UNC School of Law

LAA Book Club with Jennifer Puryear '95 and Professor Bill Marshall
2026-04-23 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Professor Bill Marshall discusses “The First Gentleman” by Bill Clinton and James Patterson, sharing his insights from serving as deputy counsel to the president and deputy assistant to the president during the Clinton Administration.
Email Brian Stern at brian.stern@unc.edu to join the LAA book club email list for updates.
Register by April 17

Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering
2026-04-30 | UNC Curtis Media Center
Panel discussion with the Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering to discuss entrepreneurship in the age of innovation. Biomedical Engineering (BME) is a fast-growing, interdisciplinary field that integrates engineering, mathematics, medicine, and science to improve human health and quality of life. In the Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, students are given access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities at both NC State University and UNC-Chapel Hill. This unique relationship offers students a wealth of opportunities for research, group collaboration, coursework, and exposure to experts in medicine and engineering. The mission of the Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering is to unite engineering and medicine to improve lives. Our department’s three core values are: innovate, collaborate and translate. With more than 50 primary teaching and research faculty members and approximately 600 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students, the Joint Department is on track to realize its ambitious vision of becoming a leader in real-world results: faculty productivity, student accomplishment and entrepreneurial success.
No public attendance allowed, discussion will be recorded

Commencement
2026-05-08 12:30
Can’t make it? Commencement will be available via livestream.

Classes Begin; Externship Orientation; Summer Registration Closes
2026-05-11

State of the School Address
2026-05-15 12:00 - 13:00
Carolina Law State of the School Address
Join UNC School of Law leaders for an update on the happenings in the halls of Carolina Law, including our second-consecutive No. 18 best law schools ranking. The virtual event outlines our successes, our future, and the path forward.

DDI Board Boot Camp
2026-05-20 - 2026-05-21 | Rizzo Center, 150 DuBose Home Lane, Chapel Hill, NC, 27517, United States
This program is designed to support aspiring board members who want to learn more about corporate board service. Topics include the job of a director, the skills needed and how to develop them, realistic approaches to advancing your candidacy for a board of directors’ position, and evaluating companies and opportunities. We will form Peer Pods for those interested. Following the program, each Peer Pod will meet with a group leader three times (for an hour) before the end of the year. This is an opportunity to work on skills discussed at the Boot Camp. Enrollment is limited and based upon application.

Aaron Gard with Wilmington Minority Chamber of Commerce
2026-05-20 | Wilmington, NC
Institute for Innovation Executive Director, Aaron Gard, speaking to the Wilmington Minority Chamber of Commerce about entrepreneurship in the age of innovation. The Chamber is a network of entrepreneurs, professionals, and community leaders committed to economic growth, collaboration, and meaningful impact across the Cape Fear region.

Memorial Day—no classes
2026-05-25

Faculty Lunch and Learn with Professor John Coyle
2026-06-05 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Hosted by the UNC Law Alumni Association, Carolina Law Professor John Coyle, explores how U.S. courts navigate the tangled and often contradictory choice‑of‑law rules in terrorism cases.

Entrepreneurship In The Age of Innovation
2026-06-15 | Kitty Hawk, NC
Institute for Innovation Executive Director, Aaron Gard, speaking to Outer Banks Entrepreneurs about entrepreneurship in the age of innovation. Outer Banks Entrepreneurs is a vibrant hub of women’s empowerment, connection, and success! Based in the scenic Outer Banks of North Carolina, with additional chapters in Elizabeth City, NC, and Chesapeake, Virginia, this is not just an organization – it’s a thriving community of female artists, business professionals, crafters, direct sellers, non-profit organizations, and service providers.

Juneteenth—no classes
2026-06-19

Carolina Law Alumni Reception at the NCBA Annual Meeting
2026-06-25 17:30 - 19:00 | The Westin Charlotte, 601 S College St, Charlotte, NC, 28202
Join Carolina Law for an alumni reception during the North Carolina Bar Association Annual Meeting.

LAA Book Club with Jennifer Puryear ’95, Professor Leigh Osofsky, and Professor Kathleen Thomas
2026-08-28 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Join Jennifer Puryear ’95, Professor Kathleen Thomas, and Leigh Osofsky for a compelling virtual book club conversation exploring The Tragedy of True Crime: Four Guilty Men and The Stories That Define Us by John J. Lennon. Together, they’ll delve into the book’s powerful examination of justice, narrative, and the human stories that shape our understanding of crime and punishment.

Law Alumni Weekend 2026
2026-10-09 - 2026-10-10
The UNC Law Alumni Association (LAA) welcomes all Carolina Law alumni back home to Chapel Hill for Law Alumni Weekend, October 9-10, 2026.
With an exciting program of celebration and connection, Law Alumni Weekend will remind you how Carolina Law shaped your path and why this community still feels like home.
Register, reserve your hotel, and view the list of attendees below by September 30, 2026 to reserve your spot – Law Alumni Weekend wouldn’t be the same without you.
REGISTER NOW
Program & Itinerary
Friday, October 9, 2026
Afternoon: A Fall Day in Chapel Hill – Options include:

Franklin Street Restaurants and Shops

Suggested stop at TOPO featuring The Carolina Counsel, a custom cocktail celebrating Law Alumni Weekend.

Morehead Planetarium
Ackland Art Museum
Carolina Basketball Museum
Self-Guided Walking Tour of Campus
Center for Risk, Resilience, Climate and the Environment (R2E2) 2nd Annual Conference

Evening: LAA Awards Dinner, 6-9 p.m. at the Carolina Club

Join us for dinner to honor our 2026 LAA alumni award winners:

Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees

Jim Delany ’73
Wade Hargrove ’65
Richard Stevens ’74

Distinguished Alumni Award Honorees

Pat Brown ’86
Elizabeth Luck ’89
Wilson White ’06

Emerging Leader Award Honoree

Zac Long ’12

Professor S. Elizabeth Gibson Award for Faculty Excellence Honoree

Professor Bill Marshall

Saturday, October 10, 2026
Morning and Afternoon: Carolina Law Community Activities

C-PILO Fun Run | 7:45-10 a.m.

The Carolina Public Interest Law Organization (CPILO) is hosting a fun 5K run/walk. Proceeds will go directly towards funding grants for Carolina Law students who accept unpaid summer internships in public interest law.

Pro Bono Experience | 9-11 a.m.

For alumni who can practice in North Carolina, we will be holding a Free Legal Answers Pro Bono Project. We hope to have 10-15 alumni join and support ten student participants.

Faculty Lunch and Learn: The Trial of Harriet Justus with Professor Joe Kennedy | 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

In a striking legal experiment that blurs the lines between science fiction and courtroom reality, three artificial intelligence systems (ChatGPT, Claude, and Grok) will act as jurors in a mock trial that was based on a real juvenile case from North Carolina.

Game Watch | Time TBD due to football schedule

Hosted at Might as Well on Franklin Street

Evening: Milestone Reunions, 5:30-9 p.m. at the Carolina Club

The Class of 1986, 1996, 2006, and 2016 will gather for special dinners celebrating our Carolina Law connection and the community we helped build.

Courtesy Hotel Blocks
Optional hotel blocks are reserved for your convenience:

Rizzo Center: (919) 913-2098, $236, room block closes August 10.
Hampton Inn & Suites: (919) 969-6988, $239, room block closes August 25.
Residence Inn by Marriott: (919) 933-4848, $131, room block closes September 7.
Carolina Inn: (984) 276-1756, $359, room block closes September 9; group code is ULAW and if you are calling in, you can reference Law Alumni Weekend.
Courtyard by Marriott: (919) 883-0700, $199, room block closes September 9.
Graduate Chapel Hill: (919) 442-9000, $295, room block closes September 9.
Hyatt Place Chapel Hill: (919) 929-9511, $239, room block closes September 11; call in code is “UNC Law Alumni Weekend” and online Corporate/Group Rate Code is G-ULAW.

Law Alumni Weekend Attendees
Below is a list of Carolina Law alumni who will be attending Law Alumni Weekend. Please note that guest names are not included. If you no longer wish to be displayed on the list, please reach out to mann@unc.edu.
This list is updated weekly and last updated on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.

Class of 2003

Brian Meacham

Cornerstone Weekend Among the Palmettos
2026-11-05 - 2026-11-08 | Charleston, SC
Save the Date for the UNC School of Law
Cornerstone Weekend Among the Palmettos
November 5-8, 2026 Charleston, South Carolina
Join the Cornerstone Club for a weekend of celebrating the successes of Carolina Law:
faculty, students, programs, and exceptional supporters.
By invitation only.
Invitation to follow in summer 2026.
