Campbell Law Spotlight: Emily Sullivan ’24
When Emily Sullivan ’24 graduated from American University with her bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Affairs in 2020, law school wasn’t part of her plan.
Instead, she had set her sights on joining the Peace Corps in Senegal — a dream that came to an unexpected halt when the pandemic canceled the program. Looking back, Sullivan sees that disappointment as the beginning of a different journey, one that ultimately led her to a fulfilling legal career.
“I was not interested in law school at all,” she recalls. “It wasn’t something I had planned.”
After graduation, Sullivan accepted a position at a law firm in her hometown of Morehead City, North Carolina. Working in municipal law gave her a firsthand look at the legal profession, but it also helped clarify what she wanted from her career, sparking her interest in pursuing a legal education. Wanting to build a career in North Carolina and remain connected to the communities that shaped her, Campbell Law quickly became the right fit.
While in law school, Sullivan immersed herself in opportunities that strengthened both her legal skills and professional network. As a Civil Procedure Scholar and a member of the Campbell Law Review, she challenged herself academically while also helping organize symposium events that connected students with leaders in the legal profession.
Outside the classroom, Sullivan intentionally explored different practice areas through internships with the North Carolina Court of Appeals, Ward and Smith P.A., and the City of Raleigh. Those experiences confirmed her growing interest in zoning, land use and real estate law.
“I knew I wanted to work for Ward and Smith,” she says. “I wanted to get back to Eastern North Carolina.”
Today, Sullivan is a real estate and land use attorney with Ward and Smith, where she advises clients on zoning and land use matters, commercial real estate transactions, development projects, acquisitions, leases and regulatory approvals. Licensed in both North Carolina and South Carolina, she serves clients from the firm’s Wilmington and Morehead City offices.
Although her practice focuses on transactions rather than litigation, Sullivan credits her Campbell Law education with preparing her for the realities of legal practice in ways she didn’t fully appreciate as a student.
“As a transactional attorney, you may think Civil Procedure won’t matter,” she says with a laugh. “But I use it all the time — looking up rules, calculating deadlines and understanding the procedural framework that affects our clients.”
Beyond academics, Sullivan says one of the greatest lessons she learned at Campbell Law was the importance of relationships.
“The people you’re around, that’s what matters,” she says. “Find mentors. Talk to people about what they’re choosing to do with their time. Those conversations can shape your own path.”
Sullivan said she remains especially grateful to the professors, administrators and mentors who encouraged her throughout law school, including Assistant Dean of Career Services Mallory Underwood.
“There were people who reminded me, ‘You’re going to be okay,’” Sullivan says. “When things get hard, you need people you can fall back on, people who believe in you.”
Now established in practice, she strives to provide that same encouragement to newer attorneys and law students. Mentorship, she believes, is one of the profession’s greatest responsibilities.
For current students navigating uncertainty, Sullivan offers a simple but reassuring message:
“Keep going. Sometimes life puts you exactly where you’re supposed to be.”