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Staff and Student Attorneys

Staff

Picture of Professor Belmont C. Elizabeth Belmont, Director CLPC and Clinical Professor of Law

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 and Clinical Professor of Law. In addition to her work as a clinician, Beth serves as the University Mediator, and has taught employment practices and labor law.
Picture of Sue Coffey 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.

Student Attorneys

Picture of Kristin Burr Kristin Burr is a third year law student at Washington and Lee University’s School of Law. She graduated from James Madison University in 2010 with a B.A. in English. Kristin spent the summer after her first year of law school working in Fairfax, Virginia at Sports Management Group Worldwide, Inc. This past summer, Kristin worked full-time as a student attorney at the Community Legal Practice Center. Upon graduation, Kristin hopes to pursue a career in family law.
Picture of Doug Dua Doug Dua is a third-year student at Washington and Lee University School of Law. He was born in New Jersey, graduated from Colby College with a B.A. in government and economics, and worked in the garment production industry in New York for several years before moving to Lexington to attend law school. After his first year of law school, Doug worked with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Regional Counsel in Brooklyn, N.Y. After his second year, he worked in a multiservice New York firm and handled assignments focused on corporate law and project finance. Doug intends to return to New York after graduating to pursue a career in project finance law. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking and music.
Picture of Christopher Edwards Christopher Edwards is a third year law student at Washington and Lee School of Law. He graduated magna cum laude from West Virginia University with a B.S. in Journalism. While at WVU Chris worked as a Guest Services Supervisor for the WVU Arts and Entertainment Center, a position that required him to supervise up to 50 employees at a time. He also served as a Big Brother for Big Brothers/Sisters of America. Before starting law school at Washington and Lee, Chris was awarded the J. Edward Lewis Memorial Scholarship. Chris currently serves as the Chair of the W&L Moot Court Executive Board, is actively involved in the Honor Advocate Program and Phi Alpha Delta, and was named a top 20 oralist during the 2011-12 Mid-Atlantic Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. Chris worked at Bowles, Rice, McDavid, Graff & Love in Charleston, WV during both his 1L and 2L summers, where he focused primarily on civil litigation.
Picture of Nathan Jensen Nathan Jensen is a third-year law student at Washington and Lee University, as well as a seven-year member of the Lexington community. He graduated from W&L with a B.A. in Classics in 2010, receiving commendation as the University’s top Latin linguist. Since entering law school, Nathan has spent his summers at the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General and in the litigation department of Correct Care Solutions, both located in his home town of Nashville, Tennessee. During the 2011-2012 Moot Court Competitions at W&L, Nathan was a quarterfinalist in the Negotiations Competition and also won the John W. Davis Moot Court Best Brief Award in the appellate advocacy competition. Nathan looks forward to a career in civil litigation upon graduation, and he aspires to enter politics once he has established himself as a lawyer.
Picture of Trent LaLima Trent LaLima was raised in New London and Waterford, Connecticut, and graduated from Waterford High School in 2006. He then received a degree in Political Science from the University of Connecticut in 2010. In the summer of 2011, Trent worked at two small community firms in New London, the firms of Yona Gregory and Lloyd Langhammer. Throughout the summer of 2012, Trent served as student attorney for the CLPC. Trent is a member of Pi Sigma Alpha. He is an Honor Advocate for Washington & Lee University and serves as a Sports Czar for the law school. He lives on a farm just outside Lexington with his beloved dog Roxy.
Picture of Melanie Peters Melanie Peters is a third year law student at Washington and Lee University School of Law. Melanie is originally from Great Falls, Virginia and is a 2008 graduate of Sewanee: The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee with a B.A. in American History and a minor in Political Science. During her first year of law school, at the University of Montana School of Law, Melanie volunteered at the Missoula Family Law Self Help Center, assisting pro se family law litigants through the divorce process. Melanie spent the summer after her first year of law school interning at the Missoula County Attorneys Office, Criminal Division. Prior to her second year, Melanie transferred to Washington and Lee University School of Law. Melanie spent the summer after her second year of law school clerking for The Honorable Angela R. Arkin, on the domestic docket, of Colorado’s 18th Judicial District. During the same summer, Melanie also worked as a summer associate in the family law division of the Denver Colorado based law firm, Elkus, Sisson, & Rosenstein. Melanie hopes to pursue a career in family law.
Picture of Anaeli Sandoval Anaeli Sandoval is a third year law student at Washington and Lee University School of Law. She graduated from St. John’s University in 2005 with a B.A. in Criminal Justice and Forensic Psychology and a minor in Spanish. Before attending law school, Anaeli worked as an Immigration Paralegal at Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen and Lowey, LLP. After completing her first year at W&L Law, Anaeli worked with the Army JAG Corps Trial Counsel Division at Fort Bliss, Texas. Last summer, Anaeli worked for the Army JAG Corps Defense Appellate Division at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Anaeli currently serves as President of the Latin American Law Students Association, Lead Articles Editor for the Journal of Energy, Climate, and the Environment, and ABA Student Liaison for the Standing Committee on Armed Forces Law.
Picture of G. Graham Thompson G. Graham Thompson is a third year law student at Washington & Lee University School of Law. He grew up in Cookeville, Tennessee, and graduated from the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He holds a B.A. in History and Political Science from Vanderbilt University. After college, he returned to the McCallie School to work as Assistant Director of Boarding Admission for two years. After his first year of law school, he was the summer clerk for The Hon. John J. Maddux, Jr., of the Tennessee Thirteenth Judicial District. After his second year of law school, he was a summer associate at the Wilkes Firm in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Graham serves as a Justice on the Student Judicial Council. Additionally, he is Notes Editor for the Washington & Lee Journal of Energy, Climate, and the Environment. He intends to pursue a career in health care law or energy law upon graduation.
Picture of Joshua Verkerk Joshua Verkerk is a third year law student at Washington & Lee University School of Law from Houston, Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in History in 2007. After his first year of law school he was an intern in the Felony Division of the Galveston County District Attorney's Office in Galveston, Texas. This past summer he worked in Charlottesville, Virginia as an Industry Investigative Intern in the Professional Conduct Program of the CFA Institute, a global association of investment professionals. Joshua is the Head Honor Advocate for Washington and Lee University and also volunteers with the Southwest Virginia Innocence Project.
Picture of Emily Walters Emily Walters is a third year law student at Washington & Lee University School of Law. She graduated from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina with a B.A. in Political Science in 2010. Emily spent the summer after her first year of law school clerking for the Honorable Henry Floyd for the District of South Carolina. Last summer, Emily worked for the Southern Environmental Law Center in Charleston, South Carolina. Emily is currently the Executive Editor of the Journal of Energy, Climate, and the Environment.
Picture of Robb Zahm Robb Zahm is a third-year law student at Washington & Lee University. Robb graduated from Niagara University in 2001 with bachelor’s degrees in English and Performance Theatre. After Graduating, Robb taught English as a Second Language in Okazaki, Japan, teaching students from age 4 to age 75. Upon returning from overseas in 2003, Robb worked for two years at Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services as a Domestic Account Specialist. Robb then returned to school to pursue a NYS teaching certification from Canisius College in Buffalo, NY. After graduating, Robb taught test preparation with The Princeton Review until 2011. In his free time, Robb performs with the W&L Chamber Singers and continues to participate in local theatrical productions.