Four accomplished Elon University School of Law graduates – David L. Morrow II '07 L’10, Jennifer L. Reutter L’10, Alvaro De La Calle L’12 and Elizabeth “Beth” Klein L’12 – were recognized this month for their contributions to the legal profession and support of their alma mater.
The Elon Law Alumni Association honored the work of four outstanding graduates during the Elon Law Alumni Award & Cocktail Reception on April 9, 2016, at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Greensboro as part of Law Alumni Reunion Weekend.
David L. Morrow II ’07 L’10, Jennifer L. Reutter L’10, Alvaro De La Calle L’12 and Elizabeth “Beth” Klein L’12 were recognized for their contributions to the legal profession and to the ongoing success of Elon University School of Law.
Alvaro De La Calle L’12
YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD
This award is presented to an alumnus of the Elon University School of Law within the first five years of graduation for significant achievements in their area of practice and in their service to the university, community, state, or nation.
Alvaro De La Calle, better known by colleagues as Al Calle, was born in Peru. A violent war destroyed his father’s business, and as violence escalated in Lima, Calle and his family immigrated to the United States. He was 8 years old and did not know English when he arrived to Oak Ridge, North Carolina, where the family had relatives.
Calle graduated from Elon Law in 2012, the first individual in his immediate family to both graduate from college and law school. After passing the North Carolina Bar Exam on his first attempt, Calle worked for one month at a local law firm before opening his own practice, Calle Law, at the age of 26.
Calle began as a solo practitioner, working 18-hour plus days, seven days a week, during his first year. In his spare time, he would network heavily and study. At least once, a week, he would work non-stop for up to 36 hours to balance office work, network, provide free legal seminars to the community, and finalize case work.
Since then, Calle Law has consulted with more than 1,000 clients and hosts eight offices, two conference rooms, a large reception area, a large waiting room and more. Calle currently employs four attorneys and six other employees, including his mother and older sister. Through it all, he has remained loyal to Elon Law by only employing Elon Law attorneys & staff. A total of nine Elon Law graduates have worked, or interned, at Calle Law the past three years, gaining hands-on experience, developing skills and confidence, and making important professional connections.
Elizabeth M. Klein L’12
F. LEARY DAVIS SERVICE & LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY AWARD
Named in honor of the law school’s founding dean and professor of law emeritus, this award is presented to an alumnus of the law school who has demonstrated outstanding service and leadership to the community, state or nation.
Elizabeth “Beth” Klein received her undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University where she competed as a student-athlete on the women’s soccer team. She was equally dedicated to her studies and graduated with honors in 2000 with a degree in sociology.
Klein worked as a social worker prior to starting at Elon Law in 2009. At Elon, Beth served as vice president of OutLaw, was a member of the moot court board and also served as a case manager with the Innocence Project. She graduated cum laude from Elon Law in 2012 and has since practiced with Rossabi Black Slaughter, PA. Beginning in May, Klein will be helping to start a new firm, Rossabi Reardon Klein Spivey PLLC, with a focus on litigation.
Klein has been involved in both community and professional initiatives. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, as well as a dedication to civil rights and social responsibility is inspiring and plays out in her volunteer involvement. She has been an active board member on the American Civil Liberties Union since 2014, providing guidance and leadership on legal issues affecting social injustice and underrepresented communities, including the LGBT community. Klein’s service on the Board is in addition to many other pro bono projects she has participated in across the state, including the NCBA’s Wills for Equality event in 2015. The NCBA Wills for Equality event assisted nearly 50 LGBT couples with estate-planning documents to protect their interests, absent marriage equality. Klein has further served on the North Carolina Business Court Rules Committee from 2015-2016.
Klein has provided a great deal of service directly to Elon Law, through three years of service on the Elon Law Alumni Council. She organized several family events, class gifts, and alumni fundraising – all of which have benefited the law school in multiple ways. In addition to her tenure on the Council, she currently serves as a member of the Elon Law Council on Professionalism and Cultural Engagement, recently created to propose a robust program of intercultural competency integrated into the life of the law school.
Additionally, Klein has served as a preceptor at Elon Law for the past two years and regularly volunteers as a moot court judge for both the Elon Law Intramural Competition and the Billings, Exum & Frye National Moot Court Competition.
David L. Morrow II ’07 L’10
GEORGE R. JOHNSON PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Named in honor of the law school’s second dean and member of the founding faculty, the award recognizes Elon Law alumni who have made significant professional contributions while bringing honor and recognition to Elon University School of Law.
David L. Morrow II ’07 L’10 serves as special adviser to the president and assistant chief of staff in Elon University’s Office of the President. He comes to Elon from PayPal, Inc. where he served as legal counsel. Prior to joining PayPal, Inc., he was an attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of BuckleySandler LLP where he assisted clients in the financial services industry.
Morrow is active with the American Bar Association, was selected by the ABA Business Law Section to serve as one of five fellows nationwide from 2013-15, and was a member of the inaugural class of the ABA’s Collaborative Bar Leadership Academy in 2013. He is the immediate past chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the Washington Bar Association and the past vice chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the National Bar Association.
As a law student, Morrow took full advantage of experiential opportunities that enhanced his doctrinal knowledge from the classroom with practical skills. He secured a summer associate position with BB&T, which spurred his interest in business law; an internship with the congressional office of U.S. Rep. Yvette D. Clark, furthering his interest in public law and policy; and an internship with the North Carolina Supreme Court. After passing the North Carolina Bar and joining the District of Columbia Bar, Morrow worked for the Honorable Anna Blackburne-Rigsby of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.
In recognition of his growing substantive expertise and promise as an active young lawyer, the American Bar Association selected David as a Business Fellow, a program that served as a model for Elon’s Business Fellows program. David was named a “Top 40 Under 40 Attorney” and awarded the Junius W. Williams “Young Lawyer of the Year” by the National Bar Association, which is the preeminent bar association for attorneys of color.
Morrow has remained engaged with Elon since graduation. He served as an alumni representative to the Law School Dean Search Committee in 2013, and continues to be involved with the Alumni Association. In 2014, he was the first Elon Law alumnus to receive the university’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
Jennifer L. Reutter L’10
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO ELON LAW SCHOOL AWARD
This award is presented to an alumnus demonstrates continued exemplary service to the Elon University School of Law.
Jennifer L. Reutter L’10 graduated from the law school cum laude in 2010 after serving as a member of Moot Court Board, president of the Elon Innocence Project and articles editor of the Elon Law Review. She was the first attorney from Elon Law hired by Rossabi Black Slaughter, paving the way for other Elon Law graduates, four of whom currently work at the firm. Each year, she continues to encourage her firm and others to hire Elon students and alumni.
Reutter served as an Elon Law preceptor from 2011 through 2015 and only paused her service as a preceptor to take over as president of the Elon Law Alumni Council. She had been serving on the council since February 2012. Reutter has assisted in grading appelate briefs and judging moot court competitions, including the Elon Law Intramural Competition and the Billings, Exum and Frye National Moot Court Competition. She has served as a frequent guest visitor in Elon Law courses and serves as a mentor for several current and former Elon Law students.