1. Summer Experience: Lindsay Lankau ’26L

Lindsay Lankau '26L is a second-year law student at Washington and Lee and is originally from Charleston, SC. She is an active member of the W&L community, serving as a Law Review staff writer, the President of Phi Alpha Delta, the Treasurer of the Lewis F. Powell Distinguished Lecture Series, and a Justice on the Student Judicial Council. This past summer she interned with Bradley Arant Boult Cummings in Charlotte, NC. After law school, she plans on starting her legal career in Charlotte, NC with family and friends by her side.

How did you find/get this position?

I applied to Bradley through OCI over Christmas Break and subsequently went to Charlotte for an interview.

Describe your work experience.

I was able to not only write legal memos but also produce timelines for upcoming litigation, attend a mediation, sit in on client meetings, and write a request for an advisory opinion from the CFPB. I largely worked with the construction group and assisted with research projects, court filings, and more.

What were some skills you developed this summer?

This summer was a great time to hone my networking skills and adapt the way that I presented information. I found Bradley to be an open-door firm, which encouraged me to ask for work that I was interested in as well as ask any questions that came up throughout my time. Also, it was necessary to determine how each attorney wanted information presented to them, whether that be an email, a formal memo, or a conversation in their office. Preferred modes of communication isn't taught in first year Legal Writing classes but was incredibly important to learn over the summer.

What surprised you about the work you did this summer?

I was very surprised at how much research goes into each piece of legal writing. I was used to researching very targeted topics with a specific end goal from Legal Writing class. The freedom to go down any path that I believed may be beneficial to our case or hadn't been thought of before was very exciting.

What was your favorite aspect of this summer work experience?

My favorite aspect of the summer work experience was the people that I met through Bradley. I was nervous about going to work in a city and a firm with no one that I knew, but I found great mentors and felt very appreciated. Being in a work environment with people that you enjoy being around is absolutely necessary, in my opinion, and it was wonderful to see the associates and partners in the office get along.

Has this experience helped you figure out post graduate plans, and if so, how?

Being in Charlotte this summer confirmed my belief that I want to move there after law school. I was able to decide that I wanted to practice in the field of construction law and follow the paths of the mentors that I found at Bradley.

How do you think this experience will shape the rest of your time at W&L Law?

I will definitely be able to target my course load towards topics that interest me and will eventually help me practice in the field I'm passionate about. My networking skills have improved significantly, and I will use that not only with my peers to make connections but also with professors and staff. Lastly, I found the topic of my Law Review note while I was working over the summer, and plan to reach out to my connections at Bradley for advice or opinions during the writing process!

Outside Law School

Hobby/Interest

Spin classes; reading; cooking; yoga

Book/Podcast Recommendation

"Smartless" with Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes

Favorite thing to do in Lexington

Walk the Chessie Trail with friends or go to fLEX for a workout!

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