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 2024-2025 academic year: three for Research and six for Writing.

The Legal Research Burks serve as teaching assistants in the first-year Legal Research classes during the fall semester. 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 during the fall and spring semesters. Each Writing Burks works with a Legal Writing professor in teaching legal writing, analysis, and citation to one section of Legal Writing. All Burks Scholars may additionally teach or participate in workshops or special programming, with the goal of preparing students for success both in law school and in the legal workplace following their first year.

The Burks Scholars hold office hours for students to discuss concepts and assignments in the Legal Research and Legal Writing courses. The Burks Scholar offices are located on Level 3 of the Law Library in Room 320, facing the Circulation Desk. Office hours and appointments may also be held elsewhere with notice or by special arrangement with a Burks Scholar.

2024-2025 Burks Scholars

Legal Research Burks Scholars

	Katherine Berman (works with Prof. Shibib) - Katherine is a third-year law student from Houston, Texas. She graduated from Washington and Lee University with a bachelor's degree in English and Strategic Communication and a minor in Art History. During her 1L summer, she interned for the Honorable Lauren Reeder of the 234th Civil District Court in Harris County, Texas, and for the Appellate Division of the United States Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C. This past summer, she worked as a Summer Associate for Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in Houston. In addition to serving as a Burks Scholar, Katherine is the Symposium Editor for the Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice, Student Bar Association President, WLSO Co-President, and a judicial extern for the Honorable C. Kailani Memmer of the Western District of Virginia. In her free time, she enjoys playing sports, traveling, reading, and spending time with friends.
	Sadie Mapstone (works with Prof. Christensen) - Sadie is a third-year law student from Geneva, New York. She graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in 2021 with a degree in History. After graduation, she served with AmeriCorps, teaching 4th grade in an inner-city school in Cleveland, Ohio. During her 1L summer, Sadie interned for U.S. Magistrate Judge Pedersen in the Western District of New York. She spent her 2L summer at Hunton Andrews Kurth in Washington, DC where she will return as an environmental associate following graduation. In addition to being a Burks Scholar, Sadie is a Head Kirgis Fellow, the Negotiations Chair on the Moot Court Executive Board, a Law Admissions Ambassador, a Lead Online Editor for the Washington and Lee Law Review, and the founding co-president of the Environmental Law Society. Sadie enjoys exercise classes, long walks on the Chessie, spending time with friends, and playing with her new puppy.
	Saylor Snowden (works with Prof. Evans) - Saylor is a third-year law student from Argyle, Texas. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a master's degree in history and a bachelor's degree in history with a minor in foreign affairs. Prior to attending W&L Law, Saylor was a judicial intern in 442nd District Court of Denton County, Texas with Judge Haertling. During her 1L summer, Saylor worked with two family law firms in Dallas, Texas. This past summer, she worked as a Summer Law Clerk for King Law Offices, PC in Hendersonville, North Carolina. In addition to being a Burks Scholar, Saylor is in the Community Legal Practice Clinic and a W&L Law Ambassador. Saylor enjoys golfing, learning to cook and spending time with friends.

Legal Writing Burks Scholars

	Sabrina Callender-Clewett (works with Prof. Weiss) - Sabrina is a third-year law student from Manhattan Beach, California. She graduated from Colgate University with a bachelor's degree in Philosophy and minors in Economics and Environmental Studies. Prior to attending W&L Law, Sabrina worked as a paralegal at Paul Hastings in Washington, D.C. During her 1L summer, she worked at Steptoe & Johnson as a Summer Associate in their Charleston, West Virginia office. This past summer, Sabrina worked as a Summer Associate for Alston & Bird in Palo Alto, California and has accepted a return offer. In addition to being a Burks Scholar, Sabrina is a Senior Articles Editor on the German Law Journal and a judicial extern for the Honorable Christopher B. Russell of the 25th Judicial Circuit of Virginia. Sabrina enjoys long walks on the Chessie Trail and tearing up the football field with the Sportfeasors.
	Samantha Ennis (works with Prof. Weiss) - Samantha is a third-year law student from Sarasota, Florida. She graduated from the University of Texas with a B.A. in History and Organizational Studies, and a minor in American Sign Language. Prior to attending W&L Law, Samantha was a Legal Assistant at Amazon Web Services in Seattle. During her 1L Summer, she interned for the Honorable Curtis L. Collier of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. This past summer, Samantha worked as a Summer Associate for Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C. In addition to her role as a Burks Scholar, Samantha is the Client Counseling Competition Co-Chair on the Moot Court Executive Board, a Lead Online Editor for the Washington and Lee Law Review, an extern in the W&L Office of General Counsel, and a student representative in the Rights of Prisoners Practicum. Samantha enjoys hiking, climbing, and hanging out with her two cats.
	Jack Perryman (works with Prof. Skeeles-Shiner) - Jack is from St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from Centre College in 2020 with a B.A. in English. Before law school, he worked for a year in campaign politics in Missouri and for a year as a paralegal at two law firms in St. Louis. During his 1L summer, Jack was a summer associate at Womble Bond Dickinson in Charleston, SC. For his 2L summer, he was a summer associate in the Washington, DC office of Vinson & Elkins. Outside of his work as a Burks Scholar, Jack is his class's representative to the Executive Committee of the Student Body, a Law Ambassador, Chair of the John W. Davis Appellate Advocacy Competition, a Sports Czar, member of the Dean's Student Advisory Committee, and Executive Editor of the German Law Journal. In his free time, Jack enjoys cooking, teaching spin class, reading, traveling, and hiking.
	Zoe Speas (works with Prof. Skeeles-Shiner) - Zoe is a third-year law student originally from Cumberland, Virginia. After attending middle school and high school in Akron, Ohio, Zoe graduated in 2012 from The College of William and Mary, where she double majored in Theater and English. Zoe comes to the legal community from a prior career in the theater as a Shakespearean actor and as a musician. During her 1L summer, Zoe was an intern for the Honorable John A. Gibney, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Richmond). She was a member of the 2024 Summer Associate Class for the Washington, D.C. office of Jones Day, where she will return after graduation from W&L Law. In addition to her work as a Burks Scholar, Zoe is an Executive Editor of the Washington and Lee Law Review, a Law Ambassador, and a research assistant. In her free time, Zoe enjoys NY Times crossword puzzles, lap swimming, and the antics of her corgi-at-law, Bertie Woofster.
	Spencer Thomas (works with Prof. Schwartz) - Spencer is a third-year law student from Spartanburg, SC. He graduated from Wofford College in 2017, where he studied English. Following Wofford, Spencer commissioned into the Army as an Engineer officer where he served for three years on active duty. Spencer then worked for two years in Wofford's admission office before arriving at W&L Law. Spencer split his summer after 1L, working first as a summer associate with Bradley Arant in Birmingham, AL, and second as a judicial intern with the Hon. Elizabeth Dillon of the US District Court for the Western District of Virginia. This past summer, Spencer worked as a summer associate at Troutman Pepper in their Charlotte, NC office, in addition to returning briefly to Bradley in Birmingham. On campus, Spencer is also a member of the First-Generation Student Union (FGSU) and is one of two Senior Articles Editors on the Washington and Lee Law Review. This Fall, Spencer will also work as a student-prosecutor in Roanoke as part of the Prosecution Externship program. Outside of law school, Spencer loves cycling, playing racquetball, disc golf, and participating in LSFL as a member of the Sportfeasors.
	Kali Venable (works with Prof. Schwartz) - Kali is a third-year law student from Houston, Texas. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin as a Senior Fellows Honors student with a B.J. in Journalism and Certificate in Creative Writing. After college, she worked as an environmental and investigative reporter at a daily newspaper. During her 1L summer, she worked as a summer associate in Bracewell, LLP's Houston Office. She returned to Houston for her 2L summer to work as a Summer Associate at Vinson & Elkins, LLP, and Beck Redden, LLP. In addition to being a Burks Scholar, Kali is Managing Online Editor for the Washington and Lee Law Review, a judicial extern for the Honorable Thomas T. Cullen of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, and Co-President of the First-Generation Student Union. Kali enjoys fishing, cooking, and taking advantage of Virginia's beautiful landscapes with friends.