Dave Fitzgerald’s Service to Country and Community 

For Dave Fitzgerald ’15, the path to a legal career was paved with service and shaped by his experiences in the U.S. Army. After graduating from Notre Dame, where he studied finance and played football, Fitzgerald felt called to serve in the wake of 9/11. Fitzgerald ultimately opted to enlist in the Army, drawn to the direct impact he could make and the range of opportunities to serve. 

Fitzgerald deployed twice to Afghanistan as a platoon leader in light infantry units, serving in the country’s mountainous eastern region along the Pakistan border. On his second tour, he led a combat search and rescue platoon tasked with personnel recovery, executing helicopter assault operations, and reinforcing units engaged in firefights.  

“In the military, especially at the ground level, you see the real-world effects of policy in action,” Fitzgerald explained. “As a junior leader, one’s ability to influence events is really limited to what’s within your immediate control and you are left to trust that the broader strategic policies will be informed by the on-the-ground realities. In my admittedly limited experience, it was disheartening that never seemed to happen in Afghanistan, whether because information didn’t always make it up the chain or because it wasn’t effectively acted upon. But those experiences on the other side of the world instilled in me a desire to find a way to make a more direct difference at home.” 

Seeking a law degree as a path to make that difference, Fitzgerald chose UNC School of Law for its strong reputation and his desire to put down roots in the Triangle area. At Carolina Law, he excelled academically, publishing in the Journal of Law and Technology and competing on the Broun National Trial Team under the coaching of then-Dean Richard Myers.  

But some of Fitzgerald’s most personally meaningful work took place outside the classroom. Recognizing the significant veteran population in North Carolina and a dearth of legal services tailored to their unique needs, Fitzgerald co-founded the Veterans Advocacy and Legal Organization (VALOR). Under his leadership, VALOR provided over 400 hours of free legal aid to veterans, with Fitzgerald himself holding clinics on-site at the Durham VA hospital. The program drew involvement from many non-veteran law students as well. For his dedication and impact, Fitzgerald was inducted into Carolina Law’s Davis Society.  

“Starting VALOR was an opportunity to provide tangible help to veterans,” said Fitzgerald. “It was incredibly inspiring to see so many in the Carolina Law community step up to support those who sacrificed for our country.” 

After graduating, Fitzgerald held clerkships with Judge Frank Whitney in the Western District of North Carolina and Judge Patricia Millett on the DC Circuit. He then practiced white collar defense at a DC firm before the call to public service drew him back to North Carolina, where he became an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District.  

Recently, Fitzgerald transitioned to become General Counsel at a data and technology company. Though the setting differs from the military and the courtroom, his commitment to service endures.  

“The two greatest professional honors of my life are being entrusted to lead soldiers in combat and to represent the United States in court,” Fitzgerald reflected. “I am forever grateful to Carolina Law for the opportunities it gave me and I hope the Carolina Law community remembers me as someone who always tried to use my skills to benefit others. That’s the spirit of service Carolina Law embodies, and what draws so many to this profession – the drive to make a positive impact.”