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 2023-2024 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 offices are located on Level 3 of the Law Library in Conference Room 304 and Room 321, facing the Circulation Desk. Office hours and appointments may also be held elsewhere with notice or by special arrangement with a Burks Scholar.

2023-2024 Burks Scholars

Legal Research Burks Scholars

	Julia Farbstein (works with Prof. Zwisohn) - Julia is a third-year law student from Falls Church City, Virginia. She studied voice at Interlochen Arts Academy for three of her high school years and received a B.A. in music from Oberlin Conservatory. Julia worked in the hospitality and fitness industries for five years before starting law school. During her 1L summer, she was with the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (remotely) in the Papua New Guinea office. She focused on anti-corruption work. This past summer she worked in the Office of General Council at the Department of Veterans Affairs in the Court of Appeals Litigation Group. In addition to being a Burks Scholar, Julia is the Client Counseling Competition Co-Chair on the Moot Court Executive Board. Julia is a Trekkie and enjoys hiking, traveling, trying new recipes, beach combing, and yoga.
	Maeve Harris (works with Prof. Evans) - Maeve is a third-year law student from McLean, Virginia. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor's degree in Anthropology and a minor in Public Policy and Leadership. Prior to attending W&L Law, Maeve worked various internships gaining experience at a D.C. law firm, a literacy non-profit, and the Library of Congress while pursuing her undergraduate degree. During her 1L summer, she interned for the Honorable Richard G. Latin of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, N.Y. County, 1st Term in New York City. This past summer, Maeve worked as a Summer Associate for Kaufman & Canoles, P.C. in Norfolk, Virginia. In addition to being a Burks Scholar, Maeve is a Senior Articles Editor on the German Law Journal and a judicial extern for the Honorable Paul A. Dryer of the 25th Judicial Circuit of Virginia. Maeve enjoys trying new recipes, running on the Chessie Trail, and spending time with friends.
	Liz LoPreiato (works with Prof. Christensen) - Liz is a third-year law student from Berlin, Connecticut. She received a B.A. from Boston College with majors in Philosophy and Political Science. During her 1L summer, Liz worked for the Connecticut Public Defenders in the Psychiatric Defense Unit and the Hartford Housing Session of the Connecticut Superior Court. This past summer, she worked as a Summer Associate for Phillips Lytle LLP in New York City. In addition to being a Burks Scholar, Liz is a Senior Articles Editor for the German Law Journal. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her law school friends around Lexington.

Legal Writing Burks Scholars

	Cole Davidson (works with Prof. Meade) - Cole is a third-year law student from Marion, Virginia. He received his B.A. in History with a minor in Leadership & Public Policy from the University of Virginia. During his 1L summer, Cole interned for the Honorable James P. Jones and the Honorable Thomas T. Cullen of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia. This past summer, Cole worked as a summer associate for McGuireWoods in Charlotte, North Carolina. In addition to being a Burks Scholar, Cole is the Managing Online Editor of the Washington and Lee Law Review and a judicial extern for the Honorable G. Steven Agee of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
	Courtney Ebersohl (works with Prof. Schwartz) - Courtney is a third-year law student from Fairfax, Virginia. She attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where she received a B.A. in History, a B.A. in French, and a minor in Art History. After college, she was a paralegal in Washington, D.C. During her 1L summer, she was a legal intern for the Fairfax County Office of the Public Defender. During her 2L Spring, she was a student representative in the Rights of Prisoners Practicum. This past summer, she was a law clerk for the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. In addition to being a Burks Scholar, she is a Lead Articles Editor for the Washington and Lee Law Review, a student attorney in the Criminal Justice Clinic, and President of the Public Defenders Group. Courtney enjoys birding, hiking with her partner, and running on the Chessie Nature Trail.
	Haley Fortner (works with Prof. Skeeles-Shiner) - Haley is a third-year law student from Richmond, Virginia. She graduated from the University of Virginia in 2020 with her B.A. in Biology and Psychology. Before attending W&L Law, Haley worked in inpatient behavioral health care at a hospital in Richmond. During her 1L summer, she worked as a law clerk with Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black in Norfolk, VA. This past summer, she worked as a Summer Associate in the Richmond office of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP. In addition to her role as a Burks Scholar, Haley is a Lead Articles Editor of the Washington and Lee Law Review, a judicial extern for the Honorable James R. Swanson of the 23rd Judicial Circuit of Virginia, a Research Assistant for Professor C. Reid Flinn, and Treasurer of the Health Law Association.
	Olivia Luzzio (works with Prof. Skeeles-Shiner) - Olivia is a third-year law student from Goshen, Kentucky. She graduated from Washington and Lee University with a B.A. in Economics and Global Politics. During her 1L summer, Olivia interned with the Commonwealth's Attorney's office in Arlington, VA. During her 2L summer, she was a Summer Associate at Eversheds Sutherland in Washington, DC. In addition to her role as a Burks Scholar, Olivia is a Note Editor on the Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice. In her free time, Olivia enjoys Mediterranean cooking, reading, and writing.
	Grace Moore (works with Prof. Meade) - Grace is a third-year law student from Tallahassee, Florida. She graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Economics. During her 1L summer, she interned for The Honorable David S. Cayer of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina and The Honorable Albert Diaz of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. This past summer, Grace was a Summer Associate and Wiley in Washington, DC. In addition to serving as a Burks Scholar, Grace is Managing Editor for the Washington and Lee Law Review. In her free time, Grace enjoys listening to live music, traveling with family and friends, and visiting local vineyards.
	Winni Zhang (works with Prof. Schwartz) - Winni is a third-year law student from Houston, Texas. She graduated from the University of Houston with a B.S. in Political Science and a minor in Law, Values, and Policy. During her 1L summer, Winni worked at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP and was a judicial intern for Chief Judge Swain in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York. She was placed in the judicial internship through the Sonia and Celina Sotomayor Judicial Internship Program. This past summer, Winni worked as a summer associate for Vinson & Elkins LLP. In addition to serving as Burks Scholar, Winni is a Note Editor for the Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice and a member of the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association. In her free time, Winni enjoys cooking, baking, gardening, hanging out with her dog, and hiking.