Students at UNC School of Law recently connected with potential employers from across the legal profession at the school’s Spring 2026 Meet the Tar Heels reception, where recruiters from firms like Troutman Pepper Locke and McGuireWoods mingled alongside representatives from the Navy JAG Corps and the Office of Indigent Defense Services. 

The event, held three times annually, is designed to give students access to different types of legal careers at key points in the recruiting timeline. Shawn McKenna, senior director of employer engagement, said the mix of employers from private practice, government, and public interest is intentional. “These receptions allow employers to see our students as people, not just GPAs and résumés,” McKenna said. “Our students make connections that frequently lead to interviews and jobs.” 

Mary Weeks ‘11, a partner and firmwide hiring partner at Troutman Pepper Locke, returned to campus as both an alumna and Gold Medal Sponsor representative. “The recruiting cycle has changed in many ways, but the most important part remains the opportunity to connect with students face-to-face and connect with them on a personal level,” Weeks said. 

Students appreciated the format. 1L Gabriel Schaner said conversations ranged from professional topics to Carolina basketball. 1L Cate Flournoy called it “a welcome reprieve from the more rigid cadence of traditional networking events,” while 1L Thomas Gilligan said the casual setup made it easy to talk with multiple employers. 

Fifteen organizations sponsored the event, with Deuterman Law Group, Troutman Pepper Locke, and Ward and Smith serving as Gold Medal Sponsors. Silver Medal Sponsors included Alston & Bird, Brooks Pierce, Finnegan, Goodwin, K&L Gates, McGuireWoods, Phelps Dunbar, and Smith Anderson. Bronze Medal Sponsors included Cadwalader, Fox Rothschild, Maynard Nexsen, Morris Nichols, and Womble Bond Dickinson. 

For more information about Carolina Law’s Career Development Office please visit Careers | UNC School of Law