Student Event
NCCU School of Law Speed Networking Event
Register today to join members of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice – the state’s premier community of trial lawyers — for a virtual speed networking event on Friday, February 18 at 12:30pm.
During this 90-minute session, you’ll meet NCAJ members — all practicing trial lawyers across North Carolina and some former NCCU Law graduates — to learn more about their paths to successful careers as advocates for clients in the courtroom. If you’re considering striking out with your own firm after law school or pursuing a career that protects people, prevents injustice and promotes fairness, this is the program for you.
Networking Agenda
| 12:15 pm | Zoom Room Open -- Check In |
| 12:30 pm |
NCAJ Presentation
Kim Crouch is the Executive Director of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice (NCAJ). She graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 2005 and has spent her legal career serving the public and legal profession, first as Director of Public Affairs for the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, then as Director of Governmental Affairs for the North Carolina Bar Association, and now as Executive Director of NCAJ since 2017. John McCabe is the founder and president of The Law Offices of John M. McCabe, P.A., which is located in his hometown of Cary, North Carolina. John graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1991 with a degree in economics, and in 1994, he graduated, cum laude, from Campbell University School of Law, where he was a member of law review and several national moot court teams. Over the last 27 years, John has developed a statewide practice, devoted largely to representing the victims of on-the-job accidents, trucking and auto collisions, animal attacks, and nursing home neglect. John has earned numerous professional recognitions and awards, including: (1) Top Lawyers in America by U.S. News & World Report; (2) The Best Lawyers in America; (3) a North Carolina Super Lawyer, (4) North Carolina’s Legal Elite, and (5) Top 100 Trial Lawyers. For more than 14 years, he has been AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell. He was just named Lawyer of the Year in the field of Personal Injury by Best Lawyers. |
| 12:45 pm | Transitioning Break |
| 12:50 pm |
Speed Networking Session
Curtis C. Osborne practices law in the areas of plaintiff’s personal injury and wrongful death, including trucking collisions, plane crashes, premises liability, and product liability matters. He has been a member of NCAJ (and formerly NCATL) since 1998, after graduating from N. C. Central University School of Law. Attorney Osborne began his career as a solo practitioner in Monroe, Union County, NC, practicing there for two years. During that period, he also earned law licenses to practice in Washington, D.C., and South Carolina. David Sherlin is a partner with Epstein Sherlin, PLLC in Raleigh. He has represented people who were injured due to no fault of their own. In 2005, Sherlin began his legal career as an assistant district attorney with the Wake County DA’s office.In2011, he left the District Attorney’s office to join the law firm of Kirby & Holt, LLP. He is a product of the Wake County Public School System, attended Appalachian State University before transferring to the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. He graduated law school at NC Central University. Sarah D’Amato is a Supervising Attorney at Legal Aid of North Carolina. She previously represented clients on various family law matters at a private practice in Chapel Hill. Sarah also held a position as an interpreter for Spanish-speaking employees. She graduated from NC Central University School of Law in 2008. Ryan Stowe is the principal attorney at Stowe Law Firm, PLLC. He is proud to be practicing in his hometown of Salisbury, NC, and is a first generation Rowan County attorney. Stowe takes pride in being a criminal defense attorney. He focuses his practice on traffic violations, criminal defense, DWI defense, and post-conviction (expungements) relief. While in law school at North Carolina Central University School of Law, Ryan Stowe served as the President of Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honor Society. During his undergraduate studies, he served as the university’s Senior Class President. Anne M. Keyworth is an associate with Howard, Stallings, From, Atkins, Angell & Davis, P.A. in Raleigh. Anne is passionate about empowering people to navigate complex legal systems to achieve their desired outcome and is grateful for the opportunity to do that in her home community as a civil litigation associate. Anne began her legal career in 2016 in Massachusetts, where she launched a prisoner reentry program for Community Legal Aid. In 2018, Anne left legal aid to clerk for Judge Amy Lynn Blake at the Massachusetts Appeals Court. The following year, Anne moved back home to Raleigh to clerk for Justice Samuel J. Ervin, IV at the North Carolina Supreme Court. Anne attended UNC Greensboro where she obtained degrees in Public Health Education and Women’s and Gender Studies. She later attended North Carolina Central University’s School of Law on a merit-based scholarship and graduated in 2016. Carolyn Thompson is the principal attorney at Thompson Law Offices, PLLC in Oxford. She is a former District Court judge and Superior Court judge with over 25 years of combined legal and judicial experience. For over ten years, Thompson prosecuted petitions of abuse, neglect, and nonsupport of children. Her practice has always included representing victims of domestic violence and their children. Thompson’s academic career started at Hampton University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree and her Juris Doctor Degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law. D. Cole Phelps is a proud graduate, with honors, of NC Central School of Law. Founder, Attorney, and Counsellor at Law of his own firm, Phelps practices criminal law, small business start-ups, family law, traffic tickets, estate planning, and real estate. He is a native of Washington County, and was the youngest county commissioner to serve in any of NC’s 100 counties at the time of his election, currently serving his second term. Dedicated to higher education, he returned to East Carolina University, where he has served on the faculty as an adjunct professor instructing courses in Family Law and Public Policy. James. P. Hoffman, Jr. is the principal for Hoffman Law Firm, PLLC in Salisbury. He serves clients in civil and criminal litigation, family law, personal injury, and traffic law. Hoffman attended Georgia State University and received his juris doctorate from NC Central University in 2006. Emily A. Gibson manages her firm Gibson Law, PLLC in Garner. She is a native North Carolinian, originally from Durham. After college, she worked as an AmeriCorps volunteer at the non-profit The Hispanic Liaison, which provided direct services to immigrants in Chatham County. After 10 years of practicing in primarily criminal defense, Attorney Gibson manages her firm, supporting clients with criminal, domestic and some civil cases. She is a proud graduate of NC Central University School of Law |
| Wrap-Up | 1:50 pm |
| Adjourn | 2:00 pm |
