Nicole Ligon

Biography

Nicole Ligon is a Visiting Professor of Law at Campbell Law, where she teaches Professional Responsibility and Media Law. Previously, Ligon served as a Clinical Professor of Law at Duke University School of Law and the Supervising Attorney of their First Amendment Clinic. While at Duke and in private practice, Ligon has represented and advocated on behalf of numerous individuals who have been discriminated against or otherwise targeted for expressing their viewpoints or opinions. She is also a member of the Legal Network for Gender Equity, where she supervises students assisting individuals seeking guidance on speaking openly and publicly about their stories of sexual harassment while shielding against defamation concerns.

Ligon frequently contributes expert analysis and commentary to news stories involving First Amendment concerns. Her scholarship has appeared or is forthcoming in journals such as the University of Illinois Law Review, Harvard Law & Policy Review, SMU Law Review, University of Richmond Law Review, and NYU Law Review Online.

Before joining Duke Law, Ligon was an attorney with Cahill Gordon & Reindel in New York City. She was a member of the firm’s litigation department, and her practice focused on First Amendment and media law matters. While in private practice, Ligon was honored by the Center for Appellate Litigation (CAL) for her work in helping its Books Beyond Bars project challenge proposed state packaging restrictions that would have prevented people incarcerated in New York prisons from receiving donated books by mail. Ligon’s extensive pro bono practice also included handling matters on issues related to reporter’s privilege, defamation, right of access, and other free speech concerns. Ligon also served on the board of a non-profit organization, Jazz Choreography Enterprises, from 2017-2018.

Ligon received her J.D. from Duke University School of Law, where she served as a Notes Editor for the Duke Law Journal. She received her B.A. from Emory University.

Ligon is licensed to practice law in New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and South Carolina.