Elite institution of legal education plans move by 2009

Media Contacts: John Roberson, 910.893.1224, robersonj@campbell.edu; Natalie Best, 919.277.1173, nbest@fwv-us.com

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Harold B. Wells, Chairman of the Campbell University Board of Trustees, announced today that the Board of Trustees unanimously voted to move the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law from the University's main campus in Buies Creek, N.C. to downtown Raleigh by the fall of 2009. The school plans to move to 225 Hillsborough St., 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.

Rendering of the future home of the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law 225 Hillsborough Street , Raleigh

"North Carolina is one of the fastest growing states in the nation, and Raleigh is leading that charge," 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."

"We came to this decision after great pause, extensive research and consideration," said Wells. "The Board of Trustees sees this move as an opportunity for Campbell University to further extend its unique approach to legal education into a much broader community."

Joining the mayor and Campbell representatives today was Tony Gurley, Chairman of the Wake County Board of Commissioners. "The Campbell University School of Law will indeed be a welcome partner in Wake County," said Gurley. "A law school of Campbell's caliber is a wonderful addition to the county's long-term Justice Facility Master Plan, and we look forward to opening our facilities to law school faculty and students for moot court programs, internships, and other partnership opportunities."

In its 30-year history, the Campbell Law School has firmly been recognized as one of the premier institutions of legal education in the Southeast. Over the past 16 years, Campbell Law School graduates have achieved the highest average overall bar passage rate among North Carolina Law Schools. Additionally, Campbell Law's 1994 graduating class scored a 100% passage rate on the North Carolina Bar Examination, an accomplishment 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 currently commute from Raleigh to Buies Creek. In addition, the move to Raleigh will offer expanded law and judicial clerkships and externship opportunities to students.

About the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University

Since its founding in 1976, the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University has received two prestigious awards from the American Bar Association (ABA), the first for having the nation's best Trial Advocacy Program, and the second for having the nation's top Professionalism Program. For 2007, the school's Moot Court Program is ranked 13th among 196 law schools nationally. Campbell Law boasts more than 2,800 alumni, including 1,900 who reside and work in North Carolina. Please visit www.law.campbell.edu for more information.

About Campbell University

Founded in 1887, Campbell University is a private, coeducational institution where faith and learning excel. Campbell offers programs in the liberal arts, sciences, and professions with undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees. Please visit www.campbell.edu for more information.