C. Elizabeth Belmont, Director CLPC

Beth is graduate of Southern Illinois University, B.A. (1984), with her law degree from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1989).

Beth served as a Fellow with the Public Interest Law Initiative in Chicago, Illinois, representing victims of domestic violence, and then practiced for a number of years in the litigation and employment practices areas at Vedder, Price, Kaufman & Kammholz in Chicago, and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in Los Angeles.

Beth was a visiting professor at Washington and Lee in 2001, and joined the law faculty in 2002 as Assistant Clinical Professor of Law. She is currently Director of the Community Legal Practice Center. In addition to her work as a clinician, Beth serves as the University Mediator, and has taught employment practices and labor law.

Sue Coffey, Senior Legal Assistant

Sue was born in Rockbridge County. She has over 30 years administrative support experience, with an emphasis in the legal field. Sue joined the University staff in November, 2001.

Meredith Brebner is a third year law student at Washington and Lee University. She graduated from the University of Virginia in 2005 with a B.A. in English.  Before law school, Meredith lived in New Zealand and Los Angeles and taught yoga in Charlottesville, Virginia. The summer after her first year of law school, Meredith worked as a Summer Associate with McCandlish Holton PC in Richmond, Virginia.  This past summer Meredith split her summer between McCandlish Holton and the Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of Virginia. 

Ya Marie Cham is a third year law student at Washington and Lee University School of Law. She graduated from Rutgers University in 2005 with a B.A. in Criminal Justice and a minor in Political Science. Following her first year in law school, she interned at the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office in New Brunswick, New Jersey, where she conducted research, and drafted appellate briefs. At Washington & Lee, she has served as the Vice-President of the Black Law Students Association.  She is currently the Development Editor for Washington and Lee’s Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice. This past summer, she worked as a summer associate in Wilmington, Delaware. 

Hamza Chaudary is a third year law student at Washington and Lee University. He graduated with honors in Public Policy and Law from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. Hamza is currently Managing Events Editor of the Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice at Washington and Lee. During his second year of law school, he served as President of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association. During the summers of 2008 and 2009, Hamza worked as a Summer Associate at a Law Firm in New England. Upon graduation, he will be joining that firm as an associate in their Litigation Department.

J. Bradley C. Cherry is a third-year law student and J.D. candidate at Washington and Lee University’s School of Law. In 2005, he earned his B.A. from the University of the South, where he graduated summa cum laude with honors in philosophy. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Sigma Tau, and the Order of Gownsmen. Since graduating from Sewanee, he has worked as a Research Assistant for the Developmental Electrophysiology Laboratory at the Yale Child Study Center (New Haven, CT), and as a Paralegal for the Canadian Asbestos Litigation Project at Motley Rice (Charleston, SC). Since beginning his studies at Washington and Lee, he has worked as a Campaign Fellow and Deputy Field Organizer for Obama for America (Roanoke and Lynchburg, VA), and as a Summer Clerk to Chief Justice John D. Minton, Jr. of the Supreme Court of Kentucky (Frankfort, KY). He is actively involved with the leadership of the Environmental Law Society and, formerly, the Public Interest Law Students Association. He is also involved with the Lexington and Rockbridge County Democratic Committees and the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.

Rebecca Clinton is a third year law student at Washington and Lee University School of Law. She graduated magna cum laude from Washington and Lee University in 2007 with a B.A. in History. Rebecca spent the summer after her first year of law school in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. She spent her second summer at a law firm in Richmond.  Prior to her membership in the CLPC, Rebecca spent a semester in W&L’s Tax Clinic. Rebecca serves as Vice Chair of the Moot Court Executive Board and is an Honor Advocate. She hopes to work for the federal government after law school.

Christopher Fields is a third year law student at Washington and Lee University School of Law.  He graduated with highest honors in 2007 from Virginia Military Institute with a B.A. in International Studies and Political Science.  The summer after his first year of law school he worked as a summer associate for the law firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP in Washington, D.C.  This past summer he returned to the firm for half the summer and spent the remainder of his time working for the federal government.  In addition to working in the Community Legal Practice Center, Chris serves as the Executive Student Editor of the German Law Journal and as a Lead Articles Editor for the Journal of Energy, Climate, and the Environment.  After graduation, Chris will return to Washington, D.C. with his fiancée Caitlin to join Paul Hastings as an associate in the firm’s corporate department.

Lauren Fisher is a third year law student at Washington and Lee University School of Law.  A Georgia native, she graduated magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University in 2006 with a B.A. in English and Psychology.  Following graduation, she worked as the Policy and Communications Intern at the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, the umbrella organization for Tennessee’s legal aid program.  Lauren spent the summer after her first year of law school as a Summer Associate for a large full-service law firm, and spent her second summer as a full-time Student Attorney in the Community Legal Practice Center.  She is currently the Managing Editor of Washington and Lee’s Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice, a scholarly publication that seeks to press into the intellectual spotlight legal issues affecting protected classes of people.  Upon graduation from W&L, she hopes to return to Georgia and practice employment law.

Courtney Gahm is a third year law student at Washington and Lee University School of Law. She graduated from Baylor University earning a B.B.A. in Finance and International Business.  Before entering law school, Courtney worked as an external auditor to Fortune 500 energy and utility companies.  As a law student, she has interned for Justice Jeff Bohm of the United States Southern District Bankruptcy Court and Judge Ken Wise of the Harris County District Court. Courtney has also worked as a Summer Associate to the law firms of Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP and Fulbright & Jaworski LLP. Upon graduation, she intends to pursue a career in litigation.     

Jonathan Lockwood is a third year law student at Washington & Lee University School of Law.  He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Georgia with a B.A. in History and Philosophy.  He spent his first year summer as a research assistant for Professor Denis Brion and his second year summer with the Department of Public Advocacy in London, KY.  He is a member of the 2009–2010 Moot Court Executive Board, the Vice-President of W&L Law’s Public Interest Law Student Association and will serve as the Third Year Law Student Representative on the Student Judicial Council this academic year.

Michael Plecnik is a third year law student at Washington and Lee University. He graduated Valedictorian  from Belmont Abbey College in 2007 with a B.A. in Philosophy. During the Summer of 2008, he worked in Raleigh, North Carolina on process patents. During the Summer of 2009, he worked in Lexington, Virginia at the Community Legal Practice Center. After graduation, Michael hopes to move back to North Carolina.