 and summer 2013, Davies worked as a paralegal in a general practice law firm, Tomblin, Farmer & Morris, PLLC, where she assisted attorneys with cases in areas of social security disability, family law, estate planning, special proceedings, real estate, criminal law and civil litigation. In fall 2013, Davies completed an externship at the Burke County District Attorney’s Office, where she assisted in criminal district and criminal superior court and handled two misdemeanor trials. She said she valued the practical experience that she has obtained in her preparation to serve clients with excellence. Davies has also volunteered as a lead researcher for a renowned Holocaust museum in her community, where she has researched, written, spent time with Holocaust survivors and spoken regarding issues of human rights, justice, respect for life and the dangers of hatred and bigotry.
At Elon University School of Law, Davies served as Vice-Chair and Class Representative of the Elon Law Honor Council and Research Assistant to Associate Professor of Law and Affiliate Scholar at the Center for Internet and Society at Stanford Law School, David Levine. Davies is the recipient of the Gail Drew Lane Scholarship, in addition to numerous awards for outstanding performance at Elon Law (Legal Writing I, Contracts I, Contracts II, Property I, Torts II, Constitutional Law II and Business Associations).
A summa cum laude graduate of Elon Law, Davies said she has a deep desire to stand boldly for justice.
“I look forward to making a difference in the lives of people through the legal profession,” Davies said.
For more information about the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina visit http://www.ncwd.uscourts.gov/.
More information about semester-in-practice externships at Elon Law is available here.