History of Campbell Law School

Making A Move

Goodbye, Buies Creek... Hello, Raleigh!

In the Fall of 2008, the Campbell University Board of Trustees announced that they had unanimously voted to move the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law from the University's main campus in Buies Creek, North Carolina to downtown Raleigh by the Fall of 2010. The school plans to move to 225 Hillsborough Street into the building known as Hillsborough Place. The City of Raleigh was previously the largest state capital in the country to not have a law school within its city limits.

Artist Rendition of the New Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law Facility

"North Carolina is one of the fastest growing states in the nation, and Raleigh is leading that change," said Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker. "The addition of a premier institution of legal education like Campbell University's Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law will be a tremendous addition to a powerful collaboration of universities and colleges. 

In its 30-year history, Campbell Law School graduates have achieved the highest average overall bar passage rate among North Carolina Law Schools. Additionally, Campbell Law's 1994's graduating class scored a 100% passage rate on the North Carolina Bar Examination, an accomplishment that has yet to be matched in North Carolina.

"Relocating to Raleigh offers unprecedented opportunities for our students and faculty to access all branches of government and to further utilize Raleigh's concentration of legal experts," said Dean Melissa Essary. "The move to Raleigh will create alliances and partnerships that we have yet to even imagine."

Other considerations for the move to Raleigh included the high number of current students (one-third) that commute from Raleigh to Buies Creek. In addition, the move to Raleigh will offer expanded law and judicial clerkships and externship opportunities to students.

The Pine Burr, 2009, page 199

The Perks of Raleigh

The beginning of the 2009 school year was a new adventure for the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law. Moving away from little ol' Buies Creek, students, teachers, and staff set up shop in a state-of-the-art building in downtown Raleigh. Most agree that the move was a strategic one on the part of the law school-- moving to Raleigh definitely has its advantages. Students will now have more internship opportunities, as well as be able to easily observe trials and proceedings at the N.C. Court of Appeals, the N.C. Supreme Court, and various legislative sessions. New adjunct professors have joined the teaching staff, bringing with them years of practical experience. Finally, there are the benefits that come from living and working within a capital city. 

Yet, despite the many advantages, there are just as many drawbacks... cost of living and the distractions of big city life, to name a few. Still, the facility and the excellent teaching staff are sure to bring success to the current students and the many future students that will grace the halls of the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law. 

The Pine Burr, 2010, page 199.