Precious N. McLaughlin

Precious supports our Litigation group by conducting legal research and preparing draft briefs and discovery requests. She has tracked federal and statewide legislation pertaining to "ban the box" provisions and felon-friendly employment, and helped develop and implement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) audits for large corporations. 

Precious served as a Judicial Intern for Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court Cheri Beasley and for U.S. District Court Judge Frank Whitney conducting legal research, drafting briefs and opinions, and drafting orders for civil rights matters.

Prior to joining the firm, Precious twice worked as a Congressional Intern focused on policy, constituent relations, and events with respect to education, voting rights, and criminal justice reform, among other issues. She has been published on prisoner rights, criminal justice reform, and public interest law matters.

Representative Experience

• Worked with senior level partners to develop Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) audit for large corporation
• As a Judicial Intern, conducted legal research, provided recommendations, and drafted orders in several civil rights matters arising under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Drafted orders reducing pro se Defendants’ sentences pursuant to the First-Step Act
• Conducted research for brief in support of Writ of Certiorari to Supreme Court for MVA Prisoner Rights Project. Researched and tracked federal and statewide legislation pertaining to “ban the box” provisions and felon-friendly employment
• Drafted briefs, discovery requests, and responses to requests for admissions in litigation matters relating to employment and labor and landlord/tenant disputes
• As an intern with the Solicitor’s Office in the12^th Judicial Circuit, conducted research in effort to secure legislation in the state of South Carolina that authorized out of court statements when witnesses are intimated or otherwise unavailable due to the tactics of a defendant. Observed jury selection, trials, bond hearings and initial appearances

Notable

• North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society, 2022
• Member, Mecklenburg County Bar’s (MCB) Judicial Nominating Committee, 2023
• Eileen Kirley-Tallon Political Science Award, 2019
• Leadership Legacy Award, 2019
• Pride of the Patriot Award, 2019
• Jesse A. Coles Public Service Award, 2018
• Founder and Former President, Society for Criminal Justice Reform (SCJR), Wake Forest University School of Law, 2020-2022
• Chair, N.A.A.C.P. Legal Redress Committee, 2022-present
• Mentor, Lunch With a Lawyer, 2022-present
• Volunteer, Forsyth County Community Bail Fund, 2021-2022
• Vice Chair, Marion County Branch NAACP, 2022-present
• Founder and Alumni Board Member, Society for Criminal Justice Reform (SCJR) Alumni Board, 2022-present
• Member, Public Interest Law Organization (PILO) Ambassadors Task Force, 2022-present
• Member, Innocence Project, 2022-present

News

Speaking Engagements

• “Social Justice in Theory” - Prof. Brittany P. Battle - Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC, March 2022
• “Careers in Political Science” - Prof. David White - Francis Marion University, Florence, SC, February 2022
• Anatomy of Police Brutality - Mullins High School, Mullins, SC, February 2022
• The Hate U Give Book Discussion - Mullins High School, Mullins, SC, March 2021
• Constitution Day Observance - Topic: “Evolution of Voting Rights in America” - Wilson High School, Florence, SC, September 2020
• Community conversation on COVID-19 hosted by Office of Civic & Community Engagement Wake Forest University in partnership with the Race Inequality and Policy Initiative, Action 4 Equity, and Forsyth Futures, Winston-Salem, NC, September 2020
• Back to Our Roots: Crash Course Through the Black Experience - Francis Marion University, Florence, SC, February 2019
• Welcome Remarks on Behalf of FMU NAACP x Florence NAACP at Mt. Zion, Florence, SC, January 2019

Publications

• Judge Ketanji, We’re So Glad You’re Here, Society for Criminal Justice Reform Newsletter, 2022
• Freedom Should Be Free, Community conversation on COVID-19 hosted by Office of Civic & Community Engagement Wake Forest University in partnership with the Race Inequality and Policy Initiative, Action 4 Equity, and Forsyth Futures, 2020
• Apathy is no Longer an Option, Wake Forest University Public Interest Law Organization (PILO) Blog, 2020
• Solitary Confinement & Its Adverse Effects on Recidivism, Undergraduate Thesis & presented at Midwest Political Science Association Conference, 2019
• A Case for the Truth, Mother Emanuel AME Symposium for Race, Culture, and Understanding Essay Contest Winner, 2019