Campbell Law School launched a new mentorship program, making it the fist institution among the seven North Carolina law schools to designate a full-time staff member solely to directing and overseeing mentorship opportunities. Ulmer Zack “Zeke” Bridges, III, a 2003 Campbell Law graduate, will serve as program director for Campbell Law Connections, which is a joint endeavor between Campbell Law and the Wake County Bar Association.
“We are excited to launch Campbell Law Connections after several years of internal research and exploration,” said Campbell Law Dean J. Rich Leonard. “We have no doubts that this will prove to be a unique and beneficial addition to the well-rounded legal education that we already provide to our students.”
Connections will partner students with practicing legal professionals to fulfill its mission of exposing students to valuable learning opportunities and experiences. Students will develop professional relationships and a more thorough understanding of the responsibilities and ethics demanded by the practice under the tutelage of a mentor.
Connections will begin with a pilot phase during the spring 2014 semester with 40 third-year students and 10 newly-minted attorneys from the Tenth Judicial District Bar serving as mentees. Beginning with the fall 2014 semester, the program will be open to the entire third-year class, as well as more attorneys from the Tenth Judicial District Bar. Connections will also expand from one semester to the entire academic year. The program has already enlisted 100 practicing legal professionals from solo to large-scale law firms, government-sector, in-house corporate counsel, nonprofit and other sectors to serve as mentors.
As program director, Bridges has laid the groundwork for the program, overseeing its development, implementation, and daily operation since joining the law school in January. He brings nearly 10 years of private practice experience into his role at the law school and also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Campbell University’s Lundy-Fetterman School of Business.
