Student Event

UNC School of Law Speed Networking

Tue, October 26, 2021   |   5:00pm   |  
Virtual

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 Tuesday, October 26th at 5pm.

During this 90-minute session, you’ll meet NCAJ President John McCabe of The Law Offices of John M. McCabe, P.A., NCAJ Executive Director Kim Crouch and several other NCAJ members — all practicing trial lawyers across North Carolina and some former UNC 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 Event Agenda

4:45 pm Zoom Room Open -- Check In
5:00 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 principle attorney for The Law Officers of John M. McCabe, P.A. He attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and Campbell University School of Law. While at Campbell, John was named to two national moot court teams, and the law school’s faculty recognized him as one of the nation’s best, up-and-coming lawyers. After graduating from Campbell with honors, John initially worked for a law firm that defended claims filed by injured people. In 1995, he changed firms and since then, he has focused exclusively on representing people throughout the country who have been injured by trucking collisions, medical negligence, defective products, and on-the-job accidents. 

Trudi Brown is Development and Membership Engagement Director of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice (NCAJ). Brown has over 20 years’ experience in development, fundraising, external relations, event management, board development, marketing and communications. She most recently served as the director of external relations for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at N.C. State University.  

5:20 pm Transitioning Break & Instructions
5:25 pm Speed Networking Session (10 minute rounds)

Jessica Wilkie is a partner attorney with Hansen Howell & Wilkie, PLLC. She practices eminent domain law, civil litigation, and is the head of the firm’s real estate department. Born in South Carolina, Jessica grew up in the small town of Six Mile, nestled near the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Duke University, where she also minored in Spanish. After teaching in the biology department at Duke for a year, she headed down Tobacco Road to attend law school at the University of North Carolina. While at UNC, she was named Pro Bono Student of the Year in 2006 for her extensive pro bono involvement. 

Jason Orndoff has a solo practice in Hickory, NC. After graduating from Mitchell High School he left for Chapel Hill, North Carolina, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in 1997 from UNC-Chapel Hill, and then attended the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law.  During his time in law school, he participated in the Holderness Moot Court Client Counseling Team and also in the Criminal Law Clinic. Jason received his law degree in May of 2001 and shortly after moved to Hickory and began practicing law. His client-focused practice includes areas in personal injury, civil litigation, motor vehicle offenses and real estate. 

Leann Gerlach is a personal injury attorney with the Ricci Law Firm. Leann grew up in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, but moved south for college in order to be closer to family. She graduated summa cum laude from Washington and Lee University in 2009, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and Spanish. In college, she was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Beta Gamma Sigma honor societies. In 2012, she earned her J.D. and graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina’s School of Law in Chapel Hill. During her time in law school, Leann worked as both a staff writer and a contributing editor of the North Carolina Law Review, a volunteer coordinator for Carolina Street Law, and a member of the Faculty Selection Committee. She was elected to serve as an Honors Writing Scholar and council for the graduate honor court. She also received the Gressman-Pollitt Oral Advocacy Award during her first year. 

Ruth Sheehan began fighting for the little guy long before she became a lawyer. For more than 20 years, Ruth was a reporter and then metro columnist for The News & Observer in Raleigh, providing a voice to the voiceless through her writing. In 2010, Ruth went back to law school at Carolina and now uses her advocacy skills on behalf of her clients and the Rhine Law Firm. Ruth has tried hundreds of cases, both bench trials and to a jury. She has experience handling all sorts of negligence cases, from automobile and bicycle crashes to dog bites and premises liability cases. She has represented clients in state courts all the way to the NC Court of Appeals and Supreme Court, as well as in federal court. Ruth enjoys helping folks who have had their land condemned for public roads and other projects, and is relentless in advocating for clients in sexual harassment cases. 

Aaron Jacobson is a staff attorney with Legal Aid of North Carolina. Joining is 2013, he is a part of the farmworker unit. Aaron graduated from UNC School of Law in 2011.  

Lucky Osho is a partner with Osho & Long-Hardin, PLLC. He attended NC Central earning his B.A., with honors, in Political Science/Criminal Justice. He went on to attend UNC School of Law. Lucky serves clients in the areas of juvenile defense, immigration, family law, traffic matters, and personal injury.  

Adam Foggia is a litigation attorney at DeMayo Law Offices. Prior to receiving his Juris Doctorate from the UNC School of Law in 2008, Mr. Foggia attended Elon University, where he graduated magna cum laude with bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Philosophy and was inducted into multiple honor societies. Mr. Foggia was admitted to the North Carolina Bar in 2008 and has focused his career exclusively on plaintiffs’ law, having worked in a wide range of practice areas that include personal injury, product liability, social security disability, and workers’ compensation. He is a member of the North Carolina State Bar, North Carolina Advocates for Justice and the Wake County Bar. 

Bob McIntosh established The McIntosh Law Firm in 1997 to make a positive difference in the greater Lake Norman community by providing local, accessible legal services. His family heritage in the Lake Norman area dates back to the mid-1700s. With deep ties to this region, he feels strong stewardship for local families and businesses. Currently, Bob resides in Cornelius, where he enjoys spending time with his wife, two children, and one grandchild. His hobbies include woodworking, learning about history and local culture, outdoor activities, and volunteering. He serves clients in the areas of collections, general civil litigation, and trust administration. 

John Holton is a trial lawyer with Miller Monroe & Plyler. As a civil litigation attorney, his two primary practice areas are representing plaintiffs in serious personal injury matters and companies in business disputes. In his personal injury and wrongful death practice, he has litigated cases involving products liability, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, premises liability, and trucking accidents, among others.  In the past few years, John has tried medical malpractice and premises liability cases to jury verdict. He attended UNC School of law and was a contributing editor to the NC Law Review. John is a proud Triangle native—having grown up in Durham and attended college and law school at UNC-Chapel Hill. He now lives near downtown Raleigh with his wife and three young children. Outside of the office, John enjoys playing basketball, trail running, fly fishing, and listening to live bluegrass music. 

John Barrett is a Criminal Defense and Marijuana Law lawyer in Sylva North Carolina. Licensed for 41 years, his experience covers the field of criminal law and my current work hasn’t changed. Areas include D.W.I., other driving cases, Assaults, Probation Violations, Drug cases, etc. He is from Graham County. He graduated from Mountain View School, Brevard College (then a junior college), Davidson College and U.N.C. law school. 

Charlotte Stewart is a public interest associate attorney with NC OSHR assigned to NC Department of Justice. Prior to representing the NC Department of Public Instruction in workers’ compensation litigation, she was a contract attorney with Consilio, LLC and served as the Assistant Director of Public Service & Pro Bono Activities at the NC Bar Association. Charlotte graduated UNC School of Law in 2014.  

Beckie Moriello is a Board Certified Specialist in immigration law, focusing on deportation defense throughout NC (including for people taken to a Georgia immigration detention center). She is the senior attorney for Raleigh Immigration Law Firm. Becky gradauated from UNC School of Law in 2008. 

Mary Irvine is the Executive Director of the NCSB Plan for Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA). She is a proud graduate of UNC School of Law. 

6:15 pm Wrap-Up
6:30 pm Adjourn