Campbell Law 50th Anniversary Spotlight: Merritt White III ‘87

Merritt White III ‘87 is a partner at Hartsell & Williams P.A., a firm he joined a decade after graduation. White currently works as a Civil Litigation Attorney in Concord, North Carolina. When he graduated from Campbell Law in 1987, he became the first in his family to earn a law degree. His father’s desire to once become a lawyer himself prompted White’s desire to turn from a pursuit in ministry and instead help others through legal counsel. A native of Jacksonville, Florida, White says the most rewarding part of his career has been helping people through those rough times that are often exacerbated by legal dealings. It’s this desire to help others that has continued to keep White a staple in the Cabarrus area, and garnered his reputation for understanding his clients’ needs in depth. Now, his involvement in Campbell Law includes his membership with Campbell’s Board of Visitors. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Campbell University in 1982 and an MBA from the University of North Florida in 1984. 

Why Campbell Law?

White says he was drawn to Campbell Law’s vision to develop lawyers with moral conviction, social compassion and professional competence. He says the law school’s relatively heavy required course load helped him tremendously, since he was the first in his family to study law.

On practice

White practices civil litigation, which he says was shaped by Campbell’s required experiential and trial advocacy courses and competitions.

A lesson that stuck

“Help your client make the right decision, then help them make the decision right.”

The people who shaped him

White credits his Torts Professor Stanley McQuade, who imparted practical wisdom and interdisciplinary knowledge that reached beyond law school theory through his epic life stories. 

Proudest moment

Twenty years after a very litigious domestic case, a young man thanked White for building bridges for his parents instead of walls

Advice to current students

White encourages students to take the time and put in the effort to learn the law and procedure and to understand why it is the way it is. He feels while you may not always know the law, there’s no excuse for not knowing what the law should be.

The next 50 years
Campbell Law should continue to emphasize applied law, emphasizing experiential learning, human-to-human client counseling, multidisciplinary training and strategic judgment in a global/borderless framework.f

Sidebar

Currently listening to: Revisionist History Podcasts

Most adventurous thing: Marrying Deneen Hancock

Favorite Raleigh spot: Char-Grill, 618 Hillsborough St.