Class of 2028 Continues Carolina Law’s Service Day Tradition in Style 

For 16 straight years, UNC School of Law has kicked off orientation week with community service rather than case studies. The newest cohort embraced the tradition with enthusiasm, spreading across the Triangle to tackle everything from family support services to essential needs advocacy. 

Just 24 hours after meeting each other for the first time, the Class of 2028 headed to community service sites across the Triangle on Tuesday morning. The annual Service Day continues Carolina Law’s distinctive approach to legal education: establishing a foundation of service to others before diving into legal theory. 

At the Diaper Bank of North Carolina’s bustling warehouse, first-year students discovered the intricate logistics of addressing basic needs across the entire state. 1L Daisy Spiva learned that the organization coordinates with partners from the mountains of Asheville to the beaches of Wilmington, ensuring essential supplies reach families who need them most. The work opened her eyes to gaps in federal assistance programs, where items like diapers and feminine hygiene products aren’t covered by WIC or SNAP. The experience proved both educational and personally meaningful when she discovered an unexpected connection with a fellow volunteer: another first-year law student who had sat next to her in philosophy classes at UNC Wilmington years earlier. 

Meanwhile, multiple student groups headed to the Ronald McDonald House in Chapel Hill, where 1L Atharv Kripak found himself assembling luminary kits for families unable to be home during the holidays and deep-cleaning family housing units. The hands-on work gave students direct insight into the challenges faced by families dealing with medical crises, but staff conversations provided the real education about the emotional and logistical complexities these families navigate. Kripak observed how the small-group format created natural bonding opportunities among classmates who had been strangers just hours before. “It was very rewarding, especially after learning about the challenges faced by the families who stay there from the house’s staff,” he said. 

The experience offered students unexpected perspectives on their chosen profession that extended well beyond the immediate community service. When 1L Cooper Jensen later mentioned the service requirement to practicing attorneys, their reaction caught him off guard. “They said I would have a lifetime to help people with their legal troubles, but as my time became more valuable I would lose the opportunities to merely lend a hand to a person in need,” Jensen explained. The conversation helped him appreciate why Carolina Law emphasizes this type of service from day one. 

Students noticed how the deliberate timing reinforces Carolina Law’s core values. Rather than starting with academic intensity, the school opens each year by putting community engagement first, sending a clear message about the hierarchy of values that will guide their legal education. 1L Emily VanDerveer found herself energized not just by the community work itself, but by witnessing her classmates’ genuine approach to it. The combination of meaningful service and collaborative spirit she observed gave her confidence about the kind of lawyers her class would become. “The kindness and work ethic displayed by my peers at service day makes me even more excited to start my law school journey at UNC, and I can’t wait to see what the class of 2028 will accomplish!” she said. 

For Spiva, the experience established the values that will guide not just their academic work but their future careers. The day demonstrated how community service creates a foundation for legal education that extends far beyond traditional classroom learning. “In alignment with the values and traditions of UNC School of Law, we started our legal education by serving just causes and thus setting the tone for our future academic as well as occupational endeavors,” she said. 

Students return to campus this week having established relationships with classmates built around shared values rather than shared anxiety about law school competition. They’ve gained practical insights about community partnerships, policy challenges and collaborative problem-solving while contributing meaningful work to organizations across the region. “Given the drive and initiative I witnessed on Service Day, I wholeheartedly believe, despite Chapel Hill being our home for the next three years, the law students at UNC will have a positive influence that extends beyond the campus,” Spiva concluded. 

The Class of 2028 began their legal education embracing Carolina Law’s commitment to “service to the state,” starting as engaged community members already contributing to solutions. Sixteen years in, the Service Day tradition continues to establish the school’s foundational values while preparing future lawyers who understand that their education extends far beyond the classroom.