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 2026-2027 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.

2026-2027 Burks Scholars

Legal Research Burks Scholars

	Makayla Bibby (works with Prof. Christensen) - Makayla is a third-year law student from Roanoke, Virginia. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a double major in Public Policy and Leadership and Foreign Affairs. During both her 1L and 2L summers, she interned for Orrick, Herrington and Sutcliffe in Washington, D.C. In addition to serving as a Burks Scholar, Makayla is the Chair of the Moot Court Executive Board and a Lead Articles Editor for the German Law Journal. In her free time, she enjoys reading social science and political commentary, watching action and adventure movies and spending time with friends..
	Zachary Kean (works with Prof. Zwisohn) - Zachary is a third-year law student from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He graduated from Florida State University in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in political science and a bachelor's degree in business management. During his 1L summer, Zachary was an in-house legal intern at PrizePicks Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia, and a summer legal intern for the Florida Office of the Attorney General. For his 2L summer, Zachary worked as a Summer Associate at McGuireWoods LLP in Atlanta, where he will return after graduation. In addition to being a Burks Scholar, Zachary serves as the Student Bar Association President, the Vice-Chairman of the Moot Court Executive Board, the Symposium Editor for the Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice, the President of the Sports, Entertainment, and IP Law Society, and as a Law Ambassador for Law Admissions. In his free time, he enjoys watching sports, hiking, cooking, and reading.
	Haley Quinn Lawson (works with Prof. Evans) - Haley is a third-year law student from Atlanta, Georgia. In 2022, she graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies and Communication Studies with a minor in Business Institutions and a certificate in Integrated Marketing Communications. Prior to law school, Haley worked as a Junior Paralegal at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Chicago, Illinois. During her 1L summer, Haley worked as a Summer Law Clerk at Miller & Martin in Atlanta, GA. During her 2L summer, she worked in Washington, D.C. at Eversheds Sutherland and ended her summer at Miller & Martin. Following graduation, she will return to Eversheds Sutherland in the D.C. office as a first-year associate. While serving as a Legal Research Burks Scholar for Professor Evans, Haley is also a McThenia Research Assistant, a Law Ambassador, a Co-Chair for the Mediation Competition, and a judicial extern for the Honorable J. Christopher Clemens of the Roanoke City Circuit Court. Finally, she is involved in the Washington and Lee Law Review as a Lead Online Editor. In her free time, she loves to experiment in the kitchen, play a round of golf, and travel as much as she can!.

Legal Writing Burks Scholars

	Cassie Carr (works with Prof. Skeeles-Shiner) - Cassie is a third-year law student from Girard, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Washington & Jefferson College with a double major in Psychology and Gender and Women's Studies and a minor in Mathematics. During her 1L summer, she worked as a legal intern for the Erie County District Attorney's Office. This past summer, she worked as a summer associate for Jones Day in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In addition to being a Burks Scholar, Cassie is a Lead Articles Editor for the Washington and Lee Law Review, works in the Criminal Justice Clinic, and serves as a student assistant for the W&L Women's Cross Country and Track & Field teams. In her free time, she enjoys running and spending time outdoors.
	Alison Eppley (works with Prof. Weiss) - Alison is a third-year law student from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She graduated from North Carolina State University with a B.S. in Horticulture Sciences. During her 1L summer, Alison was a judicial intern at the North Carolina Court of Appeals. During her 2L summer, Alison was a Litigation Summer Associate at Moore & Van Allen in Charlotte, North Carolina. In addition to being a Burks Scholar, Alison is a Lead Articles Editor for the Washington and Lee Law Review and works in the Black Lung Clinic. In her free time, Alison likes to play pickleball, go for walks on the Chessie Trail, and host game nights with her friends.
	Genevieve Martinisko (works with Prof. Weiss) - Genevieve is a third-year law student from Fairfax, Virginia. She graduated from the Virginia Tech with a B.A. in International Relations and Arabic, and a minor in Integrated Security. During her 1L summer, Genevieve worked as a judicial intern for the Honorable Daniel E. Ortiz of the Court of Appeals of Virginia. This past summer, Genevieve worked as a Summer Law Clerk for the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection in Washington, D.C. In addition to being a Burks Scholar, Genevieve is a Senior Articles Editor for the Washington and Lee Law Review and is in the Immigrant Rights Clinic. In her free time, Genevieve enjoys baking, trying new foods, and laughing with her friends.
	Preeti Pandey (works with Prof. Schwartz) - Preeti is a third-year law student from Woodbridge, Virginia. She graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE). Preeti spent her 1L summer in Fairfax, Virginia interning for the Honorable Susan Stoney for the Fairfax Circuit Court. During her 2L summer, she was a Summer Associate at Crenshaw, Ware & Martin. Along with serving as a Legal Writing Burks Scholar for Professor Julie Schwartz, Preeti is the President of American Constitution Society, Lead Online Editor for the Washington and Lee Law Review, Mentorship Chair of Women Law Students Association, and works in the Civil Rights and Racial Justice Clinic. Outside of law school, Preeti enjoys hosting dinners with friends, hiking, and watching WNBA games.
	Caroline Tichenor (works with Prof. Schwartz) - Caroline is a third-year law student from DeLand, Florida. Prior to attending law school, she graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and minor in Political Science. Caroline spent her 1L summer in Dallas, Texas, interning for the Honorable Brian McKay in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. During her 2L summer, she was a Summer Associate at Sheppard in Washington, D.C. and will return to the firm after graduation. Along with serving as a Legal Writing Burks Scholar for Professor Julie Schwartz, Caroline is a Managing Online Editor for the Washington and Lee Law Review, Co-President of the Women Law Students Association, and a judicial extern for the Honorable Frank Friedman of the Court of Appeals of Virginia. Outside of law school, Caroline enjoys reading, baking, and crafting!
	Alyssa Wiese (works with Prof. Skeeles-Shiner) - Alyssa is a third-year law student from Keller, Texas. She graduated from the University of Florida with a double major in Criminology and Political Science. During her 1L summer, Alyssa worked as an intern for the Dallas County Public Defender's Office. This past summer, she worked as a Summer Associate for Cole, Scott & Kissane in Tampa, Florida, and will return after graduation. In addition to being a Burks Scholar, Alyssa is a Notes Editor for the German Law Journal, Law Ambassador, and a judicial extern for the Honorable James R. Swanson. In her free time, Alyssa enjoys playing soccer, cooking, and spending time with friends.