WRAL reported yesterday that the Dean of the Campbell School of Law is considering the school’s move to downtown Raleigh from Buies Creek, NC. In the report, WRAL said that Raleigh is the largest state capital without a law school.
The move would be a great blessing for downtown Raleigh. The students and faculty would create much foot traffic, demand retail and basic food outlets nearby, and most likely move many residents to downtown. The many commuting Raleigh residents would have a safer drive home at night than they currently have.
I haven’t spoken to anyone about this move, however one opportunity for the school is glaringly obvious; the 9-story old Wachovia building at 227 Fayetteville Street (pictured on the left in the photo). Walking distance from the areas courthouses and libraries, the building would provide ample space and has adjacent parking for faculty and an underground connector to the Moore Square lot. The building’s first floor, formerly Wachovia’s local branch, is actually a 25 foot tall open space one floor down from Fayetteville and Wilmington Streets’ elevation. This provides an excellent opportunity to renovate the space into two large auditorium style classrooms. The building is in need of repair. However, a law school generally doesn’t need class A office space, something this building will never provide.
Hopefully the Campbell School of Law can find ample, reasonably priced space in downtown Raleigh and create a huge win-win situation.
I’m a Campbell U. undergrad alum and I think that this proposed move is a huge win-win. The law school is considered by many faculty and alumni to be the “crown jewel” of a high quailty university. The current campus, while rural is undergoing a major rebirth, thanks to new administration that is forward thinking. This is the perfect time for this to happen.
There is an interesting article in yesterday’s Dunn Daily Record that sheds a bit more light on the reasons behind the proposed move (including the fact that part of the current bldg is in disrepair) and reaction from local (Harnett County) residents.
Precedent has been set with this type of idea. After all, Elon’s Law School is in Greensboro.
I am an attorney and think that this potential move could be great for Raleigh and Campbell. I went to law school in DC and being downtown offers students a lot of opportunities to work in larger court settings, with more law firms (both large and small), it is also great for the community since a lot of law students work with non-profits as volunteers.
I agree with Dana on all the potential benefits to downtown Raleigh.
I’m all for this! Perhaps the influx of students into downtown will finally convince some of these developers to build moderately-priced apartments downtown instead of nothing but these ridiculously expensive condos!!!
This will be great for the City but will also offer Campbell some competitive advantages. Campbell has a strong reputation as a regional law school. with two other(2 too many) schools opening in NC (Greensboro & charlotte)and while both are a long ways away from being recognized as quality, accredited law schools, there is some appeal to “life in the city” versus Harnett County. Campbell has a strong alum base in North Carolina and as the expand to “non-NC born students”, luring them to a downtown location, will add appeal to prospective students and give Campbell a recruiting edge.
On the lighter side (and I can say this because I’m a lawyer), some would want to change the sign in Dana’s picture to read “Watch for Pedestrians, Aim for Future Lawyers”.
Funny? I got a chuckle out of it.
Sounds like I’m preaching to the choir here, but this sounds like a great idea. Here’s hoping it comes to fruition. I can’t think of much better for the shops, restaurants, bars, and condos downtown.
- Lea
this would be a great idea for campbell. unlike elon and the new charlotte law school, campbell has an alumni base and has racked up some good accomplishments for a regional law school. [i'm not a campbell grad.] being in raleigh would also help it lure a stronger and more diverse student body. not sure if the old wachovia building would work or not, but its an interesting idea. is they are large spots left in the warehouse district they could build out?
It seems to me that this would be great for Campbell for the reasons above, but also for another reason. It would enable the school to use experienced WORKING lawyers to teach certain classes, particularly practical classes. It has always been an issue with law schools that professors can become consummed in academia and research and lose touch with the real world (not saying that has happened at Campbell) while some of the sharpest legal minds don’t want to leave their practice. Campbell could hire some of the top notch local lawyers to teach a class, give lectures, etc and it would be easy for them to do if it was right downtown.
is there any update on this potential move?
There is some discussion it may go in the historic Blount St mixed-use development. Nothing official, though.
There once was speculation that they are exploring a short-term lease option downtown with a longer-term new law school building. if they are waiting on the Blount Street this could be a while before they would move. it sounded like the move was to occur much sooner.
Word has it that the plan is to have the law school in Raleigh by 2009. a temporary lease is under discussion while site location for a more permanent law school, library, etc is identified and designed.
Seems to me a good move would be for them to start by start offering classes and having them meet in any Shaw classrooms that aren’t being used. Particularly on off-peak times (night classes, etc.) That could get things started while they look for their own space. I’m sure Shaw wouldn’t mind the money of renting out a couple of classrooms for a few hours a week.