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Karrington Wallace L’25 has always seen the best lawyers as changemakers — people who disrupt what’s normal “to make way for a new normal that’s more just.”

That conviction is shaping her future in employment and civil rights law, and it’s one reason she is the inaugural recipient of the Dean George R. Johnson Scholarship at ���ϲ����� School of Law.

When her early studies to be a dentist left her uninspired, “it was easy for me to pivot to the law path because I realized it’s civil rights lawyers who make the difference,” Wallace said. “They advocate for change in the legal system, and that’s when you see real progress.”

Coming of age, learning more about the ongoing civil rights movement and persistent inequality, and deepening knowledge through political science and Africana studies at Seton Hall University, Karrington followed her interests to ���ϲ����� Law. Now a third-year law student, she has distinguished herself as a leader among peers and as a future advocate for fairness.

Johnson was a member of ���ϲ����� Law’s founding faculty and served as the Law School’s second dean. He passed away in 2020, and is remembered as a steady leader who guided the school through its first ABA accreditation and helped establish its academic foundations. A noted scholar of administrative, regulatory and constitutional law, he combined rigorous teaching with a deep commitment to mentorship, particularly for students underrepresented in the profession. His legacy endures at ���ϲ����� Law through awards and scholarships in his name that honor excellence, service and professional achievement.

“This scholarship is the ideal way to carry on George’s legacy,” said Dr. Linda Morris, Johnson’s widow. “He loved the law and saw it as a way to bring justice, equity and significant change to the community. This scholarship helps the next generation of students begin their professional journey by focusing on their studies and easing some financial strain. It is my hope that the recipients will share George’s passion for the law and wanting to make a difference in the world. And perhaps some of them will seek a career in legal education or will mentor others as they start their career.”

“Dean Johnson was a man of distinction and quiet character,” said Ronny Lancaster P’08 L’12, one of the scholarship’s co-founders along with Dr. Morris, Eric Meredith L’09, and Mark Jetton L’09. “In meeting Dean Johnson for the first time, one would be impressed with both his clarity of vision and his ability to confidently explain it. He was a man of intellect and academic legal excellence.”

Lancaster said the group envisioned supporting students who “embodied and reflected the character of Dean Johnson” — those who demonstrate academic excellence, the promise of a successful legal career, and a deep commitment to community.

“Ms. Karrington Wallace demonstrates these characteristics, and more,” Lancaster said. “Dean Johnson would be very pleased.”

The scholarship also reflects the power of philanthropy at ���ϲ����� Law, and how the generosity of alumni and friends creates opportunities for students to fulfill their dreams and carry forward the values of those who came before them.

“He loved the law and saw it as a way to bring justice, equity and significant change to the community. This scholarship helps the next generation of students begin their professional journey by focusing on their studies and easing some financial strain. It is my hope that the recipients will share George’s passion for the law and wanting to make a difference in the world.”

– Dr. Linda Morris, Dean George R. Johnson’s wife

At ���ϲ����� Law, Wallace’s record reflects that same blend of excellence and service. She is a member of the Moot Court Board and serves as co-chair of the scoring committee for this fall’s Billings, Exum & Frye National Moot Court Competition. A research assistant for Professor of Law David Levine, she contributes to ongoing scholarship about artificial intelligence and its impact on the legal profession. She was also recognized last spring with two honors at ���ϲ�����’s 31st Phillips-Perry Black Excellence Awards.

“Dean Johnson believed deeply in the power of the law to advance justice and opportunity,” said ���ϲ����� Law Dean Zak Kramer. “Karrington reflects that same spirit. She’s thoughtful, hardworking and already using her skills to lift others. This scholarship — endowed by Dean Johnson’s family, friends and former students — connects ���ϲ����� Law’s history to our future in a way that honors his values.”

‘Miss Get-It-Done’: Classmates and faculty reflect on Wallace’s character

For Wallace, that call to carry a legacy forward resonates deeply. The first in her family to attend law school and soon to be the first attorney among her relatives, she sees her accomplishments as a chance to inspire others.

“It doesn’t always feel like I’m doing something groundbreaking,” she said, “but I know I’m breaking barriers and paving the way for the person behind me. You should celebrate your progress, because someone is always watching and being inspired by you, even if you don’t realize it.”

Her service and leadership have been evident throughout her time at ���ϲ����� Law. Wallace served as vice president of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA), where classmates credit her with carrying multiple responsibilities on a small executive board. She hosted attorney panels, organized study sessions, and planned community events ranging from Halloween movie nights to Easter egg hunts. She has also contributed to the Innocence Project and Name Change Clinic events.

“She is ‘Miss Get-It-Done.’ If you need her for something, she’s more than willing to help in the best way she can — or find the right person to do it,” said Savannah Stinson L’25, president of the BLSA, who worked alongside Wallace. “She essentially took on three roles to make up for the lack of numbers on our e-board. … She is dependable, committed and wise.”

“Karrington is one of the most knowledgeable people I know,” said classmate Jayme Palmer L’25. “She is driven, caring and passionate about everything she does. She is also the best shoulder to lean on.”

“She is ‘Miss Get-It-Done.’ If you need her for something, she’s more than willing to help in the best way she can — or find the right person to do it. She is dependable, committed and wise.”

– Savannah Stinson L’25, president of the Black Law Students Association

Faculty and staff echo those observations. Krista Contino Saumby, director of career development in the Office of Student and Professional Development, said Wallace “stood out from her first trimester” for her deep thinking and clarity of purpose. Assistant Director Kristen Covington praised her as “dedicated to helping others” and noted her growth in confidence and openness to opportunities.

Wallace sees her future in civil rights law, with a focus on employment law. After a residency with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and an internship with North Carolina Prisoner Legal Services, she hopes to pursue judicial clerkships and ultimately practice law in ways that ensure fairness and dignity for those whose rights are often overlooked.

“My role models are changemakers like Bryan Stevenson,” attorney, activist and author of the best-selling legal memoir “Just Mercy,” Wallace said. “That’s what I want to be as an attorney: Someone who disrupts what we think of as normal to create something better.”