Meet the OCS Staff
Cliff Jarrett, Assistant Dean
jarrettc@wlu.edu (540) 458-8534
Cliff Jarrett is a 1991 cum laude graduate of the law school. He joined the administration in 2014 from the legal recruiting and placement firm Major, Lindsey & Africa (MLA), where he was a partner and office leader of the Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham office. At MLA, he focused on the placement of partners, practice groups and associates with law firms and in-house legal departments at international, regional and local firms throughout the southeast and nationally. Prior to opening MLA's North Carolina office, Jarrett was a partner in the Charlotte office of Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman (now K&L Gates), where he practiced for nearly 16 years in commercial and intellectual property litigation. Contact Mr. Jarrett for advice on career strategy, resume and cover letter review, and assistance with interview skills and preparation.
Andrea Hilton, Associate Director for Professional Development
hiltona@wlu.edu (540) 458-8022
Andrea Hilton is a 1985 cum laude graduate of the law school. After serving two years as a federal law clerk in Alexandria, Virginia, she practiced corporate transactional law in the Washington DC offices of several large national and international firms. She returned to Lexington to join the law school administration in 2000, and served as the Director of Admissions from 2004 - 2010. In the newly-created post of Associate Director for Professional Development, she focuses on assisting students with the transition from law school to the profession, and provides advice on strategy and applications to students seeking positions as post-graduate law clerks. She also provides general career strategy advice, document review and assistance with interview skills.
Freda Coleman-Jackson, Assistant Director of Career Strategy
fcoleman-jackson@wlu.edu (540) 458-8536
Freda Coleman-Jackson graduated from Mercer University School of Law in 2009 and was the recipient of the Walter F. George Foundation Public Service Scholarship. During law school, she was an active member of the Legal Aid Volunteer Association and served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). Also, she was an intern with Northwest Florida Legal Services and the Office of the Attorney General of Georgia. Following graduation, Ms. Coleman-Jackson began working in law school administration, specializing in admissions, career services, and student affairs. In 2014, she simultaneously launched a career consulting business and began doctoral studies in higher education and student affairs. Ms. Coleman-Jackson will provide general career advice and focused advice for students seeking careers in public interest and government law. Additionally, she will provide interview preparation assistance and document review.
Suzanne Wade, Assistant Director for Employer and Alumni Outreach
swade@wlu.edu (540) 458-8996
Suzanne Wade attended Mary Baldwin College. She has worked at the University for many years, and joined the Office of Career Strategy in May 2008. She manages all aspects of recruitment and employer outreach; employers should contact Suzanne to schedule on-campus interviews or to participate in one of our Regional Interview Programs. Students may contact her for assistance with SCORE.
Kristy Speers, Senior Recruitment Coordinator
kspeers@wlu.edu (540) 458-8535
Kristy started working with the Outing Club in 2011 and has served in several roles across campus over the years. Prior to becoming the senior recruitment coordinator, she served as the assistant director of chapter operations in the Office of Alumni Engagement. She and her family moved to Lexington in 2008 from Yellowstone National Park. Kristy worked for the National Park Service prior to her career in higher education. She is responsible for OCS office operations and recruiting logistics.
2023-2024 Rachford Fellows
Rachford Fellows serve as the liaisons between the OCS staff and the student body. As peer counselors, Rachford Fellows connect more easily with law students, removing some of the barriers that kept students from benefiting from OCS guidance. Rachford Fellows increase student engagement, provide a social media presence, improve communication and feedback from students, generate creative programming ideas, foster professional development, and perform critical document review.
Jasmine Cooper grew up in Bowie, Maryland and attended Monmouth University in New Jersey where she was active as a campus leader. Jasmine spent her 1L summer as a judicial intern for the Honorable Mark R. Colombell on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Richmond. For her 2L summer, she worked as a summer associate at Sheppard Mullin in Washington, DC primarily in their Labor and Employment practice group. In her free time, Jasmine enjoys hanging out with friends/family, reality tv and volunteering in the Lexington and Roanoke community.
Aidan O'Connor grew up in Leesburg, VA and attended the University of Virginia (Class of 2019). Prior to law school, he worked as a middle school math teacher in High Point, NC as a member of Teach For America's Charlotte-Piedmont Triad Corp. He spent his 1L summer with Bradley in Birmingham, AL and split his 2L summer working with Bradley and McGuireWoods in Charlotte, NC as a corporate summer associate. Aidan enjoys playing golf, cooking, reading and spending time with friends.
Hannah Wilk grew up in Aurora, Ohio and attended Roanoke College, where she graduated in 2021 with a BA in Criminal Justice. Hannah spent her 1L summer with the US Marshals Service Office of General Counsel in Arlington, Virginia and worked as a research assistant for Professor Peppers. She will spend her 2L summer with the US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio. Hannah enjoys baking gluten free cookies, watching late 90s and early 2000s chick flicks and rom coms, and walking around Lexington with her dog, Forest.
Office Information
Washington and Lee University School of Law
Office of Career Strategy
Sydney Lewis Hall
Lexington, VA 24450
Phone (540) 458-8535
Fax (540) 458-8168