Interested in learning more about student life at Carolina Law? Our students are more than happy to share their experiences with you. If you would like to speak with a current student, please contact the Office of Admissions.
CLA President
Name: Troy Reid
Education: North Carolina State University (B.S., Business Administration)
Hometown: Lexington, NC
Summer Involvement: Hayward Holdings (In-House) in Charlotte.
Campus Involvement: CLA Vice President, Holderness Moot Court Appellate Advocacy Team Member, Alumni Affairs Committee Member, TCLA, and 1GLP.
Legal Interests: Corporate/Transactional, Commercial Litigation, Real Estate, Aviation Law.
Favorite place in CH: Al’s Burgers
Fun fact: I am also a private pilot and spend a lot of my free time flying.
CLA VP
Name: Sutton Orndorff
Education: University of Richmond
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Campus Involvement: Law School Run Club, LSADV, Sports & Entertainment Law Association, Women in Law
Legal Interests: public interest, transactional, real estate, IP
“I chose Carolina Law because…”: I chose Carolina law for several reasons. One being, I knew I wanted to be closer to home than Richmond and I was set on attending law school in NC. I was drawn to big public schools & college towns because I spent undergrad at a small, private school in a bigger city and was interested in a different setting for graduate school. One of my biggest mentors is a Carolina Law grad and I’m also a huge sports fan, so I was super excited by the sports scene at UNC.
Fun fact: I just rescued a 1.5 year old poodle mix this summer! He’s the best study buddy and walking partner
CLA AMBASSADORS
Name: Kallie Bergers
Education: University of South Carolina
Hometown: Northville, MI
Campus Involvement: I plan to get involved in Women in Law, Transactional and Corporate Law Association, and Law Students Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence.
Legal Interests: Banking Law
“I chose Carolina Law because…”: I chose Carolina Law because of the potential to focus more on banking law through upper-level courses, the Banking Law Journal, and clinics.
Fun fact: I have been to 45 countries!
Name: Maggie Caudle
Education: UNC-CH
Hometown: Wilmington, NC
Campus Involvement: women in law, pro bono, the environmental law project
Legal Interests: Environmental Law and Entertainment/Media Law
“I chose Carolina Law because…”: I loved the Carolina community as an undergrad student and wanted to continue my education here in Chapel Hill. UNC is also a great law school when it comes to bar passage and employment rate, which both factored into my decision.
Fun fact: I attended all the same schools (elementary through college) as Michael Jordan!
Name: Carley Cook
Education: UNC-CH
Hometown: Santa Fe, NM
Campus Involvement: Honor Court, Member of CPILO
Legal Interests: Public Interest, Government, Civil Rights
“I chose Carolina Law…”: To be in a community committed to academic rigor, public service, and well-rounded, balanced lifestyles.
Fun fact: I walked the Camino in Spain this spring – 540 miles all on foot!
Name: Halley Dannemiller
Education: Clemson University
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Campus Involvement: First Amendment Law Review, Kilpatrick Townsend mock trial competition, externship with Appalachian Regional Healthcare Systems General Counsel, Women in Law
Legal Interests: Transactional generally with focus on healthcare policy and regulatory work
“I chose Carolina Law because…”: Both of my parents went to UNC for undergrad so I always wanted to be a Tar Heel and jumped at the opportunity once I was accepted and given a good amount of scholarship money. It was also the most highly ranked school (at the time) that I got into!
Fun fact: I have two rescue dogs named Ellie and Elmer.
Name: Stephanie Duensing
Education: Pepperdine University
Hometown: Mokena, IL
Campus Involvement: Women in Law
Legal Interests: Real Estate, Media
“I chose Carolina Law because…”: Cost, Future employment statistics
Fun fact: I have gone cage diving with sharks in Hawaii!
Name: Robby Fensom
Education: UNC-Wilmington
Hometown: Fayetteville, NC
Campus Involvement: pro bono opportunity this semester, NC Legal Aid and the NCBA
Legal Interests: Public interest (specifically in areas of criminal law like qualified immunity and civil forfeiture)
“I chose Carolina Law because…”: I know I want my career to focus on the legal needs and issues facing North Carolina. The choice was made even easier by the connections I made with current students during the admissions process.
Fun fact: I’ve visited all but two of the UNC System Schools and hope to round out the list by the end of the academic year.
Name: Mya Fernandez
Education: UNC Charlotte
Hometown: New York City & Dominican Republic
Campus Involvement: HLSA
Legal Interests: All, haven’t decided. If I had to choose I would say corporate or military law.
“I chose Carolina Law because…”: My scholarship!
Fun fact: I love to play pickleball.
Name: Brett Goble
Education: Centre College
Hometown: Georgetown, KY
Campus Involvement: Run Club, the Environmental Law Project, as well the Innocence Project.
Legal Interests: Environmental, Transactional/Contracts.
“I chose Carolina Law because…”: I chose Carolina Law because of its community, rank, and the opportunities I believe it can lead me to in my professional life.
Fun fact: Even though I am from Kentucky, I’ve never ridden a horse!
Name: Katherin Godwin
Education: NCSU for undergraduate, UNC for graduate school
Hometown: Chapel Hill
Campus Involvement: Federalist Society, North Carolina Bar Association, Wake County Bar Association
Legal Interests: real property, tax, corporate M&A
“I chose Carolina Law because…”: Both of my parents are alumni, my dad with his Bachelor’s and my mom with her Bachelors and her masters from UNC. I learned and developed immensely during my time at The Graduate School, and I knew I would experience similar levels of growth and development at Carolina law.
Fun fact: I have three children, ages four, two, and three months.
Name: Matthew Heldman
Education: Emory University
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Campus Involvement: Environmental Law Project, Carolina Public Interest Law Organization (CIPLO), Jewish Law Students Association
Legal Interests: Real Estate, Land Use Law (public or private sector)
“I chose Carolina Law because…”: I am interested in pursuing a degree with a masters in city and regional planning, and Carolina was the perfect fit for both programs. Carolina Law also had the ideal student body size, I heard great things about RRWA, and was very impressed with the CDO at Admitted Students Day
Fun fact: I am allergic to bananas!
Name: Hannah Litty
Education: Auburn University
Hometown: Chapel Hill, NC
Campus Involvement: Journal of International Law, Women in Law
Legal Interests: Criminal, International, Litigation
“I chose Carolina Law because…”: I chose UNC because it’s the best education for the price, the resources that come with having a degree from UNC are incredible. I also really love the people. It’s a great community and I wanted to be a part of that.
Fun fact: I have a three-legged cat named snowball
Name: Emma Poole
Education: Auburn University
Hometown: Leesburg, VA
Campus Involvement: Holderness Moot Court, NC Journal of International Law, Women in Law, TCLA, Innocence Project
Legal Interests: Regulatory and compliance
“I chose Carolina Law because…”: I loved campus when I visited (came weekend that UNC beat Duke in Final Four) and I thought it presented a lot of good opportunities to learn in a friendly/collegial environment.
Fun fact: I am a certified group fitness instructor!
Name: Kassie Rimel
Education: Kenyon College
Hometown: Duncan, SC
Campus Involvement: Carolina Law softball team, Pro bono, Carolina Intellectual Property Association, Women in Law, Sports and Entertainment Law Association
Legal Interests: Litigation, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Personal Injury etc.
“I chose Carolina Law because…”: Two Carolina Law professors—the Gerhardts—came and spoke at my undergraduate institution and recommended I applied. I ultimately chose UNC because I wanted to learn from professors like them and it seemed like a place that would allow women to thrive. Additionally, academic and geographic concerns played a role in my decision.
Fun fact: I am the first girl born in my family in 100 years.
Name: Julian Surprise
Education: University of Vermont
Hometown: Alburgh, VT
Campus Involvement: LSASDV, ELP
Legal Interests: Transactional Law
“I chose Carolina Law because…”: I chose Carolina Law to best give myself the opportunity to stay in North Carolina post grad and because the student body was the most welcoming of all schools I was interested in!
Fun fact: I have restored a vintage 1960s truck that is currently at Holden Beach!
Name: Sam Taylor
Education: BA & MPA from University of Alabama
Hometown: Fayette, AL
Campus Involvement: Federalist Society, Christian Legal Society, Public Interest Law
Legal Interests: Criminal law; financial law; national security law; religious liberty
“I chose Carolina Law because…”: I wanted to go out of state and UNC offered me a good opportunity. I was drawn to the area based on its relatively small size and the large presence of nature.
Fun fact: I attended Serena Williams’s final match of her career in person.
Name: Deven Upadhyay
Education: University of Virginia
Hometown: Dulles, VA
Campus Involvement: North Carolina Law Review; Kilpatrick Townsend Mock Trial Competition; Supreme Court Program, Dean’s Fellows, AALSA
Legal Interests: Commercial Litigation, White Collar Crime, Corporate
“I chose Carolina Law because…”: Great reputation, smaller class sizes, awesome weather, diverse.
Fun fact: I picked up abstract art as a COVID hobby.