NCCU Launches School of Law Commission to Shape the Future of Legal Education

DURHAM, NC – North Carolina Central University (NCCU) has announced the formation of a 13-member School of Law Commission tasked with charting the future of legal education at the institution. The commission, led by Raymond C. Pierce, J.D., former dean of NCCU School of Law and current president and CEO of the Southern Education Foundation, will develop strategic recommendations to enhance the law school’s impact, innovation, and excellence.

“I am deeply grateful to Raymond Pierce for taking on this critical role,” said NCCU Chancellor Karrie G. Dixon. “The NCCU School of Law has long been a transformative force in the legal profession. With Attorney Pierce’s expertise and leadership, I am confident this commission will set a bold path forward, ensuring the school remains a national leader in value, impact, and opportunity.”

For more than 85 years, NCCU School of Law has been a cornerstone of access to legal education for North Carolinians. The newly established commission will focus on key areas such as American Bar Association (ABA) accreditation standards, admissions requirements, curriculum development, student-teacher ratios, bar passage rates, student success metrics, and clinical operations.

The commission will begin work in January 2025 and present its findings and recommendations in May 2025.

“I am honored to serve as chair of this vital initiative,” said Pierce. “The NCCU School of Law’s legacy of providing access to legal education and advancing the profession is unmatched. I look forward to collaborating with some of the state’s most distinguished legal minds to ensure the school continues to excel in preparing future generations of leaders.”

Commission Members

• Raymond C. Pierce – President & CEO, Southern Education Foundation; former dean, NCCU School of Law
• Glenn B. Adams Sr. (J.D. ‘84) – Partner, Adams, Burge and Boughman PLLC; former chair, NCCU Board of Trustees
• Kate Bartlett – Former dean, Duke University School of Law
• Adrina Greenlee Bass (J.D. ‘09) – Special deputy attorney general, N.C. Department of Justice
• Brian O. Beverly (J.D. ‘95) – Partner, Young Moore and Henderson P.A.; past president, N.C. Association of Defense Attorneys
• John C. Boger – Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus, UNC School of Law
• The Honorable Allyson K. Duncan – Retired judge, U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals; past president, N.C. Bar Association
• Dan Harrison – Vice president for academic and regulatory affairs, UNC System
• Sonny S. Haynes (J.D. ‘10) – Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson
• Clayton Morgan – Associate general counsel, Duke Energy Corporation; past president, N.C. Bar Association
• The Honorable Joe L. Webster – U.S. magistrate judge; past chair, N.C. Board of Bar Examiners
• Gray Wilson – Partner, Nelson Mullins LLP; past president, N.C. State Bar and N.C. Bar Association
• Trish Hardy Wray (J.D. ‘07) – Associate general counsel, Duke Energy Corporation

About NCCU

North Carolina Central University (NCCU), a top-ranked Historically Black College or University, prepares students for success in the global marketplace through its flagship programs in sciences, law, business, nursing, and the arts. Founded in 1910, NCCU remains committed to providing access to higher education and advancing research in health disparities through its state-of-the-art institutes. Visit www.nccu.edu to learn more.