Partner Colleen F. Molner discusses Elon University School of Law campus in Charlotte

Garfinkel Immigration Partner Colleen F. Molner was recently interviewed by Queen City News.

During the segment, Molner discussed Elon University creating a Charlotte campus for its law school, which, if approved, would become the only law school in the Charlotte area. Molner graduated in 2013 from Elon University School of Law’s campus in Greensboro, N.C., with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree.

“It is surprising we don’t already have one,” Molner said about Charlotte not currently having a law school. “It’s surprising that no one has jumped at the opportunity, either.”

Shortly after Molner’s interview, Elon University School of Law officially announced plans to offer a part-time Juris Doctor degree program in Charlotte beginning in the fall of 2024, pending “approval by the American Bar Association (ABA) and The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).”

“Elon is a relatively young law school and has a strong immigration law program with a student-run Immigration Clinic, which makes it unique compared to other law schools,” Molner said. “Charlotte is the largest U.S. city without a law school and also has a very large county bar that can benefit from having a law school and access to students, new graduates entering the market and more.”

Molner continued: “I think that bringing the school to Charlotte will provide the students with more access and opportunity to practical experience in a larger market, in general, but also to the Charlotte Immigration Court. Given the Charlotte market and industry, I think it would also be interesting to see if Elon would consider offering a joint JD/MBA program.”

Molner is certified as a Specialist in Immigration Law by the North Carolina State Bar, the highest level of specialization attainable in the state. She supervises and manages the Firm’s Healthcare Specialty Practice Group, which is dedicated to providing innovative legal solutions to the healthcare community, including physicians, nurses, medical technicians and therapists, as well as IT and HR professionals in health-related industries.

Molner has extensive experience representing healthcare providers and workers with J-1 waivers; Physician National Interest Waivers; Schedule A Group 1 I-140, H-1B, TN and O-1 petitions; as well as other complex nonimmigrant and immigrant visa applications.

While her focus area is within the Healthcare Specialty Practice Group, Molner also has vast experience working with a variety of other industries including, but not limited to, automotive, engineering, information technology and manufacturing.

In addition, she advises employers on compliance issues and best practices, and she conducts internal I-9 audits for employers.

Molner has been named and selected to Who’s Who Legal, the Business North Carolina (BNC) Legal Elite list, Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America and as a Super Lawyers North Carolina Rising Star.

Watch the full “Could Elon University bring a law school to Charlotte?” segment from Queen City News here.

Further reading