High Point University’s Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law Celebrates the School’s Accomplishments, Fortifies Relationship With NCBA
In May 2024, we interviewed Dean Mark Martin, former Chief Justice and Founding Dean of the Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law at High Point University, to discuss the launch of its inaugural class. Now, a year and a half later, the law school’s inaugural class of 1L’s has completed their first year of study, and a second class of first year law students, 75 in number, is well into their first semester.
One notable milestone that the school has achieved so far is its dedication of the newly completed law school building. The imposing three story, 77,500 square-foot building features a 120-seat courtroom, two smaller trial courtrooms, multiple classrooms, a 13,000 square-foot law library, numerous faculty offices, and a student lounge. The new High Point Law building was dedicated in September. The audience included many judges, members of the N.C. State Bar, High Point University officials, including President Nido Qubein, law faculty and staff, and, of course, the law students.
Incoming 1L students gather in front of the law building on the day of their professionalism ceremony. Photo courtesy of High Point University.
As the law school has marked these wonderful achievements, it has also continued to strengthen its ties with the North Carolina Bar Association. On September 17th, NCBA leadership and several staff members visited the law school to speak to the 1L students. NCBA President Rob Harrington, President-Elect Beth Langley, and Executive Director Jason Hensley were in attendance and provided remarks to the students in the main courtroom.
NCBA President Rob Harrington addresses law students during 1L orientation on September 17th, held in the Kahn School of Law building’s main courtroom. Also in attendance were NCBA Past President Beth Langely, seated, left, and Executive Director Jason Hensley, center.
In addition, on October 10th, the NCBA held its quarterly Board of Governors meeting in the main courtroom, which was followed by a tour of the new building led by Justice Robert H. Edmunds Jr. (former justice of the N.C. Supreme Court) — who is the school’s Jurist in Residence.
This fall, the association selected three Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law students to serve as NCBA student representatives: Kiana Banks, Philip Lewis, and Nyah Morgan.
We spoke with Dean Martin about the law school’s recent accomplishments and upcoming initiatives. Read the complete interview with Dean Martin below.
As you look back on the goals you have completed, what have been some of the most rewarding moments and highlights from this past year?
I would start with the building dedication; we had so many who attended, hundreds of lawyers and judges that I truly admire and respect. They came not just from the Triad area of the state, but from all over — Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and Asheville. It was just an amazing time to see old friends and to share the joy of seeing this new law school go into operation.
It was also an amazing experience to see the culmination of three years of hard work and planning. When I arrived, I was told, “Develop the law school of the future.” So, I got started right away with working with the architect. What you see as the finished work of the dedicated building was not how it all started. There were a lot of changes that we made over the course of several months. And I was astonished with how quickly they were able to construct the building. When I think back, it was a very positive experience working with the architect and the contractor.
And our building is truly inspiring. One thing I would commend High Point University for, as well as its extraordinary president, Nido Qubein, is that they pursue excellence. As you go through the building, you see upgrades beyond what you would typically expect in a law school. I was so proud when the executive committee and the foundation board were able to come over and see the building in its newly finished state. I remain in awe every day that I walk into this building. I’ve been to law schools all over the country, and I think our facility rivals, in beauty and functionality, any law school in America.
Other highlights from this past year include my observation that the ideals that High Point Law set out for the students — civility, decorum, and professionalism — are becoming a reality. High Point Law is, to a certain degree, distinctive in that we talk about values with the students — values of respecting counsel on the other side of a case and, at the same time, zealously representing their clients. We teach this in a way that comports with professionalism. Likewise, High Point Law builds upon the foundation of the University’s life skills program to ensure that we instill professional identity formation principles in the students. We do that by maximizing the necessity of providing practical skills and development opportunities for our students.
Before I go further, I do need to give my wholehearted thanks to all the lawyers and judges who have already helped us and continue to help us, especially to the North Carolina lawyers and judges who have been so incredibly supportive of the new law school and our mission. I should mention that we have seven United States Circuit Judges that serve on our extended faculty, as well as dozens of other federal and state judges from different states, obviously a good number from North Carolina, but also other states. In addition, we have distinguished lawyers from across America on our extended faculty. Their support has added a tremendous lift to the spirit and culture of our school.
Law students studying in the law library in the Kahn School of Law Building. Photo courtesy of High Point University.
With that said, I would like to emphasize that one could do all sorts of things at a law school, but if your students aren’t happy, you’ve kind of failed in your essential purpose. For me, I am delighted to note this past year we had near-perfect student evaluations of our Legal Research and Writing program. The students are assessing the quality of the Legal Research and Writing program, and they’re giving it a near-perfect evaluation. That is so amazing to have that positive affirmation from our students. I used to teach this class years ago. It’s a tough class to teach, and it’s a tough class for the students. Typically, you don’t see high evaluation numbers for the instructors in this type of class. Our LRW classes are 10 students or fewer in size. I like to think of it as learning from an expert around a large kitchen table — an intimate and engaging setting. It’s quite the experience for the students. This program is very important for the future success of our students. To illustrate, I can teach a new associate antitrust law or at least get them on the right path as a law graduate, but to teach a foundational skill such as legal research and writing — we have to do this before the student graduates. If we don’t cultivate in these students excellent written and oral advocacy skills while they are in law school, we will fail them as an institution. So, that is a very high priority for us.
One last point — I need to mention that over the last year — every single inaugural class student received an internship of some kind. In fact, we guarantee, as part of the law school program, that before a student graduates from the law school, they will have had the opportunity to be placed in an internship. This is something that North Carolina lawyers need to know if they send their son or daughter to law school at High Point University. We guarantee getting our students an internship, because we feel so strongly about them having practical skills development and experiential opportunities. In our inaugural year, which featured 72 students, we had 32 judicial internships, which is simply amazing.
Our students received rave reviews from internship facilitators. I would talk to some of the judges, and I would ask them: “would you consider hiring this student for a permanent clerkship”? And the judge would say invariably, “absolutely.” So, that’s a success. When these opportunities are made available for the students, they immerse themselves into the internship experience and, as I have mentioned earlier — we have received incredibly positive feedback over the past year from the lawyers and judges who supervised and hosted our students.
What are some other offerings that you are especially proud to provide for students at the Kahn School of Law?
We have mandatory accelerated classes each year. We call them “practica” because they are practical skills development-oriented courses. First-year students take a one-week course known as Access to Justice. There is only one other law school in America, that I’m personally aware of, that has a similar program: Stanford Law School. Last year and this coming year in January (2026), the course will be taught by former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht.
Also, our second-year students have a mandatory practicum in trial advocacy. Every student at the Kahn School of Law will have trial court experience before they graduate. It’s not simply an elective for those who have an interest in trying cases. We feel it’s important for every student to try a case while they’re in law school. And, finally, the third-year practicum is a professional leadership course.
advertisement
In addition, we offer extensive professional identity formation curriculum for our first-year students. In the fall, they learn about all the incredible things that they can do with a law degree in a pass/fail format. In this manner, they do not have to worry about a grade; they can freely focus on learning from federal and state judges and distinguished lawyers from across America. These leaders in the bench and bar tell their story, their pathway, as to how they have gone on from graduating law school to practicing law for many years — and having done amazing things. One of our recent classes featured former Duke Law School Dean David Levi. He is currently president of the American Law Institute. In the past we have had guest speakers that included Chief Judge Al Diaz of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; N.C. Court of Appeals Chief Judge Chris Dillon; Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeff Bivins; NCICU General Counsel Tom West; attorney Mark Jones from the Nelson Mullins law firm; attorney Jill Wilson from the Brooks Pierce law firm; and criminal defense attorney Michael A. Grace, just to name a few.
For these classes, Justice Edmunds and I invite speakers from the legal community —judges, criminal defense attorneys, prosecutors, family law attorneys, and various specialized legal practitioners, and we ask them to tell “their story.” It’s a fun learning experience for the students and is an incredible opportunity for them to hear from some of the most successful lawyers and judges in America.
So, why do I co-teach this class along with Justice Edmunds, who I know has been very involved too in the NCBA over the years? Based on my experience as a first-year law student, when I was enrolled in all the challenging doctrinal courses, and now, as a dean of a law school — I can provide these students with a class, that I wish I could have had, that is “fun” and is taken on a pass/fail level. In such a class, students can intellectually immerse themselves in the topic and continuously remind themselves that law school will end at some point and that they need to seriously think about their professional pathway within the law.
Additionally, students take a professional formation course in the spring semester of their first year, taught by our own Professor Natt Gantt who is an expert in this field. In this course, students take a personality test and develop a career plan. We know from experience that student and attorney journeys usually depart from the script, so to speak, but this course starts students thinking about optimal alignment between their personal strengths and weaknesses and possible career pathways.
The Kahn School of Law continued to develop its relationship with the NCBA this year through building relationships and hosting events. In what ways is it meaningful for you to be involved in strengthening the relationship between the Kahn School of Law and the NCBA?
I will first start with your observation and add this editorial gloss. These relationships, these professional opportunities, whether it’s been continuing education programming or networking or just getting together with friends, fellow attorneys and judges in the NCBA, have been critical to my professional career development for more than 30 years. I want to extend a hearty thank you to the NCBA for being there for North Carolina lawyers and all the myriad opportunities that they give us as attorneys and judges to come together, to build personal relationships, and to have professional opportunities and educational opportunities. I am the NCBA’s biggest supporter, and just as my experience with the NCBA has been so beneficial to me, Justice Edmunds, and to so many others who are involved here at High Point Law, we want our law students to have these same opportunities.
When I first came to High Point University, we had early communications between the NCBA and the law school. We immediately started planning a lot of interaction, which has been great for the students and for our staff and faculty — and I hope it’s been beneficial for the NCBA as well. My goal is clear: I want the students to get involved in the NCBA during law school and then remain involved after their graduation. Obviously, those students who elect to practice in other states can affiliate with bar associations in their jurisdiction.
Kahn School of Law students walking in the law building. Photo courtesy of High Point University.
You have been involved in different communities for many years and have been a member of the NCBA more than 30 years. A core value of the association is bringing people together through connecting with each other and through creating these opportunities for education and professional development. It is wonderful to hear you talk about your experience with the NCBA and exciting for us to continue to build this relationship with the Kahn School of Law.
Let me be very specific. Whether it’s been participating in the Litigation Section Council, strategic planning and emerging trends committees, the NCBA Brown v. Board commemoration, judicial independence, or service as a NCBA Vice President, each and every one of these endeavors were truly meaningful to me personally and professionally, and the people I met as a part of that are friends who have remained throughout my career. Attorneys who don’t take advantage of these opportunities are at risk of not really growing and achieving their full professional potential.
We had a hurricane that hit the state when I was Chief Justice, and the NCBA and the State Bar could not have been more supportive of trying to help make sure that the one million North Carolinians who had been impacted by Hurricane Florence received the civil legal assistance that they needed. Even though I was not Chief Justice when Hurricane Helene hit, I have no doubt that the NCBA, the State Bar, and the N.C. Supreme Court were right there again trying to lead the way and ensuring that North Carolinians received the civil legal assistance they needed at such a terrible moment.
Judge John Tyson, Chief Judge Chris Dillon and Judge April Wood of the North Carolina Court of Appeals visited the campus on October 23 for the Appeals Court. During the event, they held oral arguments and spoke with students. Photo courtesy of High Point University.
As you look ahead to the next year, what is on the horizon for the law school? What are some of the initiatives that you are working on or goals that you anticipate achieving?
First, we want to continue to focus on enhancing clinical opportunities for our students because this optimizes their practical skills development during law school. Because of these opportunities, they’re going to be that much more prepared to take witness statements, engage in discovery, and try a case. Even as a new law school, we have three legal clinics, so we have a lot of variety to engage the students. We have a Community Law Clinic, directed by Professor Jennifer Martin, which is available to assist individuals of modest means in the Triad region. Second, we have a Veterans Law Clinic, directed by Professor Ashley Castillo, which has been financially supported by Bergmann & Moore, LLC., which is the largest law firm in the United States that focuses exclusively on the representation of veterans. Third, we have the Appellate Advocacy Clinic, directed by Professor Scott Gaylord, which has already made three filings in the Supreme Court of the United States. It is pretty amazing in this short time what the clinics have already achieved and the tremendous opportunities that they are affording to High Point Law students.
The second area that I want to continue to focus on is continuing to develop and provide robust internship and externship opportunities for High Point Law students. We want to maximize the number of law firms that work with us in those internship situations as well. We don’t have any law graduates yet, but we would like to convince firms to consider our graduates for permanent employment after we have our first graduates in May 2027.
Third, we want to focus on bar passage for these first few classes. We have a curriculum designed to enhance and facilitate bar passage, and we use what’s called a six-semester commitment to bar passage. The students are working on passing the bar examination beginning their first semester and continue to do so through each successive semester, six semesters in all. We’re looking forward to optimizing student outcomes on the bar exam.
We’re very excited about our past inaugural year; now, as we move further along in our second year, we remain excited for our students and seeing them graduating as our first class in May 2027. Here is a link to our website for those who may want further information.
Thank you for the opportunity to share about High Point Law!
Jessica Junqueira is communications manager for the North Carolina Bar Association.