Alumni Stories

Bruce Russell II, L’00, is the first attorney from west of Roanoke to hold the position in nearly three decades. He calls himself “a modern country lawyer.”

In her legal aid and fair housing career, Rachael Deane, L’10, noticed a pattern in the barriers her clients faced. She sought systemic policy reform to change that.

Merle Damico, L’24, is a public defender who thrives in chaos, champions justice daily, and finds profound meaning in simply being there for clients.

Triple-grad Matthew Reinaker, ’02, L’05, and GB’06, is a lawyer on wheels bringing estate planning services to his clients.

Constitutional scholar A.E. Dick Howard, R’54, receives the William Green Award, the press deeming him one of the greatest Virginians of recent times.

Leah Steigler, L’15, enjoys labor and employment law so much, it's not just her day job — she has a standing column in Today’s General Counsel magazine and her own video series.

Derrick Walker, L’00, held onto an email from his 2L year. A professor had reached out to make sure Walker knew he was skilled—he had “the gift.”

Former high school teacher Tricia Dunlap, L'11, entered law school at age 40 and became a corporate law expert.

Before there was Yellowstone’s John Dutton, there was alum Greg Luce, L’77. The lawyer-turned-rancher owns a historic cattle ranch spanning 100,000 acres in Wyoming.