Legal Deacon Digest – September 2025
Message from Leadership
As I begin my third year as dean of Wake Forest Law, I continue to feel immense gratitude for being part of such a special community. Every day, I am reminded of the talent of our students, the strength of our faculty and staff, and the commitment of our alumni. There’s no doubt that Wake Forest Law is in an extraordinarily strong position. And yet, we can’t stand still or rest on our laurels. The landscape of legal education is continually changing, with new demands for skills training, assessment, professional development, and the integration of technology. All of this change gives us the opportunity to enhance how we prepare lawyers for the future, and how we position our law school to remain a leader in legal education. From increased support for student scholarships, to mentoring recent grads as they prepare for the bar exam, to improving our ability to compete for the best faculty and staff, there are so many ways for our alumni to get involved and give back. I hope you know how important your engagement in this community is. No matter how you choose to contribute—through philanthropy, by hiring a recent grad, or the many other ways—it makes a real difference to our students. And it motivates others, speaks volumes to our students, and demonstrates what it means to be part of an institution that lives by its Pro Humanitate motto. Thank you for being an essential part of this community—and I look forward to another banner year at Wake Forest Law. Sincerely, Andrew R. Klein Spotlights Alumni
Beth Langley (’86, JD ’92) was recently elected president-elect of the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA) and a member of Wake Forest Law’s Law Board of Visitors. Beth continues a proud tradition of leadership—four of the last five NCBA presidents are Wake Forest Law alumni. Past presidents include Clayton Morgan (JD/MBA ’91), Patti Ramseur (JD ’99), and Kim Stogner (’86, JD ’94).
Laura Kidwell (JD ’90) received the Tennessee Bar Association’s (TBA) prestigious Justice Joseph W. Henry Award for Outstanding Legal Writing for her article “It Is So Ordered: A Primer on Tennessee’s Final Judgment Rule.” Jesse Bless (JD ’04) received the 2025 Jack Wasserman Memorial Award for excellence in litigation in immigration law.
Promotions, New Positions, and Recognitions:
Students
Wake Forest Law is proud to welcome the JD Class of 2028. The 205 students entering law school have a median LSAT score of 166, tied for a record high, and a 3.79 median GPA, tied for the second highest ever. The 1L class comprises 7% first-generation college students and 79% first-generation law students. Eight percent are active military or veterans. Eighty-one percent of students come to Wake Forest Law from outside North Carolina, representing 108 undergraduate institutions, and 33 states and Washington, DC. Learn more about our newest #LegalDeacs. Mary McCullough (JD ‘26) spent her summer working in the District Attorney’s office. Read about her summer in our #LegalDeac Summers spotlight. Wake Forest Law welcomed our newest international students in mid-August for a three-day International Orientation. This year’s class includes six LLM program students, five SJD students, three exchange students, and one visiting international researcher, representing 10 countries: Brazil, China, Germany, Ghana, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Trinidad & Tobago, Ukraine, and Vietnam. “I’m very proud of all of our I&J Clinic students who worked so hard on this case over the last six years,” says Professor Mark Rabil, founding director of the I&J Clinic, “particularly Mae Zeitouni (JD ’25) who helped me get ready over the Christmas break last year and in every way for the three weeks of this difficult hearing last January.” Read more about how the Innocence & Justice Clinic has helped clinic client Jermal Tolliver, a member of the Winston-Salem 5, get post-conviction relief. Faculty Professor John Knox received the prestigious Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy. This award—the highest honor in the field—recognizes innovation, skill, and accomplishments by leaders advancing global environmental order. Professor Knox will be celebrated alongside Dr. David R. Boyd at a ceremony at Pace University in New York City on October 23, 2025. Professor Rebecca Morrow’s article, “The Income Tax as a Market Correction,” was recently recognized by Professor Neil H. Buchanan as one of the best works of recent scholarship in tax law, as featured in Jotwell: The Journal of Things We Like (Lots). Professor Buchanan also discussed the article in Dorf on Law, offering additional insights into its analysis and implications. As professor and founding director of the clinic, Professor Zaneta Robinson (JD ’03) is not only shaping future lawyers inside the classroom but also changing lives beyond it. Now that she has tenure, Professor Robinson plans to build on the questions she began raising through her scholarship—exploring the intersections of intellectual property and language—while continuing to help the next generation of lawyers navigate an ever-evolving legal landscape. Professor Don Vaughan (JD ‘79) was quoted in a WalletHub article. Professor Vaughan—who has served seven terms on the Greensboro city council, two terms as Mayor Pro Tem, two terms in the North Carolina Senate, and one as Deputy Leader in the Senate—shares his expertise on important issues facing US cities today, how people can help increase transparency of their local government, and how local policymakers can reduce racial tensions. Dr. Alyse Bertenthal and Professor Ellie Morales (JD ’10) were recently honored as Dean’s Fellows. The honor recognizes their exceptional contributions to Wake Forest Law, the legal profession, and the community. Dr. Bertenthal and Professor Morales join 2025-2026 Dean’s Fellows Professors Meghan Boone, Chris Coughlin (JD ’90), Marie Amélie George, Sarah Morath, and Gregory Parks. Events Where are we going next? Law Alumni Weekend and Homecoming JLP Symposium Noteworthy We are pleased to announce the signing of a new partnership agreement with one of the top universities in Brazil, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR). The partnership will help provide short-term student and faculty exchanges and research collaborations, and PUCPR law students to the LLM program. The Wake Forest Law Office of Development and Alumni Engagement is proud to announce the appointment of 45 new members to the Law Board of Visitors and Rose Council. These alumni and friends of the Law School began their three-year terms on July 1, 2025, bringing with them a wealth of experience and a shared passion for advancing the mission of Wake Forest Law. Wake Forest Law is excited to introduce our newest track in the Master of Studies in Law (MSL) degree program: Financial Services! This new track builds on our Business Law and Compliance track by adding courses in Banking Law and Securities Regulation, with more courses to come.
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Categories: Legal Deacon Digest, News