Campbell Law 50th Anniversary Spotlight: Thomas Currin II ‘10
The Honorable Samuel Thomas Currin II ‘10 currently serves as a Special Superior Court Judge for the state of North Carolina. Currin grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, and earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Hampden-Sydney College in 2006. At Campbell Law, he served as chairman of the law school’s Honor Court and president of Phi Alpha Delta. Before his judicial appointment by the North Carolina Legislature in 2025, Currin was an associate attorney at Rik Lovett & Associates in Raleigh from 2010-24.
Current role: North Carolina Special Superior Court Judge
Why Campbell Law?
Currin says he “feels like he has been going to Campbell Law his whole life.” His mother, Margaret Currin ’79, is a Campbell Law alumna as well as a former professor and assistant dean. His father also taught as an adjunct professor at Campbell Law for a short period of time. Currin remembers spending time in Buies Creek during his childhood, attending day cares and summer camps there. After making the decision to go to law school, he “could think of no other place to even look.”
On practice
Currin currently serves on the North Carolina Superior Court. His ability to serve the State and the People has been key to leading him to this role. He states how “an attorney’s practice of law is unique in that it is often inherently adverse to someone else’s practice.” As a judge, he often has to act as the arbiter of disputes, but he most enjoys when he is able to guide opposing parties to a consensual agreement instead of a “gravel drop decision imposed on one side.”
A lesson that stuck
“Be prepared. Do the homework. Read the cases. Read the footnotes. Do your case briefs. Know the facts of the case and know the relevant law. Do not just assume that everyone else in the case (including the judge and opposing counsel) knows more or knows the right answer just because they have been doing it longer.”
People who shaped you
Currin states that from a professional standpoint, a summer internship at the North Carolina Court of Appeals with Judge John Tyson ’79 and a class on State Constitutional Law with N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby were excellent primers for his current position in the Superior Court. From a personal standpoint, he feels his parents were the most influential, being his biggest supporters, encouraging (but not pushing him) into law and serving as examples to practice and live by.
On being Campbell Law Family
“It means you are a part of a group who are consistently regarded as the best.”
Advice to current students
“Be prepared. Do the homework. Read the cases. Read the footnotes. Do your case briefs. But also, make the most of your time there. Studying is important. But so too are the internships and extracurricular opportunities. And so are the friendships you make with classmates. You will see these classmates again — in practice and in the courtroom. Make formative relationships now that will make your professional career more enjoyable and more productive.”
The next 50 years
Campbell Law should be defined by its “continued dedication and commitment to training lawyers to be respected attorneys and good citizens, lawyers who will actually go out into the community and help their fellow citizens.”
Sidebar
Currently Reading: “The Iliad” by Homer
Most adventurous thing: I’m not very adventurous.
Favorite Raleigh spot: Eating cheese and crackers at Angus Barn.
Proudest moment: Being sworn in as a judge.