Campbell University - Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law

Campbell University School of Law is a small, Baptist-affiliated school in North Carolina that offers a Christian perspective on law and boasts a stellar bar-passage rate. Also, small class sizes prevent you from getting lost in a sea of people. The curriculum is decidedly focused on the actual practice of law “instead of relying on theory.” The trial and appellate advocacy programs here are some of the most extensive in the country. “A Campbell lawyer can walk into any courtroom and never feel lost,” proclaims a 2L. “Campbell is a hard law school,” though. “It over-prepares you,” suggests a 1L, “so that when you get out, you are not as surprised as most first-year lawyers.” Most professors are dyed-in-the-wool believers in the Socratic Method, so you’ll be able to breathe easy only if you’ve read and actually thought about the assignment for that day. “The pressure lets up after your 1L year,” but “course work is extremely rigorous, and the school is not afraid to fail students who perform poorly.” Student complaints generally center on the very limited range of available courses. In short, Campbell needs to “offer more electives.” Also, the massive number of required courses is “ridiculous.”
Despite their hardcore approach, professors at Campbell are generally beloved by students. The faculty is reportedly “dedicated” and “always happy to answer questions.” “Professors are very engaged and take time to get to know students individually.” “The accessibility of our professors is one of the greatest strengths of Campbell Law,” beams a 1L. “Their open-door policy makes it easy to slip in after class to ask a quick question or stay even longer to discuss legal issues.” Critics call the top brass “out of touch with reality,” but most students say that the administration is “extremely responsive and attentive.” “They really strive to make themselves available to the students.”
According to many students, the Career Center is “great for the students who utilize it.” They say the staff “does an impressive job” and is “much more efficient and effective than at most law schools.” Other students charge that this aspect of Campbell Law “is in need of vast improvement.” Whatever the case, this school is located “in the heart of the state capital,” “a hop, skip, and a jump away from” a bevy of state courts and government buildings. “Externships and internships (though most are unpaid) can easily be had,” and there are “hundreds of attorneys within just a few miles” if you’re looking to pad your résumé with part-time employment. The “vicious” grading curve is “a hindrance in finding a job,” and it’s tough “to find jobs outside of North Carolina,” but most students seem pretty confident about their career prospects.
Students tell us, “Resources and facilities are fantastic” at Campbell. “There could be additional space for individual study,” but the shiny, newer building here is “gorgeous” and technologically “state-of-the-art.” Another perk is the fact that “active” state court proceedings “reside at Campbell Law” as well, making Campbell one of the few law schools with a functioning court inside its walls.

Students spend a great deal of time together, and the overwhelming sentiment is that there’s “a strong community feeling” at Campbell Law. “The size allows you to form close working and personal relationships, not only with your fellow classmates, but also with the professors, deans, and administration,” explains a 1L. “You will never be a number at Campbell.” “I am able to leave my laptop and purse in the commons area while I attend class,” adds a 3L. But some students say there’s “no sense of camaraderie at Campbell Law. According to them, many students “go to school, go home, and hang out with a completely unique set of friends.”
Opportunities for meaningful participation in extracurricular activities are reportedly plentiful. Social activities are also quite common. Beyond the law school realm, the local area has a lot to offer. In addition to being North Carolina’s capital city, Raleigh is the state’s second largest city (behind Charlotte). It’s also among a rapidly growing city in a geographic region that has burgeoned economically over the past few decades. The metropolitan area here, which encompasses Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, as well as three huge research universities, offers very adequate amounts of culture and urban energy.