Campbell Law Spotlight: Grace Massarelli ’21

Grace Massarelli ’21 is a family law attorney at Gailor Hunt Davis Taylor & Gibbs PLLC, who is driven by a profound sense of empathy and compassion in her practice.

A Raleigh native, Massarelli is one of five children and considers her four siblings to be life’s greatest gift. While attending Broughton High School, Massarelli’s parents went through a separation and divorce, which would one day fuel her to pursue a career in family law. Massarelli’s journey through the complexities of her family’s experience fueled a deep-seated commitment to making a meaningful impact in family law and a resolute determination to bring about positive outcomes for families.

Attending the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with her twin brother Paxton, Massarelli graduated from the Cameron School of Business with a concentration in economics in 2018. While contemplating pursuing additional schooling in economics with the goal of becoming a professor, her heart continued to be drawn to advocacy with the desire to help individuals through some of the most personal and pivotal times of their lives.

Taking the LSAT her junior year of college, she was relieved when she got her first few law school acceptance letters. However, her heart was in Raleigh for more than one reason. Family being the first, and Gailor Hunt Davis Taylor & Gibbs being the second. After her family’s personal experience with the firm’s exceptional advocacy, Massarelli was determined to one day be trained and work alongside the Gailor Hunt team.

While at Campbell Law, Massarelli served on Honor Court for two years, won Most Outstanding Advocate during her first year at the Kilpatrick Mock Trial Competition, involved herself in Teen Court, the Child’s Advocate, the Re-Entry Clinic and served as a proud Student Ambassador.

While Massarelli remembers law school of a time full of insecurities and imposter syndrome, her participation in Client Counseling Competitions gave her the reassurance that she was, in fact, exactly where she needed to be. Coached by her now mentor, Zack Anstett ’18, he led by example and gave Massarelli the confidence and tools needed to counsel clients rather than regurgitate the law that Campbell made sure she knew. To be a great attorney, Massarelli said she is a firm believer that you need both. While participating on Campbell’s Client Counseling team, Massarelli and her teammate Amber Younce ’21 went on to win the Richard T. Bowser Client Counseling Competition two consecutive years, the 2020 American Bar Association (ABA) Regional Client Counseling Competition, and become finalists in the 2020 National Client Counseling Competition and semifinalists in the 2021 ABA Regional Client Counseling Competition.

Massarelli was offered full time employment at Gailor Hunt during her third year of law school. Following graduation, Massarelli witnessed the ongoing construction of the Gailor Family Law Litigation Clinic, named after Carole Gailor, Gailor Hunt’s founder. For Massarelli, the Clinic represents a commitment to excellence and a tribute to the pioneers who paved the way in family law.

Now, Massarelli spends her free time volunteering in avenues she feels she adds value and can give back to the community. She says her cup is filled by mentoring law students and coaching law school teams as a large part of her confidence during law school came from her mentors pouring into her in the same way. Most recently, Massarelli was recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star for 2024.

“I am thankful for the privilege to represent families in some of their darkest times and that I have been able to reshape how I think about my parents’ divorce as a pathway to finding my legal passion,” Massarelli explained.