Rural NC Roots Lead Carolina Law Student to National Honor

The American College of Bankruptcy, the leading public service organization of bankruptcy professionals, has chosen Lucas Thornton ’25 as the Distinguished Law Student for the Fourth Circuit. Selected for his academic excellence and public service commitment, Thornton will join bankruptcy leaders at the College’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. this March.

“The selection process was highly competitive,” says Professor Kara Bruce, who along with professors Melissa Jacoby and Lee Hogewood, consulted on Thornton’s nomination. “Lucas stood out for his academic excellence, accomplishments in bankruptcy-related fields, and commitment to public service.”

“I come from humble beginnings in Southeastern North Carolina, so this recognition will open doors through greater networking opportunities,” says Thornton, who will become the first professional in his family. His passion for bankruptcy law started at home in eastern North Carolina, where his father taught him that “most folks are only one bad deal away from the poorhouse.”

That early lesson drives both Thornton’s career path and his view of bankruptcy’s crucial role. “Perhaps my favorite aspect of bankruptcy is how, unlike most courts, bankruptcy courts are primarily concerned with equity,” he says. “This inclination toward equity and compromise appeals to my own personal sense of justice.”

At Carolina Law, where Thornton ranks in the top third of his class, he’s thrown himself into bankruptcy law. He worked as a staff member on the Banking Law Journal, has tackled internships in both business litigation and consumer bankruptcy, and provided 128 hours of pro bono services in a single semester as a staff member in the Startup NC Law Clinic.

After graduation, Thornton will clerk for the Honorable Pamela McAfee in the Eastern District of North Carolina, bringing his expertise back to the community that sparked his career. This spring, he’ll assist Graham Kenan Distinguished Professor of Law Melissa Jacoby with secured debt projects before starting his clerkship.

“He’s committed to practicing bankruptcy law in his home state for all the right reasons,” Dean Martin H. Brinkley ’92 wrote in his nomination. “Lucas will return to eastern North Carolina to serve his community and those citizens who truly need the Code’s brand of justice.”