North Carolina Judges Pursue LL.M. Degrees at Nottingham Law School

RALEIGH – Two North Carolina state trial judges, Judge Terry Rose of District Court 12 and Chief District Court Judge Amanda Wilson of the 21st Judicial District, will participate in an LL.M. Program in International Legal Studies at Nottingham Law School in the United Kingdom over Campbell Law School’s spring break. They are the inaugural recipients of the Gray Fellowships, each valued at $12,500.

Gray Fellowships and Program Background

The fellowships are funded by former Wake County District Court Judge Jane Powell Gray ‘79 and her husband, Frank Gray. The program, a partnership between Campbell Law School and Nottingham Law School, has been running for nearly a decade, allowing judges and students to earn an LL.M. Degree through online coursework and an in-person component at Nottingham Trent University .

Judge Terry Rose

Judge Terry Rose, admitted to the North Carolina State Bar in 1992, practiced law in state and federal courts, including the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, until 2021. She was sworn in as a District Court judge in January 2021, serving Johnston, Harnett, and Lee counties. Her LL.M. Thesis will explore the complexities of alimony law, proposing “a coherent theory of alimony grounded in contemporary cultural understandings of marriage and to establish a framework for its practical implementation.”

Judge Amanda Wilson

Chief District Court Judge Amanda Wilson has served as the chief judge for the 21st Judicial District (Anson, Richmond, and Scotland counties) since 2018, having been on the bench since 2008. She currently serves as vice president/president-elect of the North Carolina Association of District Court Judges and is a commissioner for the North Carolina Human Trafficking Commission. Her thesis will focus on “Legal Deserts: Finding Solutions to the Pervasive Problem of a Lack of Legal Representation in Rural Areas,” aiming to address the challenges of access to legal counsel in underserved areas of North Carolina.

Budgetary Considerations and Program Support

Dean J. Rich Leonard of Campbell Law School noted that the fellowships were established due to recent state budget pressures affecting the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), which had previously provided support for judges participating in the program . Despite these constraints, the program continues to thrive, with over two dozen judges having already earned their LL.M. Degrees through the partnership.

Campbell Law School and Nottingham Law School Partnership

The collaboration between Campbell Law School and Nottingham Law School began in 2017, offering a unique opportunity for students, attorneys, and judges to pursue advanced legal studies. Students complete online coursework before traveling to Nottingham to present their thesis proposals and work with faculty mentors .

Campbell Law School, founded in 1976, is recognized for its professionalism and trial advocacy programs and boasts a network of over 5,000 alumni worldwide.