Emmanuel Agyemang-Dua, Vanessa Garcia, Faisal Suman and Victoria Waddell from Elon Law's Class of 2022 will gain legal work experience this summer in placements through the North Carolina Bar Association's Minorities in the Profession 1L Summer Associate Program.
Four Elon Law students will take part this summer in a North Carolina Bar Association program established to promote diversity and inclusion in the legal profession by placing some of the state’s most promising first-year law students into top internships.
Emmanuel Agyemang-Dua, Vanessa Garcia, Faisal Suman and Victoria Waddell accepted invitations to work for firms and corporations that participate in the NCBA’s Minorities in the Profession 1L Summer Associate Program, which is coordinated through its Minorities in the Profession Committee.
It is the fifth year in a row that at least three Elon Law students have secured such placements. The summer associate program “provides corporate legal departments and major law firms in North Carolina with a recruiting vehicle through which to interview and offer summer internship positions to 1L minority law students from each of North Carolina’s law schools.”
Emmanuel Agyemang-Dua
Placement: Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, LLP
Alma Mater: University of Virginia
Undergraduate Degree: B.A., Public Policy and Leadership
Hometown: Stafford, Virginia
“The opportunity to potentially work on a project that will positively shape lives, businesses, and communities is what interested me about the Minorities in the Profession Summer Associate Program. What connected me to the firm I will be working with this summer was its commitment to fostering diversity in the legal field and to mentorship. It is my intention, as a first-generation law student, to absorb, to study, and be inspired by this experiential learning opportunity.”
Vanessa Garcia
Placement: IQVIA
Alma Mater: UNC Wilmington
Undergraduate Degree: B.A., English and Political Science
Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina
“I am incredibly excited to be working with IQVIA this summer. The environment is very kind and welcoming and I am looking forward to the opportunity to make new connections, learn about an area of the law of which I have little experience, and grow as a law student.”
Faisal Sulman
Placement: IQVIA
Alma Mater: UNC Chapel Hill
Undergraduate Degree: B.A., Political Science
Hometown: High Point, North Carolina
“I’m beyond thankful for this opportunity. This program promotes the ideas of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal field, which is something I value greatly as a first-generation student. I hope to expand upon the skills I’ve acquired from my doctrinal classes in my first year and apply them working in-house at IQVIA over the summer.”
Victoria Waddell
Placement: Duke Energy
Alma Mater: UNC Charlotte
Undergraduate Degree: B.A., Finance
Hometown: Gastonia, North Carolina
“I am honored to have been selected by both Elon and Duke Energy. This opportunity represents hope, determination and reward for hard work. I hope to continue to grow my legal writing and research skills as well expanding my corporate counsel network.”
The NCBA Minorities in the Profession Committee solicits applications from all North Carolina law schools. Schools invite students who identify as a minority to submit an application, which consists of a resume, transcript, writing sample and a statement that addresses how the applicant will contribute to diversification of the North Carolina State Bar.
An Elon Law panel identified select students to take part in NCBA interviews. Each student interviewed virtually with each potential employer and at the conclusion of the interview program, each employer selected one or more candidates to work as a summer associate.
“Elon Law is very proud that Emmanuel, Vanessa, Victoria and Faisal were selected for the MIP program,” said Jennifer Mencarini, director of career development at Elon Law. “Their professional and personal accomplishments are already impressive, and we know they will continue to shine in their respective work experiences this summer, and maximize the professional development and networking opportunities the program offers.”