Burks Scholars

The Martin Parks Burks Scholars program brings third-year law students into the first-year curriculum as teaching assistants. Burks Scholars are third-year law students selected on the basis of research, writing, and teaching skills to provide support for the first-year small sections of Legal Research and Legal Writing.

Nine Burks Scholars serve for the 2022-2023 academic year: three for Research and six for Writing. The Legal Research Burks serve as teaching assistants in the first-year Legal Research classes. Each Research Burks works with a Legal Research professor in conveying the concepts of legal research, analysis, and citation to two sections of Legal Research. The Legal Writing Burks serve as teaching assistants in the first-year legal writing classes. Each Burks Scholar works with a Legal Writing professor in teaching legal writing, analysis, and citation to one section of Legal Writing.

The Burks Scholars office is located on Level 3 of the Law Library, in Conference Room 304. Office hours and appointments may also be held elsewhere with due notice, or by special arrangement with a Burks Scholar.

2022-2023 Burks Scholars

Legal Research Burks Scholars

	Natalie Corban (works with Prof. Christensen) - Natalie is a third year law student from Portland, Oregon. She received her B.A. in Criminal Justice with a concentration on Cyber Crime and Security. During her 1L summer, Natalie interned with the New Justice Program through USAID, assisting with legal reform efforts in Ukraine. During her 2L summer, Natalie interned with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in the Legal Council, Ethics and Legal Division. In addition to her role as a Burks Scholar, Natalie serves as a Lead Articles Editor for the Washington and Lee Law Review and sits on the board of the Antitrust & Consumer Law Society. In her free time, Natalie enjoys mystery novels, opera and other live theatre.
	Cassandra Lamzik (works with Dean Cosby) - Cassie is a third-year law student from the St. Louis area. She is a first-generation college graduate from Maryville University of St. Louis with a degree in Criminal Justice and minors in Psychology and Cyber Security. Prior to law school, Cassie worked as a victim advocate in the St. Louis City Circuit Court system while she was pursuing her undergraduate degree. During her 1L summer, she interned with the Legal Aid Justice Center in the Civil Rights and Racial Justice Program. This past summer, she worked as a Summer Associate for Shelley Cupp Schulte in Richmond, Virginia, a Judicial Intern for the Honorable Thomas T. Cullen of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, and a Research Assistant for Professor Carla Laroche. In addition to being a Burks Scholar, Cassie is a Lead Articles Editor for the Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice and an Appellate Advocacy Chair on the Moot Court Executive Board.
	Lara Morris (works with Prof. Christensen and Dean Cosby) - Lara is a third-year law student from Charlottesville, Virginia, who received her B.A. in History and Classics from the University of Virginia. Prior to law school, Lara worked in the equestrian industry. During both her 1L and 2L summers, Lara worked with Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP in Nashville, TN and Southern Virginia Legal in Danville, Virginia. In addition to being a Burks Scholar, Lara is a McThenia Research Assistant and a Managing Editor of the Washington and Lee Law Review. Lara dedicates all her free time to her horse, her two cats, hiking, and baking.

Legal Writing Burks Scholars

	Shanelle Doher (works with Prof. Weiss) - Shanelle is a third-year law student from Los Angeles, California. She graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor's degree in History and Science and a secondary concentration in Psychology. Before attending W&L Law, Shanelle worked for three years in marketing and e-commerce in San Francisco, California. During her 1L summer, she interned for the Supreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Chief Staff Attorney in Richmond, Virginia. This past summer, Shanelle worked as a Summer Associate for Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in Palo Alto, California. In addition to being a Burks Scholar, Shanelle is the Membership and Inclusion Editor for the Washington and Lee Law Review and a judicial extern for the Honorable Christopher B. Russell of the 25th Judicial Circuit of Virginia. In her free time, Shanelle enjoys trying new recipes, listening to live music, and playing with her puppy.
	Francis Morency (works with Prof. Kolinsky) - Francis is a third-year law student from Miami, Florida. He graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in International Relations and African American Studies. During his 1L summer, Francis interned with the Honorable Peter D. Russin of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida for the first half and at NextEra Energy for the second half. During his 2L summer, Francis interned at Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP. In addition to his role as a Burks Scholar, Francis is the Managing Editor of the Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice, a judicial extern for the Honorable Joel R. Branscom, a research assistant, and a student attorney in the Start-Up Business Practicum. Francis enjoys cooking, live music, and local breweries in his free time.
	Andrew Nissensohn (works with Prof. Kolinsky) - Andrew is a third-year law student from Tampa, Florida and graduated from the University of Florida in 2020. After his first year of law school, Andrew worked as a research assistant for Professor Alan Trammell and as an intern in the Office of General Counsel at the University of Hartford. This past summer, Andrew was a Summer Associate at Crowell & Moring in Washington, DC. In addition to serving as a Burks Scholar, Andrew is Managing Editor of the Washington and Lee Law Review, the Mediation Competition Co-Chair on the Moot Court Executive Board, and will serve as an extern for the Honorable Joel Hoppe of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia.
	Louis Rogers (works with Prof. Meade) - Louis is a third-year law student from Alexandria, Virginia. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 2019, where he majored in English. During his 1L summer, he interned for the Honorable Albert Diaz of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. This past summer, Louis worked as a summer associate for McGuireWoods in Richmond, Virginia. In addition to being a Burks Scholar, he is an Appellate Advocacy Chair for the Davis Moot Court Competition and a Lead Articles Editor of the Washington and Lee Law Review. In his free time, Louis enjoys playing tennis and basketball.
	Brian Warren (works with Prof. Weiss) - Brian is a third-year law student originally from Sin City (Las Vegas, NV). He graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2019, where he majored in Criminal Justice and minored in Brookings Public Policy. Before attending W&L Law, Brian worked as an Outreach Coordinator helping first-generation and students of color navigate the intricacies of college life. During his 1L summer, he worked as a judicial intern in the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. This past summer, Brian worked as an intern in the Nevada Federal Public Defenders Office and the Richmond Public Defenders Office. In addition to being a Burks Scholar, he is a Lead Articles Editor of the Washington and Lee Law Review, a student attorney in the Criminal Justice Clinic, and President of the Public Defenders Group. Brian enjoys working out, journaling, dancing, and taking long walks (on the beach).
	Lexi Weber (works with Prof. Meade)