Why I Chose W&L Law, 2012 – #7

We asked seven of our new students to discuss their decision to attend W&L Law. Today, Sarah Curry, a graduate of Johns Hopkins University from Oak Hill, Virginia, takes on the question.

By Sarah Curry

Choosing a law school can be intimidating. At this point in our lives, we’re wise enough to know that choosing an institution in which to pursue higher education is no insignificant task. When I was sitting where you are now, I had my mind set on two things: getting into a good law school and making sure that that good law school was situated in a city. So, sitting where I am now – in charming Lexington – I suppose I have some explaining to do.

I, like many of my classmates, didn’t make up my mind to commit to W&L until I visited the school during an Admitted Students Weekend. I visited mostly because I had been so impressed with the application process and the general vibe of amiability that the admissions staff had presented. Admittedly, I didn’t actually think that I would wind up here before I first visited. I grew up just outside of DC, went to college in Baltimore and spent the three years between graduation and starting law school living in either DC or London. I couldn’t imagine being so far removed from urban life. That all changed when I visited, however.  And here’s why…

Law school is tough. There’s no way of getting around that. Having gone to a rigorous undergraduate institution, I was already well-versed in the art of library camping by the time I started shopping for law schools. What intimidated me even more than the potential workload, however, was the atmosphere of intense competition that many of the other schools I visited seemed to exude. Stories of students circulating intentionally sabotaged notes and ripping pages out of casebooks struck me not only as unnecessary, but also as extremely discouraging. I’ve always believed that education is about competing with yourself more so than it is about competing with others (even though the latter is somewhat inevitable). You won’t find any of those horror stories here. That was something that I realized very quickly after speaking with current students on my first trip to Lexington. It didn’t take long for me to figure out that W&L is not just a school, it is a community.

Students here understand that classmates are not the enemy. Our classmates are one of our most valuable resources. Having spent a good three hours in my Torts study group this past weekend, I can personally attest to that fact. It’s easy to feel a bit lost at times (19th century case law will do that to you), but the truth is you’re never alone. If you have questions that your fellow classmates can’t answer, your professors will make themselves available to help in whatever ways they can. W&L is unique in that the students and faculty alike create a support system that eases the pressure that all law students feel in their first year.

Furthermore, I quickly came to realize that Lexington’s location is by no means a drawback. On the contrary, it has proved to be extremely advantageous. Everyone here is in the same boat, but in a city, you will inevitably be surrounded by friends outside of law school who cannot seem to understand why you aren’t able to go to happy hour five nights a week. All your friends here get it. Fewer distractions and a more understanding support system means more sanity. More sanity is never a bad thing.

That having been said, we’re not library mole-people either. W&L is very good about providing ways for everyone to get out and stretch their legs and let their brains relax a bit. The law school football league is one of the best examples of these efforts. Every Friday during the fall semester, students leave their afternoon classes, don their respective jerseys and hit the playing field. Not only is the football league a great way to get to know classmates during your 1L year, it’s just a great way to unwind. The Student Bar Association (SBA) also plans various other social events throughout the school year including a pig roast, Halloween party and a Barrister’s Ball.  As VP of the 1L class, I’m currently in the midst of helping to plan several of these upcoming events.

In the end, I chose W&L because I felt at home when I visited. That feeling has never changed. The first few months have been challenging of course, but I have not once felt as though I don’t belong here. The welcoming and supportive atmosphere that W&L provides makes the challenge enjoyable, not insurmountable. I will be forever grateful for that.

Why I Chose W&L Law, 2012 – #6

We asked seven of our new students to discuss their decision to attend W&L Law. Today, Brian Buckmire, a graduate of Queens College – CUNY, from Toronto, Canada, takes on the question.

By Brian Buckmire

I do not know if my decision-making process to come to Washington and Lee Law was similar to that of other students, but when I did choose to come to W&L, I was sure that it was the right choice.

After graduation I will be a first-generation attorney in my family, and other than an uncle who lived in Florida, no Buckmire has ventured this far south in the United States. I did not know much about Washington and Lee and I knew even less about Lexington. So when the opportunity came to apply, I needed to do a lot of research on both the town and the school.

My first year of law school was at Hofstra Law, and I enjoyed many aspects of the law school. However, Dean Demleitner and Dean McShay, two of the reasons I loved Hofstra Law, were moving to this “foreign” law school named W&L, and I felt a need to look into this school a little more. Immediately W&L’s rank and prestige jumped out at me from every page I read, and obviously that was a big factor to me. But I was not sold. I am a city boy through and through, so when I read that Lexington had a population of 7000 people, I cringed a little. As a Torontonian and an adopted New Yorker my first thought was, “Where can I get a good bagel in this town?” Thankfully, my second thought was to apply and see what happened, and so I did. Then I toured the school to see what it was about. I was greatly surprised by everything and everyone I met. From private carrels to study in, to community-building events like the Law School Football League, W&L offered many unexpected touches that allowed me to envision myself here. And while there isn’t a subway system or a nightclub in Lexington, I did quickly find a good bagel spot called Sweet Treats. The people were welcoming and genuine, and Lexington has a little bit of everything, enough to keep even this city boy entertained.

The second and most important thing I needed to investigate when making my law school selection was the law school’s curriculum. In my first year of law school I attended a number of alumni events and interacted with many practicing lawyers as well as politicians. At every event there was always a consistent theme in critiquing law schools, “law students are not actually taught how to be attorneys.” This was usually followed by, “you learn more from your first internship than from your first year of law school.” After my first internship, I realized that there was some truth to that idea. I began to continually question why so many attorneys could have this criticism without law schools trying to address it. Then I came to W&L, and the 3L program seemed to be the answer. W&L integrates and infuses practical skills throughout the third year clinics, externships, and practicum class options for all students, not just of the top ten percent of the class. This helps to educate and prepare the whole student body to be practicing attorneys in a wide range of disciplines.

This was the tipping point for me. In Lexington, I found a small town where the majority of people my age were focused on a similar goal. I found a place that may not be large in population, but is large in opportunities. Lastly, I found a  law school that was focused on transforming students into exceptional attorneys upon graduation. That is why I choose W&L Law.

Why I Chose W&L Law, 2012 – #5

We asked seven of our new students to discuss their decision to attend W&L Law. Today, Natalie Wengroff, a graduate of the University of Michigan, from New York City, takes on the question.

By Natalie Wengroff

I knew from a young age that I wanted to go to law school, but I was unsure what I wanted to do within the legal field. So even with some summer legal internships in college, I decided to work for a boutique law firm after graduating before taking the dive and applying to law school. The experience was great and ensured that going to law school would be a wise decision, but it raised the age-old question. Where should I go?

As a city girl, born and raised in New York, who then went on to a big university, the thought that I would wind up at a school that was smaller than my freshman year dorm was a shocker to me. I applied to W&L on a whim, due to both their great statistics and reputation in the DC area. But it was Admitted Students Weekend (ASW) that sold me on the school, a school where I could not be happier.

The sense of community that the school provides really drew me in. I had heard horror stories about kids ripping out pages in books to get an edge over other students. But the students I talked with during ASW showed me this was not the W&L mentality. One student explained that she and another student were sharing some extra study guides for one of their classes. This was not the normal atmosphere of law school that I had heard about. The fact that people not only knew each other but also cared and were willing to help each other out really struck me. The dinner that weekend only furthered this thought when students of different years actually knew each other by name, something I would not have expected.

My tour guide explained that W&L Law professors have an open door policy. They do not have set office hours but instead tend to just leave their doors open whenever they are in their office and are available to talk. I appreciated how the open door policy would allow me to approach professors at any time, even if I did not have a question about the material, without feeling frightened. I also liked the fact that for once, a professor would know me by my name rather than by student id. One of my professors has already invited my entire class over for dessert and coffee to get to know us all better. This may not be a typical law school experience, but it is a typical W&L Law experience.

W&L’s strong alumni network has been apparent since my admittance. W&L was the only school where alumni sent me letters congratulating me on my acceptance. Alumni relationships were important to me, especially coming from an undergraduate school that prides itself on alumni loyalty. W&L shows that their alumni really care and are willing to do what they can to help you, which was very reassuring especially because of the current legal market. I was fortunate enough to attend an alumni event while in DC and was shocked both with the turnout and the variety of legal fields represented by W&L Law alumni. The fact that these individuals were congratulating me and wanting to know more about me made me feel secure in my decision to attend W&L.

I must admit that I was very apprehensive about coming to a small town, as I am not the most outdoorsy person and did not envision myself taking advantage of the area’s hiking, biking, and camping. But unlike my friends elsewhere, I have been able to actually meet everyone in my class and know almost everyone’s name. And, for those of us who aren’t as interested in exploring the outdoors, the school does a great job of providing enough activities so that you are never bored. There are intramurals such as Law School Football League on Fridays in the fall, Student Bar Association-sponsored events such as patio party and pig roast, community events like the wine festival, and a host of speakers and special events to keep you entertained. I can honestly say that deciding to come to W&L Law was one of my best decisions.

Why I Chose W&L Law, 2012 – #4

We asked seven of our new students to discuss their decision to attend W&L Law. Today, Dan Strong, a graduate of Appalachian State University from Charlotte, North Carolina, takes on the question.

By Dan Strong

Making the choice to come to law school is a fairly easy one. If you want to become a lawyer, it is almost the only way that it can be accomplished. This, however, is where the ease of the process ends. Selecting which law school can be much more difficult. There are many things one must consider: location (big or small city, east or west, north or south), school size (a big school where you might get lost among the masses or small school with less notoriety), the curriculum (does the school have a practice area it specializes in), atmosphere (a nebulous term you can’t truly grasp until you get there), clinics, journals, student/teacher ratio, and even the number of volumes in the library.

When I was applying to schools each of these factors carried equal weight. I was teaching high school and it had been six years since I had graduated from college. I had no preference about what city I was in or the school name on the program the first day of orientation. Because of this I was able to compare schools holistically, not just focusing on the ranking or the number of books the library had, or which had a college football team that I liked better. I focused on what each school had to offer me during the three years I would be there. What academic approach did the school take? What was a typical student like? Was there anything to do in the city besides study? After making a short list, narrowing it down, changing approaches and starting over (multiple times), W&L kept popping up. Here are some of the reasons why:

One my main focuses when selecting a law school was the academic environment. W&L has made industry-revolutionizing changes to the academic curriculum. The old adage is that the first year of law school they scare you to death, the second year they work you to death, and the third year they bore you to death. W&L thought that spending a third year in a lecture-based classroom would not help students transition into being practicing attorneys. The third year at W&L is now a practical application of the content that you learn in the first two years.

W&L also has a wide range of clinics, journals, and competitions that I am interested in. For example, I recently participated as a bailiff in the Davis Appellate Advocacy Competition. I was able to see second and third year students argue a Supreme Court case in front of a panel of judges. While researching I found the best part was, unlike other schools, most of the competitions and journals are open to everyone who wants to try out!

The second area that I was looking for was the atmosphere of the school. I was exposed to this when I visited for Admitted Students’ Weekend. The atmosphere at W&L is different than any other school I visited. Students here understand that when you get out of law school all of your fellow students turn into colleagues. Students are always willing to help by giving advice or answering questions when you need it. Relationships you forge in law school can last the rest of your life, for better or worse. Schools with a cutthroat atmosphere can see that transfer into the working world after diplomas are distributed. The positive relationships at W&L can be seen in action through the alumni network of the school. Alumni are very welcoming and are eager to help students with their career development.

The atmosphere at the school is also impacted in a large way by the tradition and history of the institution. This manifests itself in the Honor System. There is little worry whether the laptop that you leave sitting on the table in the library will be there when you get back. The Honor System is one hundred percent student-run and maintained so students have a vested interest in its preservation. In my first week of school someone found a couple of dollars in one of the parking lots. The next day, that student posted a notice requesting that the person who lost the money contact him so that he could return it. You see this throughout the semester with sunglasses, jewelry, and other personal items. At any other school you would have little chance of seeing those items again.

Law school football is an example of where you can see the more social atmosphere of the school in action. Almost the entire school gets together to play football, socialize, and wind down from what can sometimes be a stressful week. The competition can be intense, but even students who don’t play come out just to have fun without the worry of when your next memo is due.

The final reason that I chose to attend W&L was the town of Lexington itself. Though Lexington is a small town, there is always something to do. There are wonderful restaurants, fantastic outdoor activities, the first non-profit drive-in movie theater in the country, wineries, a couple of micro-breweries, community festivals, and more. Everyone in town is friendly and you don’t have to worry about morning or evening rush hour. And if you miss a bigger city, Roanoke, Charlottesville, D.C., Richmond, and Charlotte are all within a couple of hours drive.

I selected W&L because of what the school had to offer me. I knew that a school with this kind of tradition, history, academic approach, alumni network, and collegiality would afford me the opportunities I needed to become a successful and respected member of the legal profession. I know that by coming to W&L I will get the most out of the three years that will jump start the rest of my life.

Why I Chose W&L Law, 2012 – #3

We asked seven of our new students to discuss their decision to attend W&L Law. Today, Jasmine Brooks, a graduate of Baylor University from Memphis, Tennessee, takes on the question.

By Jasmine Brooks

Many people have asked me this question: Why did you choose Washington & Lee Law School? My initial thought is Why would I not?

I knew that I wanted to become an attorney when I graduated high school. I went to Baylor University and settled on majoring in professional writing while minoring in Spanish and studio art. After taking the LSAT, my goal during my senior year was to apply to as many schools as possible. Washington and Lee captured my attention with an email advertising a “free application.” I vaguely remembered the name from a pre-law program advertised to high school students by the Rotary Club of Memphis, Tennessee. Thus, I began my research.

After viewing the materials of some of the schools that accepted me, I picked five to visit. Washington and Lee Law was the first law school that I visited. I knew from the moment that I entered the lobby of the law school that it was the best place for me. I was greeted with smiling faces of faculty, excited current students, and a hospitable environment. The lunch and dinner events were a great way to meet current students and gain advice and perspectives about the school. I also gained a best friend from the visit.

It was hard to visit other schools because of the high standard that W&L set during the open house event. I was constantly comparing certain factors to those factors at W&L. Finally, it came down to my decision. I had three schools from which to choose, and I had to make a list of the “pros and cons” for each.

For W&L, out of my many pros for the school—including ranking, location (close to great cities for opportunities in law), small class size, and classes and clinics for my specific law interests, job placement rate—there were two main factors that highlighted the decision: the admissions department and the third year program, respectively. The admissions department overwhelmed me with information about the university. They also added a personal touch with handwritten letters and directed emails. I felt like they really wanted me to be here and I was not just another prospective student. These factors were of high importance because it speaks volumes about the entire school. If the admissions department goes above and beyond, then it reflects the character of the faculty, staff and student body of the school.

The second important factor was the new third-year program. W&L places great value on this program, as it should. Prospective and current law students are discouraged by the current legal job market. Many lawyers complain of being “thrown into the field” without having much experience in an actual law firm. The third year program combats these issues. The practicums, clinics or externships, and skills immersion courses create practical experience for law students to feel comfortable and confident in their abilities to practice law. The school has live clinics, giving students the opportunity to work with actual clients and gain hands-on experience. During my research of law schools, several advisers emphasized to me the importance of that real-world experience.

Given all of these great factors of W&L, I made my decision to attend. Even during orientation, 1L students received positive words of encouragement and empowerment. We had the opportunity to network with alumni and professors before we began class. The professors were excited to meet the students and gain knowledge of their interests.

I believe that I made the best decision. I have met an amazing group of friends, kind and helpful professors, caring faculty and staff, and friendly citizens of Lexington. In the short time that I have been here, I have become more open-minded as I have been engulfed in the culture of W&L Law and the city of Lexington. It has been a great experience so far, and I am optimistic that it can only become better.

So again, if asked why I attend W&L Law, my answer still remains Why would I not?

Why I Chose W&L Law, 2012 – #2

We asked seven of our new students to discuss their decision to attend W&L Law. Today, Garrett Rice, a graduate of Lafayette College from Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, takes on the question.

By Garrett Rice

The moment I exited Lewis Hall on the Friday concluding my first week of law school was the moment I knew without a doubt that I had made the correct choice in coming to W&L Law. As I walked out onto the patio, I was first greeted by the Assistant Dean who offered me an ice cream bar to cool down on what was a scorching afternoon. Upon acceptance of the treat, I made my way through the law school’s activities fair. I met several 2Ls and 3Ls who greeted me to the school and quickly convinced me to sign up for their organization’s email list and offered snacks as incentive. Finally, I made my way to the law school lawn. The first week of the Law School Football League games had just gotten underway, and I quickly found my teammates and starting warming up.

There are about 200 law schools in the United States. A great number of these schools, including W&L, are academically competitive, full of brilliant and talented professors, and highly ranked. But I feel confident that W&L is the only one where this kind of experience is possible.

I grew up on a farm a few miles outside of Mercersburg, PA, the classic American small town complete with two stoplights, a few pizza joints, and a single small grocery store. And although I’ve visited my share of major cities, small towns have always appealed to me. As I passed by W&L countless times while traveling to visit relatives in eastern Tennessee, however, I somehow never considered moving to Lexington for my legal education.

It wasn’t until I was going through my “Guide to Law Schools” book after receiving my LSAT score that I took real notice of what W&L had to offer. My initial attraction to the school came from the hard numbers. Namely, I took note of the small class sizes, student-to-faculty ratio, and outstanding career statistics. This was enough to entice me to send in an application. The first major impression the school made on me came a few months later, after I had been accepted. The W&L admissions staff made an unbelievable effort to answer my questions, put me in contact with current students, and help me with all aspects of the decision process. They made special arrangements for me to visit the law school on a day it wasn’t supposed to be open for visitors, and the Admitted Students Weekend (ASW) I later attended was beyond anything I could have imagined or experienced at other schools.

That weekend ultimately led to my decision to attend W&L Law. The students I met confirmed all I had heard about the school. First, I learned that Lexington is the perfect-sized town in which to go to law school. A lot of my classmates had concerns about spending three years in a small town in rural Virginia. Although I grew up in a town half its size and had no such fears, it didn’t take anyone long to realize that Lexington is small enough so that there are no distractions when you need to be studying but large enough that there are plenty of things to keep you occupied when you do have some free time. Lexington is quaint, quiet, and personal – the perfect atmosphere for studying law.

I also discovered during ASW that the Honor System really does work. During the application process, I had seen a great deal written about the W&L Honor System. I had read about how it gave both undergraduate and law students the rare trust of their professors and increased the freedom of everyone in the W&L community. Students told me that it really did work, even though no one would expect something like it to in today’s world. It wasn’t until I started at W&L did the system’s real effectiveness become apparent. I am able to leave my laptop, keys, and cell phone anywhere in the law building I desire and know without a doubt that they will be there when I return. A few weeks in to the semester, I lost my wallet, which was full of cash, credit cards, and gift cards. Within fifteen minutes of realizing I had lost it, I had an email from a fellow student informing me that he had found it and where I could meet him to pick it up. Such incidents speak to how the Honor System really does work and are just examples from my first few weeks at W&L.

The final thing I learned about during my ASW and that I can now attest to is that the professors at W&L Law are not only distinguished scholars, but excellent teachers who give their students unparalleled attention. One of my casebooks was written by a professor who teaches some of my fellow 1Ls. One of my own professors has four different law degrees. Another is so accomplished that his portrait already hangs in the law building and has had the peer mentoring program named in his honor. But I emphasize that these same people also take great care in making sure their students learn. During your first year at W&L Law, you have the same professor for one of your substantive classes and your legal writing course and these two “small section” courses are the only classes this professor teaches. I’ve already been to my small section professor’s office several times in the first weeks of the semester and can attest that she has taken a personal interest in making sure I learn the material. Knowing that my professors are approachable and willing to help has made my transition to law school so much easier than it otherwise would have been.

Many of the law students that choose W&L had offers from several top law schools. We chose W&L because we recognized all of the amazing things that are going on here, only a few of which I have been able to touch on. We chose W&L because we wanted an experience not offered anywhere else. I hope that my own experiences have helped you visualize what Washington and Lee Law is all about, and I hope you take the time to visit the school for yourself. You’ve already taken the first step by considering the school. Good luck with your decision.

Why I Chose W&L Law, 2012 – #1

We asked seven of our new students to discuss their decision to attend W&L Law. Today, Hannah Shtein, a graduate of The University of Wisconsin – Madison from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, takes on the question.

By Hannah Shtein

Hannah Shtein

I chose W&L Law because I feel at home here, and because I truly believe that this is a unique place.

I went to a large state school for undergrad, and while I had a great experience, the large class sizes and inaccessibility of some professors in my first two years sometimes felt overwhelming. While I enjoyed my time at a large institution, I wanted something more personal from law school. I wanted an environment that engaged me academically and socially, and I wanted to feel like something other than a point on a curve. W&L Law has exceeded these expectations tenfold.

My first glimpse of the W&L Law experience came when I moved to Washington, DC right out of college. My first roommate had just graduated with the W&L Law class of 2010, and I met several other alums in my two years in DC. The enthusiasm with which W&L alums recalled their time here was completely unparalleled by any other law school graduates I spoke with (and I gave every lawyer I knew the third degree). Most were still in touch with professors, had formed close friendships that remained years later, and fondly recalled Friday afternoons spent playing law school football. I wanted in.

Shortly after I was accepted, admissions staff put me in touch with a student who could answer my questions about the W&L Law experience, and made it clear that I could also raise my questions with the Office of Admissions itself. All of my questions (I ask a lot!) were answered immediately (most within no more than two hours), with thorough, personalized answers and a willingness to respond to any of my inquiries or concerns.

My Admitted Students Weekend (ASW) visit further confirmed all my good feelings about this school. The Dean of Admissions greeted me by my first name, despite the fact that I had never before visited, and my tour guide stopped to say hello and introduce our tour group to other students and professors as we explored campus. We also had a chance to have dinner and a night of live music with other prospective and current students, which was a perfect opportunity to ask the current students questions in a casual environment. Shortly after ASW, I returned home from work to find a handwritten note in my mailbox from my tour guide, thanking me for coming and letting me know that I could contact her with further questions.

As I get into the rhythm of my classes and meet more people, the congenial and supportive environment here is even more apparent. My professors are always willing to answer questions after class, during office hours, or by appointment, and have made a point of stressing their willingness be accessible to us. On my first week here, a second-year student noticed me with my clunky Contracts book at Lexington Coffee and asked me how I was settling in. When I went downstairs to find my carrel for the first time, Lawanda, one of the employees at the school’s Brief Stop café, stopped me to ask if I was new and introduced herself. I remember calling my mom and saying, “I can’t get over how friendly and forthcoming everyone is!” And we’re from the Midwest, so we know friendly.

It’s only been a little over a month, and I’ve already forged a connection with this school, Lexington, and, more dangerously, the amazing peanut butter cookies at the Brief Stop. It’s a good thing I still have almost three years here.

Why I Chose W&L Law – The Return – #8

by Randall Miller

We asked eight of our current first-year students to discuss their decision to attend W&L Law. Today, Randall Miller, a graduate of Mississippi College from Roseland, Louisiana, takes on the question.

While working for an attorney the summer before my junior year in college, I began to glance at the national rankings for law schools. Knowing that I would apply the following year, I quickly scanned the profiles of many schools in the top 50 and beyond. Taking into account national reputation and quality of life, I drafted a short list of schools where I might apply. I distinctly remember reading W&L’s profile for the first time and thinking, “Wow, a nationally recognized law school nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains with an Honor System that has been in place for more than 100 years, I need to remember this one!”

The following summer my law school search became less of a casual browse and more of an intentional, focused effort. When thinking about where to apply, I considered a lot of different factors. I analyzed job placement data, thought about the area of the country where I wanted to live for three years and considered the strength of various programs. At the end of the summer I shortened my list to five schools; W&L was one of the five.

There were a few different reasons why W&L made this list. The third year program at W&L was impressive. Current attorneys told me that law school was mostly theory, but it appeared that W&L was making strides to lessen the learning curve between law school and practice. I wanted to graduate from law school prepared to practice, and I saw W&L’s third year as an ideal way to ready myself for the challenges beyond the classroom.

The small class sizes also drew my attention to W&L. I knew from my undergraduate experience that I learned best in small classes, and the student to faculty ratio at W&L was really low. In talking with current students, I found they regularly mentioned being able to stop by a professor’s office without having to schedule an appointment. Several students credited this open door policy with allowing them the opportunity to seek advice from professors and build close relationships with them. They all emphasized just what great teachers their professors were and how professors at W&L truly wanted to see their students succeed both in the classroom and in their careers. I wanted to attend a law school where the professors were approachable and valued the success of their students, and it appeared that these characteristics were representative
of W&L’s faculty. 

The Honor System also stood out to me. I wanted to be a member of a law school community that valued personal integrity, honesty, and ethical decision making. I found these values at W&L. W&L was the only school where I heard students repeatedly describe leaving a laptop or other valuable in the law school over a weekend and return the following week to find it still there.

They also shared examples of professors viewing a student’s word as truth without probing further for validation. One student said his friend retold a true story of a dog eating his homework to one of his professors, and the professor did not question his honesty. The bond of trust that I noticed between the faculty, staff, and students was unique and admirable.   

Location was also important. Having lived in a small town for much of my life, I could relate to the way of life in Lexington and knew that the distractions existing in larger cities would be minimal here. Also, the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains created a peaceful backdrop for the law school. I recognized that law school would be demanding, and the ability to enjoy the amenities and views of the Shenandoah Valley resonated with me as a great way to find a peaceful escape when I needed to take a break from studying.

However, my Open House experience was what ultimately convinced me W&L was where I wanted to be. I visited the campus in August, and the impression from this earlier visit persuaded me to attend an Open House in March. Upon arriving at the Open House, the Director of Admissions greeted me by name! This thoughtful gesture was indicative of the general nature of the W&L community. From the onset, everyone was very open and friendly. Current students freely shared their experiences in Lexington, and staff members readily introduced themselves. It felt like a family. It was clear that the people truly made this law school different. They were engaging, caring, and honest.

Over the course of the weekend, it was clear the Honor System and pleasant atmosphere described online were realities that permeated every aspect of law school life. The Honor System created a community of trust that allowed students to leave their books and computers unattended at carrels, write an “IOU” at the Brief Stop (the café on campus), and have access to the law school 24 hours a day. Furthermore, it provided me with the assurance that I could trust my fellow classmates and everyone
at the University. The testimonies of students helping one another both in the classroom and outside of law school further convinced me that there was something different about W&L. This was the kind of law school I wanted to attend. I wanted to be in a place where my classmates and I would be held to high ethical standards and where students were willing to help one another.

I know the relationships I will form over the next three years will span far beyond the doors of Lewis Hall. I broke my right wrist (dominant hand) during the first week of law school. I was unable to write or type for two weeks. Thanks to my classmates and the willingness of professors to allow class recordings, I was able to survive classes without falling behind. Some classmates emailed me notes. Others baked cookies. Another made a peach cobbler. One of my classmates even chauffeured me to and from doctors’ appointments. I also spoke with some of my professors during office hours to discuss ways to adapt to this unforeseen challenge. I greatly appreciated their wise advice and words of encouragement. I can say without reservation that attending W&L Law has been one of the best decisions that I have ever made.

Why I Chose W&L Law – The Return – #7

by Samantha Brewster-Owens

We asked eight of our current first-year students to discuss their decision to attend W&L Law. Today, Samantha Brewster-Owens, a graduate of Tufts University from Boca Raton, Florida, takes on the question.

I chose Washington and Lee Law because of the sense of community I felt the first time I stepped onto the campus.

When I started the application process, I had no idea where I wanted to be so I applied to a smattering of schools up and down the East coast and a few in California. The only thing I did know was that, after attending Tufts University and growing up in South Florida, I wanted to be in a relatively large city.

As anyone who has taken or is planning on taking the LSAT knows, the amount of information you receive from law schools is pretty daunting. But among the piles of glossy brochures, one simple, yet notable, package stood out to me. After flipping through the pages I thought, “ This would be good if it weren’t in such a tiny town.”

As I began to do research on the schools that had contacted me, I quickly learned that Washington and Lee was a top tier school. I also began to think differently about its location. What I once thought of as a negative actually started become a positive. Yes, Lexington, Virginia is small and quaint, but, when I thought about it, I began to realize that a small town with fewer distractions would actually be the ideal place for me during law school. Being in a large city has its advantages—more people, bustling nightlife, and a variety of places to explore—but law school requires a lot of work, and I felt the advantages of life in a big city would quickly become distractions. I needed to be in a place where I could concentrate on studying yet still have a life. After one visit to Washington and Lee, I knew that this law school fit that bill.

Out of all the schools I visited, Washington and Lee was the only one that took the competitiveness so often associated with law school off the table. Most schools I visited seemed more interested in relaying all types of data that I could just have easily read in a book somewhere. However, Washington and Lee made a point of providing prospective students with a real sense of life at the law school. During my Open House, we did not just sit in on a first year class; we participated in a mock class with Professor Murchison who led us through an actual case. Over the course of the weekend, I talked to a number of current students, and I was impressed by their willingness to discuss their experiences at the law school and the honesty with which they answered my questions.

However, what really sold me was the amount of personal attention W&L shows everyone. During the Open House, I had a brief chat with Dean Evans, and a few days after returning to Boston I received a hand written note from her commenting on our conversation. I can’t think of many law schools where that would happen, but this is just one example of the genuine care Washington and Lee offers. Another great example are the carrels in the library. At W&L, every student has his/her own personal carrel in the library. None of the other schools I visited made similar arrangements to ensure each student had his/her own study space, but the carrels are a tremendous luxury and they say a lot about the priority students are at this law school. It is a great comfort to know that I have a place, with my name on it, where I can study any hour of the day, any day of the week. 

As my time here passes, I am confident that I made the right decision in coming to Lexington. Though the town is small, the school always has something for its students to do. Every Friday in the fall, there is LSFL (the Law School Football League) and grabbing a free beer while playing school-wide touch football is a great way to unwind after a stressful week. The annual Pig Roast, the Women’s Law Students Organization’s Fall Cocktail Party, and the Epicurean Society-sponsored Oktoberfest celebration are a few other examples of the many weekly social activities that take place at the law school.

In addition, the upper classmen are an open book here. Everyone is more than friendly and within the first week I had multiple outlines in my inbox from other students. But best of all, the spirit of the school, embedded in its Honor System, greatly reduces the stress of law school. I can honestly say that I have no issues leaving my textbooks anywhere. There are no horror stories about pages being ripped out of books. I can leave my computer anywhere in the school and be confident that it will be untouched when I return. If I have forgotten my wallet, don’t have cash on me, or just need a snack during midnight studying, I can put it on my tab at the Brief Stop pay for it at the end of the week.

In addition, I am a member of the university’s Student Judicial Council, and my experience with this organization has only
strengthened my faith in this community. At W&L, we are governed by our peers. The Executive Committee enforces our Honor System, hearing cases involving allegations of lying, cheating, and stealing. On the Student Judicial Council, we
investigate and hear complaints of alleged student misconduct. It is our job to see that students take individual responsibility for their actions. Both of these organizations are emblematic of the amount of respect the University affords students. However, they are also reflective of the confidence we have in each other. The people who choose to attend Washington and Lee do so because they know this is a community founded upon mutual respect, and, as a result, they have faith in their peers to handle such matters.

In law school, you are going to work hard and be challenged at any law school. But here at W&L you don’t worry about having to compete with the person sitting next to you. Here learning, rather than competition, is emphasized. At first, all of this didn’t sound like much to me, but now that I am here, I realize how lucky I am to be a Washington and Lee law student.

Why I Chose W&L Law – The Return – #6

by Stephanie Fox

We asked eight of our current first-year students to discuss their decision to attend W&L Law. Today, Stephanie Fox, a graduate of Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, takes on the question.

When I started applying to law school, I was looking for two very specific attributes: a small school, like my undergraduate institution, where small classes and professors who maintained an open door policy were the norm, and a good place to continue my passion for German while studying law. After researching many schools, I found that I had set some pretty tough standards. Most schools either had really good opportunities to learn about international law but had large classes, or had small classes and therefore fewer of elective offerings.

However, as soon as I really looked into Washington and Lee’s program, I knew I had found a school that far exceeded my criteria. Visiting the school for an Admitted Students Open House in March finalized my decision. The students I talked with were genuinely happy with their classes and professors. Several students told me most professors didn’t even have set office hours, you could just stop by whenever you had a question. One student even talked about how much her professor had gone out of his way to help her get a summer job.

Students and administrators also discussed the Honor System at W&L. Coming from an undergraduate institution with an honor system, I was used to learning in an environment where I could trust my classmates. In college, I could leave my dorm room unlocked and book bag unattended. In choosing a law school, I knew I wanted to go somewhere where I would enjoy similar freedoms. Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised to see that students were comfortable leaving their laptops, purses, wallets, textbooks, notes and any number of other things unattended at their carrels. On my tour, we also walked by the Brief Stop, the law school café, where students can get food and drinks. I was amazed to learn that even after the Brief Stop has closed for the day, students can still grab something to eat. All they have to do is leave a note saying what they took and come back and pay for it later.

I was also struck by just how involved W&L students were. All of the students talked about the numerous opportunities to get involved and the number of extracurricular organizations available at the school (I think there are over 50 at the law school currently). Given my interest in Germany, I found the German Law Journal particularly appealing. Washington and Lee is the only law school in the country to have a journal that focuses solely on German and European legal issues. I was further convinced W&L was the right school for me after speaking with Professor Russell Miller, the co-founder and co-editor of the journal. During the Admitted Students Open House, I met with Professor Miller and discussed options for tying together Germany and law. His passion and enthusiasm were contagious, and he was genuinely interested in my goals.

Though my search for law school felt demanding at times, I knew after researching and visiting that Washington and Lee was the perfect fit.  And, so far, my decision has definitely been the right one for me. My professors always seem willing to help me with any questions I have. My small section professor has already had my class over for dessert as his house. And even though Professor Miller is not currently one of my professors, he’s still met with me several times to discuss my goals for the future. I really couldn’t imagine a better law school for me.