Amanda Memmler, NCAJ NEXT Leadership Program

Amanda Memmler is one of the 11 members of the NCAJ NEXT Leadership Program class of 2025. The program identifies the state’s emerging trial lawyer leaders.

Lives in: Raleigh

Law degree from: Wake Forest University School of Law

Works as: Associate at Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman

Why do you want to participate in the NCAJ NEXT Program? “I believe that this is a practical world and that I can count only on what I earn. Therefore, I believe in work, hard work…I believe in obedience to law because it protects the rights of all.” As an Auburn University grad, this aspirational excerpt of the Auburn Creed immediately came to mind as I considered this question.

I have learned that plaintiffs’ work so often exists at the intersection between an excellent work ethic and an unerring hope that wrongs really can be righted, one step at a time. In the pursuit of that intersection, NEXT offers the opportunity to deepen my connections to other young attorneys, and to NCAJ itself while learning what it means to step into leadership in our legal communities.

How and or why is the idea of civil or criminal justice important to you? As a young associate at Milberg, I received a crash course in civil litigation and the opportunity to wield that system in the pursuit of justice. Our adversarial legal system requires conflict, or the threat of conflict, to negotiate a resolution to grievances. Simultaneously, for the average person, navigating our legal system is prohibitively expensive.

I believe that every person holds inherent worth and that the law is meant to uphold that truth. Civil justice provides a path to restoration when those truths are violated. Pursuing justice often represents so much more than financial restitution, it is an opportunity for the voiceless to make their voices heard.

Where do you see NCAJ in five to 10 years? Currently, I am the vice chair of NCAJ’s New Lawyer Division and the DEI chair of NCAJ’s Products Liability, Class Actions & Mass Torts Section. I also serve as a pro bono co-chair of the Wake County Bar Association’s Young Lawyer Division and participate with AAJ’s Law School committee. Increasing student awareness of plaintiffs’ work as a viable career option is a particular passion of mine. During law school, I was unaware of the existence of civil litigation positions, such as the one I currently hold. I am dedicated to ensuring that future students have a clearer understanding of the opportunities available to them.

Through my participation in NCAJ’s NEXT Leadership Program, I hope to… develop essential leadership skills specific to my career while expanding my professional network within the legal community. The networking opportunities with fellow program members as well as speakers and other more senior NCAJ members will allow me to build connections which foster the mentorship and collaboration essential for growth within our field. Gaining a deeper understanding of the NCAJ organization will help me navigate the available resources and structure, positioning me to become a more successful and informed advocate for my clients.

Ultimately, it is my hope that these experiences will empower me to contribute meaningfully to our legal communities here in North Carolina and enhance the effectiveness of any future leadership endeavors.

Outside of work … My husband and I live in the Brentwood area of Raleigh in a home largely untouched since construction in the ’60s. We’ve enjoyed the opportunity to slowly remodel our home and spend much of our free time on this (never ending) project. Sage, our Australian Shepard, insists on many long walks and is an excellent hiking buddy. Playing volleyball and pickleball with friends gets me outside as much as possible. My most recent hobby has been learning to paint with watercolors.