Campbell Law Spotlight: Jamie Herman ’22
Jamie Herman ’21 is a contracts administrator for the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation. She most recently served as the Special Assistant to Campbell Law School Dean J. Rich Leonard. In her former role, she assisted the Dean with any special projects, as well as managed the law school’s human resources and procurement duties. While a student at Campbell Law, Herman successfully completed a legal internship at Wake County Public Defender’s Office and she worked as a legal assistant at Bellomy, Turner & Bartram LLC in Huntington, West Virginia. Herman is a licensed attorney and focuses on restorative practices, where she is skilled in juvenile delinquency and as a child advocate. Herman earned her bachelor’s degree from Marshall University in West Virginia.
Q: What did you study at Marshall University and how did it set you up for law school? What attracted you to Campbell Law School?
A: I have a bachelor’s of arts in sociology and minor in political science from Marshall University in 2018. The work I did in undergrad focused on human trafficking, kids in the drug trade and service to others in underserved communities. My studies prepared me for law school by giving me a more accurate picture of what was going on in the communities around us and the serious need for kind, compassionate and determined people to change things. Many people I met had committed crimes or been in legal situations due to forces outside their control that brought them to this life. I knew that the way I wanted to serve our community was by helping those people with their legal battles. I wanted to go to Campbell Law School because of the vast amount of clinical opportunities that would allow me to serve the community.
Q: How did Campbell Law set you up for your current position as Special Assistant to the Dean?
A: Campbell Law set me up for the position by giving me a phenomenal relationship with my coworkers. I understood Campbell as a student, so the transition to staff was easy. The skills I needed for this position were already instilled in me, but Campbell helped fine tune them allowing me to excel in the role.
Q: What lessons did you take from your various internships at the Wake County Public Defender’s Office and Bellomy, Turner & Bartram? What advice do you have for law students entering that phase of their studies?
A: The advice that I have for students entering internships is to take advantage of the resources offered to you. Your supervisors are a wealth of knowledge and will give you plenty of opportunities to work on your own. Take advantage of jumping into the unknown and welcome feedback from the professionals. Take this time to learn what you want to do, what you don’t want to do, the kind of lawyer you want to be and the kind of lawyer you do not want to be.
Q: Tell us about your work in prison circles and restorative justice. What caught your interest in this kind of work?
A: I wanted to help juveniles. From my studies focusing on kids in the drug trade, I knew that I wanted to help kids who were born into a certain lifestyle feel validated, valued and know that they are able to change their lives. Working in the Restorative Justice Clinic is the light of my life. Almost all of the adult inmates that I have gotten to know have the exact same childhood. There are elements of abuse, sexual abuse, poverty, broken families, etc. I knew that the solution was reaching the kids before they become adults. Working in prison circles is my daily reminder that everyone is a human being worthy of love and compassion. We are all victims and we are all offenders. It is time that we start working to rehabilitate our adults and redirect our juveniles.
Q. You helped organize a Law Student Wellness Fair with Campbell University nursing students. What feedback did you receive from this event? What changes do you have planned for next year?
A: The collaboration with the nursing school for our Student Wellness Fair was remarkable! With main campus being an hour away, the law students do not really have access to the Campbell Health Center. Law students are busy and tired and overworked. They do not take the time to care for themselves. I wanted to bring care to them so they could get flu shots, blood pressure tests, screenings and more. Next year we plan to ramp up our immunization station and we plan to take our Health Law students to the nursing school for an opportunity to collaborate on what stations they would like to see at the health fair.
Q: What advice would you give to prospective and/or current law students as they apply to different law programs and go through their studies?
A: My advice is advice given to me by the one and only Professor Jon Powell ’98. “Think about the work you want to do, not the job you want to have.” You will figure it out. It is okay to not have an internship every semester. It is okay to go home for Thanksgiving break. It is okay to prioritize yourself and your needs. You are more than a machine, you are a human being who needs breaks. Take them. Energize yourself. The readings will still be there tomorrow.