Washington and Lee School of Law

09/25/2026

Alumni Spotlight /// Danielle Potter '21L works in the structured finance practice at Mayer Brown in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Which W&L classes and/or experiences do you think were most helpful in preparing you for this job?

I had so many amazing professors at W&L. Some of them taught me in classes that specifically helped prepare me for my work at Mayer Brown. I had the pleasure of being in Professor Calhoun’s Contracts class my 1L year, which piqued my interest in the study of contract interpretation. And it’s hard to imagine making it as far as I have in structured finance without the foundation Professor Bowden set for me in his Secured Transactions class. Dean Danforth, Larry Manning, and Astrika Adams all gave me invaluable experience with drafting and interpreting contracts during law school and built up my confidence before going into practice.

Others taught me in subjects that have very little to do with my current practice but helped me learn how to think like a lawyer. Professor MacDonnell’s criminal investigations class was fantastic at teaching us to analogize and apply rules to varying fact patterns. The fact patterns I look at now are a little less flashy than the cops and robbers we encountered in his class, but I use that skill every day.

https://columns.wlu.edu/alumni-spotlight-dani-potter-21l

09/24/2026

Congratulations to the winners of the W&L Law Moot Court Robert J. Grey, Jr. Negotiations Competition Final, Sofie Behr and Waverly McIver, and to runners-up Riley Wolfe and Ben Wheelock!

09/23/2026

Summer Experience /// Malani Plancher '28L spent two months in Rome, Italy, working with the Community of Sant’Egidio.

How did you find this position?

Thanks to Professor [Mark] Drumbl! He hosted an event for students who were interested in international law and shared the opportunity with us. I was fortunate to be selected to participate.

What surprised you about your work experience?

One thing that surprised me was how much of our work extended beyond traditional legal research. Connecting our research on the death penalty with Sant’Egidio’s work in the community gave me a broader perspective on the relationship between law, human rights, and the people affected by legal systems. Working directly with community members and engaging with letters and poems written by individuals on death row also brought a deeply personal dimension to our research. It reminded me that behind every legal issue are real people whose lives are directly affected by the law.

https://columns.wlu.edu/summer-experience-malani-plancher-28l/

09/21/2026

Why W&L Law? 💙

For Sofia Castillo ’27L, Vice President of the Student Bar Association, it was the community. Hear from Sofia about why the supportive, welcoming environment at W&L Law made it the right place for her.

09/18/2026

Meet the W&L Law Class of 2029! The class includes 130 students from 30 states and D.C. and nine countries, representing 85 undergraduate institutions.

09/16/2026

Summer Experience Spotlight /// This summer, Laura Powers'28L worked as a law clerk for Slovensky Divorce & Family Law in Roanoke, Virginia.

Describe your work experience.

I had the opportunity to work on a number of things like drafting divorce complaints and property settlement agreements. I performed legal research on things like name changes for minors, and I attended numerous custody and visitation and child support hearings. My biggest project was serving as the lead intern on a Hague Convention International Child Abduction case that we tried in the Western District of VA Federal Court. These cases are rare, complicated, and they operate on an expedited timeline, which meant I got to work on the case from start to finish.

What was your favorite aspect of this summer work experience?

Apart from the people I worked with, who were truly wonderful, the best part of the summer was winning the Hague Convention case I mentioned earlier and reuniting a five-year old child with her mother after 18 months apart. It was indescribably gratifying to know that the hours I put in researching case law, organizing documents, and drafting motions led to that happy outcome.

https://columns.wlu.edu/summer-experience-laura-powers-28l/

09/14/2026

Alumni Spotlight /// Christopher Duckworth '25L works as an assistant public defender in Anchorage, Alaska.

What do you like about your current job?

I love getting to be in the courtroom, directly advocating for my clients. I got to do fifteen jury trials in the past year. I also like serving my clients. Every day I meet new people, answer their questions, and give them advice. When I can help them out, it really motivates me.

https://columns.wlu.edu/alumni-spotlight-christopher-duckworth-25l/

09/14/2026

09/10/2026

A new academic year is underway at W&L Law! From classrooms and conversations to familiar faces and new connections, it’s great to see Sydney Lewis Hall buzzing with activity again. Here’s a look at some moments from the first few weeks of the semester. 📸

09/08/2026

Join the W&L Law Review for its annual Student Note Colloquium on Friday, September 11 at 2 p.m.

This year, the Law Review will recognize Carlyn Kirk, recipient of the Roy L. Steinheimer, Jr. Law Review Award, and Pierson Hotchkiss, recipient of the W&L Law Council Law Review Award.

We look forward to celebrating Carlyn and Pierson and their contributions to the W&L Law Review!

🔗 Attend virtually: https://wlu.zoom.us/j/99891658380

Questions? Contact Symposium Editor Jamie Rowley at [email protected].