Third-Year Law Student Megan Greene Has Defeated The Odds

Personal Life

Megan Greene recently graduated from Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law. Although she has several areas of interest, Megan is interested in pursuing a career in any type of law where she can be a voice for the voiceless and speak loudly and clearly as a zealous advocate for those who lack knowledge, strength, or courage.
 
Megan grew up in a small house with young parents who knew the meaning of hard work. She has a younger brother. Megan has traveled to Mexico twice and been to the Bahamas. Her most influential traveling experience was to Mexico at the age of 16 on a youth group church mission trip. During this trip, she conducted vacation bible school for Mexican children in Merida, which is located on the Yucatan Peninsula. The families that her church group helped knew nothing of economic value, yet they possessed all of the joy and love that you would expect to observe in a perfect world. This made a lasting impression on her.

During law school, Megan was a member of The National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the National honors Fraternities, and The National Criminal Justice Honor Society. She was also President of the Federalist Society, Publisher and Editor of The Federalist Paper, Secretary for the Military Law Student Association, a Member of the Student Bar Association, and a 1L Representative.

Additionally, Megan served as an Intern for the Wake County District Attorney's Office and in Wake County Detention Center. During this time she was the first Criminal Justice student to seek and receive approval to do two part-time internships simultaneously. Both of these internships satisfied her full-time internship requirement. She initiated this concept as a way to receive the maximum amount of experience possible.

She also served as an Intern in the District Court for the Johnston County District Attorney's Office, an Intern for The Honorable Judge Steelman for the N.C. Court of Appeals, and an Intern for The Honorable Judge Calabria for the N.C. Court of Appeals.
 
Her externships include serving as a Pro Bono Extern with Everett Gaskins Hancock, where she managed clients and researched applicable laws. She served as an Extern in Legal Operations for GlaxoSmithCline, RTP, N.C., where she researched the utilization of social media platforms for FDA pre-approved labels and advertisements and gained significant exposure to business operations of global pharmaceutical organization.

Megan received her B.S. in Criminal Justice and her B.A. in Psychology, magna cum laude, from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC.

When Megan has free time, she enjoys reading American history and participating in physical activities such as softball, working out, kayaking, and snowboarding.

Megan's Future Aspirations

Why did Megan go into law? "To be of service and assistance to others, while constantly being intellectually challenged."

What are Megan's legal aims and aspirations?"My ultimate goal is to serve as a voice for those who are personally injured. I would thoroughly enjoy working for a small to medium firm that serves as many types of clients as possible including corporate transactions, civil rights, operational licensing, admiralty and maritime law, First Amendment issues, and pharmaceutical drug or medical device claims. I hope to find employment with a firm that allows and encourages pro bono services in civil rights and constitutional law issues."

When asked about her key strengths and skills that she would like to leverage to advance her legal career, Megan said, "Since I worked for approximately six years total prior to returning to law school, I am an experienced professional who persistently exercises integrity even in the most inconvenient and difficult of situations." She added, "It is easier to explain by analogy: Meaningful prioritization and integrity are to success, what hydrogen and oxygen are to water. In order to achieve career success, one must exercise integrity in the face of all temptation to take detours. In the face of the most inconvenient and burdensome tribulations, the question is not, 'How will I get there?'Rather, it is' When will I get there?'"

Life's Obstacles and Community Service

Has Megan faced any obstacles in her life? She explained:

"There have been many times in my life where I defeated the odds, but none make me as proud as one that will forever connect me with Campbell Law. After completing my first semester as "that student", I was just one position above the bottom half of the class but was also just one position below the top half. From the middle of the class, I was determined to climb. Just before I climbed, I fell. The law school adjustment was difficult; on top of that I was a newlywed and a new homeowner. The second semester seemed packed with roadblocks and I finished the first year in the bottom half. After talking to many professors, professionals, and attorneys, the consensus was that movement of any noticeable degree was unlikely."She added, "While those individuals have more experience and knowledge than me, I decided that I would take advantage of the students in similar situations. I assumed that if they had the wisdom and courage to approach those individuals, as I did, then they would have received the same information, rather than accepting the information with absolute certainty. I relied on the likelihood that those students would assume they were "stuck" and I would not be "stuck" with them. After my second year of law school, I retrieved my transcript from my personal mailbox and opened it to discover that movement of any noticeable degree was in fact possible. Not only was it possible, but I achieved it. I defied the odds. Ever since that day, I have much greater confidence in myself."

Where did Megan derive her confidence? "'My help comes from the Lord,' Psalm 121:2."

What makes Megan stand out from her peers? She has developed maturity, stability, and overall skills that others have yet to develop because she worked for several years between earning her undergraduate degree and attending law school. Her understanding is largely based on her ability to assess the facts and legal issues in connection with her prior professional and personal experiences.

Is Megan involved with community service? She performs pro bono services from MLK Jr. Service Day Event Team Coordinator as an SBA 1L representative, where she coordinated with the local YMCA and recruited a handful of students and professors to attend and help package meals for "Stop Hunger Now."

She also volunteers for Holiday Cards for Veterans, the Reentry Project, and the Domestic Violence Awareness and Breast Cancer Awareness.

Personal Philosophy

What is Megan's personal philosophy? "In essence, no matter the obstacles that cross my path, I pick myself up and keep moving. My favorite quote on this point, is: 'Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars,' Les Brown."

What is Megan's favorite quote? "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity," by Lucius Annaeus Seneca.
 
Summary: Megan Greene is passionate about law. She has defeated the odds by graduating at the top of her class after a hard first year.