Pepperdine Caruso Law Congratulates Caroline Whitener
Pepperdine Caruso Law is happy to congratulate its recent bell-ringer in celebration of post-graduate employment success, Caroline Whitener! Caroline was joined in the joyful occasion by Dean Paul Caron, director of the Sudreau Global Justice Institute Cameron McCollum, directors and members of the Career Development, Deans' Suite, and Administration Offices, Caroline's husband Weston and law school colleagues, and her family members on Zoom. Prior to ringing the bell, Caroline thanked her parents, parents-in-law, family members, and her best friend from college on Zoom; her husband Weston, law school classmates and professors; and all the friends she made along the way.
Following graduation, Caroline will be working at Adelstein, Sharpe & Serka LLP, a business law firm in Bellingham, Washington, as an associate attorney. Caroline learned about the firm through researching law firms in the area, and she got connected to one of the attorneys at Adelstein through a mutual friend and then met for an informational interview. She is excited to use the skills she developed in law school for persuasive writing and start-up legal advising, and is particularly looking forward to getting involved in the Northwest Washington community.
Before law school, Caroline attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where she got her degree in music industry. She worked at the music venue and national park, Wolf Trap, in Vienna, Virginia, as well as at a local law firm before deciding to pursue law school.
In her time at law school, Caroline has been involved in the Palmer Center Student Board as the Business and Finance Track Director, the Intellectual Property Student Association as Vice President, and the Christian Legal Society. Her paper titled "Hair on Fire: Why Companies Are Less Likely to Feel the Burn Under the DOJ's Newest Change to Antitrust Enforcement" will be published in the Pepperdine Law Review this year, where she also served as an associate editor. Along with her moot partner Rebecca Voth, Caroline greatly enjoyed competing in the Moriarity First-Year Moot Court Competition in 2020, where they advanced to the final round, as well competing in this year's Dalsimer Competition, where they placed first.
During her 1L summer Caroline was honored to clerk for the Supreme Court of Ghana and work in partnership with Willow International through Pepperdine's Global Justice Program. During her 2L fall, she continued clerking for the Ghanaian Supreme Court, and then interned at the Investment Advisor Association her 2L spring through the Washington D.C. Program. Over her 2L summer, Caroline worked for the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Enforcement Division for the Denver Regional Office, where she grew a particular interest in securities and business law.
Caroline thanks God for guiding her to Pepperdine and her parents for their constant encouragement to pursue her dreams. She would also like to thank all of the incredible professors and faculty of the law school, particularly Professor Nancy Hunt, Professor Cameron McCollum, and Dean Ron Phillips, for their advice and guidance. Lastly, she would like to thank her friends both at law school and back on the East and West Coasts, her siblings and family, her in-laws, and most importantly her husband Weston for believing and supporting her throughout this journey.
Congratulations to Caroline!
