Campbell Law student receives Teague Campbell’s 2024 DEI scholarship

Jaden Grimes, a third-year student at Campbell Law School, has received Teague Campbell’s 2024 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scholarship in honor of Charlotte W. Clark. 

Teague Campbell strives to create an inclusive and diverse environment within the firm and in the community. Along with the firm’s Management Committees, its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee is dedicated to seeking and retaining the best legal talent available who share in our commitment to diversity by fostering awareness, understanding and appreciation of people from all backgrounds.

Christine Parr, director of Human Resources, at Teague Campbell said, “With Charlotte Clark’s family present, we had the honor of presenting Jaden Grimes ‘24 with his DE&I scholarship. What an amazing young man!  We were so impressed with how he presented himself and honored Charlotte’s family members with stories of his own upbringing. They embraced him almost immediately and extended an invitation to church and lunch afterwards in the coming weeks.  He truly made a positive impression on everyone…He is truly a one-of-a-kind law student.”

The $2,000 scholarship Grimes received is in honor of Clark, who was dedicated to serving her community and exemplified the firm’s mission. According to the firm’s website, “Clark joined Teague Campbell on February 23, 2007, as the firm’s front desk receptionist.  Prior to working for Teague Campbell, Clark was a dedicated public servant who worked with the Attorney General’s office. Firm members learned very quickly that Clark was not only dedicated to her family and church, but her community as well. She and her husband, Wilbert Clark, were founders of the Juniper Level Baptist Church Missionary Food Bank where they dedicated many hours handing out food to the less fortunate in the community. Clark, otherwise known as Mrs. Charlotte, gave so much of herself to others through various causes in our community. She was an important part of the Teague Campbell family and inspired so many of us to strive for excellence. It is our hope that this year’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scholarship in honor of Mrs. Charlotte will encourage and carry on her generosity of spirit.”

The Teague Campbell DEI Scholarship is open to any student currently enrolled in an accredited North Carolina-based law school who actively participates in diverse community initiatives.

Grimes says he is passionate about the law and public policy. He is currently working as a legal intern in the Wake County District Attorney’s Office and as a student attorney in Campbell Law’s pro bono Blanchard Community Law Clinic. He has also interned with the N.C. Family Policy Council and N.C. Policy’s Self-Help Center for Responsible Lending.

“I look forward to potentially engaging in either private or public interest legal and legislative advocacy after law school,” he says.

In 2023, Grimes was selected as one of Campbell Law’s Spring 2023 Fellows for the ABA Legal Education Police Practices Consortium.

The Consortium is a collaborative effort between the American Bar Association (ABA) and 60 accredited law schools to gather data and evaluate the evolving nature of police work in the United States. When appropriate, that information is used to make policy and training recommendations for local and national law enforcement agencies. Dean J. Rich Leonard is proud to be one of the founding deans of the Consortium, as well as being a member of the Advisory Committee. Campbell Law School is the only North Carolina law school currently participating in the Consortium.  

Grimes said he gained interest in the Consortium based on his background in police-community advocacy. This background began in 2016 after the officer-involved shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, and the assassination of five officers in Dallas. In response, Grimes co-founded a group called ACTION, or A Call To Impact Our Nation, which is aimed at improving police-community relationships.

ACTION has recently been implemented as a student organization at Campbell Law, headed up by Grimes, Hayden Erwin ’24, Garrett Richardson ’25 and Ashlyn Nelson.

“ACTION hopes to expand its vision of the social, political and legal resources it could offer to improve the police-community relationship in the broader Raleigh community,” Grimes said. “The Legal Education Police Practices Consortium is a superb opportunity to contribute to this vision.”