Rising N.C. A&T Sophomore Selected as 2025 Duke Pre-Law Fellow

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (June 12, 2025) – Rising North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University sophomore Madelyn McFall is among 24 students selected nationwide as a 2025 Duke Pre-Law Fellow at Duke University. The competitive four-week residential summer program introduces participants to law school-level coursework and professional development in the legal field.

McFall is an Honors College student majoring in political science in N.C. A&T’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS). The Duke Pre-Law Fellowship is intended for rising sophomores and juniors who show strong interest and promise in pursuing a career in the legal field.

“This opportunity means the world to me,” said McFall. “It serves as a foundation for my journey in becoming a leader and changemaker in the legal field.”

McFall, originally from Georgia and raised in California, is passionate about service and advocacy. She actively contributes to the nonprofit Lewis Gives, volunteers with Aggie Source Food Pantry, and is a Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International member and a CAHSS Senator.

“I hope to use my voice and perspective as a young Black woman in future legal spaces by helping dismantle legal barriers within marginalized communities,” said McFall. “This would be through advocating for equitable policies and legislative decisions. Black women make up only 4.1% of all lawyers within the U.S., a statistic that is far too stark.”

As a Duke Pre-Law Fellow, McFall is engaged in academic coursework modeled after a first-year law school curriculum. Her courses include children’s law, common law, criminal law, civil rights law, and legal analysis. She is also completing an intensive legal analysis, research and writing course, receiving direct instruction and mentorship from Duke University School of Law faculty.

Fellows also visit regional law schools at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina Central University and Campbell University. These visits allow participants to explore various academic environments, engage with faculty and students, and learn more about the law school experience. The program culminates in a mock trial, where students apply their knowledge and skills in a simulated courtroom setting.