Campbell Law 50th Anniversary Spotlight: William “Will” A. Oden III ‘04
William “Will” A. Oden III ‘04 is an employment law attorney with Ward and Smith P.A. in Wilmington and serves as the Co-Geographic Team Leader of that office. Oden also serves as the president of Ward and Smith Business Consulting LLC. He is a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and a Board Certified Specialist in Employment Law. A former member of the Board of Governors for the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA), Oden currently serves as a member of the North Carolina State Bar Council. Before Campbell Law, Oden spent his youth in Washington, North Carolina, and earned his bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2001. While in law school, he also earned an MBA from Campbell University’s Lundy-Fetterman School of Business.
Current Role: Attorney, Ward and Smith P.A.
Why Campbell Law?
Oden chose Campbell Law as an extension of his own personal interests in literature, writing, history, philosophy and politics, some of which he had explored during college. Relatives who were attorneys and judges were examples that also inspired his choice to pursue the practice of law.
On practice
Oden currently is an attorney at Ward and Smith P.A. focusing his practice on employment law. Oden was drawn to employment law as a field because it is people-centric and allows him to be a trusted advisor and advocate to those he represents.
A lesson that stuck
Campbell Law taught him the “high value of tenacity.”
People who shaped you
Oden thanks Professor Greg Wallace for a relatively short, but very impactful moment. Wallace engaged Oden in a Socratic discussion, and Oden recalls that he “froze analytically” and “attempted to punt on a question posed.” Wallace wouldn’t let him “off the hook,” causing Oden to struggle through the remainder of the discussion. Oden was determined to never again perform the way he did during that discussion, which ultimately changed the way he approached preparation in general.
Advice to current students
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
The next 50 years
Oden believes over the next 50 years, Campbell Law should be defined by producing attorneys of exceptional character, judgment and service to their respective clients and communities. As the legal profession evolves, ethical leaders who are able to exercise sound judgment will become increasingly important.
Sidebar
Currently reading: I am re-reading James Madison’s biography by Ralph Ketchum.
Most adventurous thing: The summer after college graduation, one of my best friends and I backpacked and train-hopped around Europe without any plan. We flew back the day before I started law school orientation.
Favorite Raleigh spot: Pullen Park is up there. I have great memories of our daughters riding the carousel.
Proudest moment: By far, my two proudest moments (tied for First Place) were the birth of our daughters, Alston and Sallie.