Campbell Law student presents research at ABA’s Legal Education Police Practices Consortium

RALEIGH - Campbell Law School's rising third-year student Caroline Shabet '27 recently presented her research on the linguistics of policing at the American Bar Association's Legal Education Police Practices Consortium (LEPPC).

The Consortium formed to contribute to the national effort to examine and address legal issues in policing and public safety, including conduct, oversight, and the evolving nature of police work. The Consortium leverages the ABA's expertise in developing model police practices and that of participating ABA-accredited law schools to collaborate on projects to develop and implement better police practices throughout the United States.

"It was a pleasure to represent Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at the American Bar Association's Legal Education Police Practices Consortium (LEPPC) alongside research fellows from across the country," Shabet wrote in a LinkedIn post.

"Drawing on research I have conducted over the past year, I presented on the linguistics of policing, focusing on clarifying commonly used terms and addressing misconceptions within the policing and law enforcement landscape. My goal was to help bridge gaps in understanding by providing clearer language and context for discussing law enforcement issues-whether encountered in media coverage, public discourse, or everyday life.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to these important conversations and to learn from scholars and practitioners committed to advancing legal education and police practices."

Shabet, along with Talley Ridgeway '26 and Tracy Harris '26, joined a cohort of 15 fellows from across the nation for the 2025-2026 fellowship program. This full-year experience empowers fellows to pursue in-depth research in their chosen areas within policing.

The fellowship was designed to contribute to a national effort of Consortium-member law schools to examine and reform legal issues in policing and public safety. By combining the ABA's expertise in developing model police practices with the academic vigor of participating ABA-accredited law schools, the Consortium fosters collaborative projects that aim to implement better policing practices across the United States.

Shabet, who is originally from Troy, Michigan, said, "My motivation for applying to the Legal Education Police Practices Consortium stemmed from my experiences and education surrounding psychology, incarceration and the history and evolution of policing and punishment in America."

A 2023 graduate of the University of Michigan with a bachelor's degree in psychology, Shabet hopes to work in criminal litigation, advocating for vulnerable populations within the justice system. She is interested in post-conviction work, specifically cases involving capital punishment and/or juveniles. She is currently interning in the Wake County Public Defender's Office. Last summer, she interned with the North Carolina Department of Justice - Special Litigation Section.

As part of the fellowship, all fellows were invited to attend the Law of the Police 2026 Conference during the first week of June, hosted by the Consortium and Wayne State University Law School in Detroit, and present their final projects. The conference allows the fellows to learn from established scholars and practitioners, share their research ideas and receive valuable feedback.

The fellowship is led by Wayne State University Law School Faculty Director Rebecca Robichaud alongside Post-Graduate Fellow Molly Moening from Detroit. Together, they facilitated monthly online sessions designed to encourage collaboration among fellows, promote critical skill-building and accelerate progress toward advanced policing practices nationwide. To learn more about the ABA Legal Education Police Practices Consortium, visit this link.

ABOUT CAMPBELL LAW SCHOOL

Since its founding in 1976, Campbell Law has developed lawyers who possess moral conviction, social compassion and professional competence, and who view the law as a calling to serve others. Among its accolades, the school has been recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) as having the nation's top Professionalism Program and by the American Academy of Trial Lawyers for having the nation's best Trial Advocacy Program. Campbell Law boasts more than 5,000 alumni, who make their home in nearly all 50 states and beyond. In 2026, Campbell Law is celebrating 50 years of graduating legal leaders and 17 years of being located in a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of North Carolina's Capital City.

Lisa Snedeker Writer