GW Law Writing Fellows

Sammy is a 2L who grew up in Amman, Jordan, and is a first-generation law student. He is interested in corporate/transactional work and is a member of The George Washington International Law Review, the Corporate and Business Law Society, and the Middle Eastern and North African Law Student Association. He received his bachelor’s degree in international politics and economics from Middlebury College. Before law school, Sammy spent four years working at the Embassy of Jordan in Washington, DC, as a research and communications officer and managed the Embassy’s internship program. In his free time, Sammy enjoys practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, playing basketball and video games, and spending time with friends and family.

Maxine is a 2L from Long Island, NY with an interest in litigation. She graduated from Northeastern University in 2021 with a degree in finance and communication studies. Prior to law school, Maxine worked as a Mass Torts Paralegal at a personal injury firm in New York. At GW, she is a member of the Public Contract Law Journal, a Moderator for the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Brief, and a Student Advisor for the Inns of Court Program. This past summer, Maxine was a legal intern at the NYC Department of Social Services, Office of Legal Affairs, where she worked in the Support and Lien Recovery Litigation Unit on the Child Support Enforcement Team. In her free time, Maxine likes to read novels, watch crime shows, bake desserts, and travel with her family. She looks forward to helping and supporting students as they develop their legal writing and research skills.

Janeal is a 2L from Illinois with interests in Real Estate, Health, and Elder law. She studied at Utah State University, receiving a BS in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in ASL. Janeal is a part of the Federal Circuit Bar Journal and the moot court board. She fell in love with analytical writing while working as a research assistant at USU, and she looks forward to working as a writing fellow to help other students feel confident in their abilities. Outside of school, Janeal enjoys knitting and crocheting, trying to keep her indoor plants alive, playing acoustic guitar, and watching The Office with her amazing husband.

Charlie is a 2L from Lake Oswego, Oregon. He attended the University of Vermont as a History major and English minor. At GW, Charlie is a member of The George Washington Law Review and the Moot Court and Mock Trial Boards. He spent his 1L summer as a judicial intern in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. In his free time, Charlie likes walking in Rock Creek Park, spotting wildlife, and listening to Steely Dan.

Christina is a 3L interested in litigation, antitrust, and white collar work. She is excited to serve as a Writing Fellow for a second year to support her fellow law students every step of the way as they navigate the tedious yet rewarding legal writing process. In addition to her role as a Writing Fellow, Christina is the Senior Projects Editor of The George Washington Law Review, a member of Law Association for Women, and a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Board. Christina is originally from Sherman Oaks, California. She received her BA in Political Science with minors in Business, Ethics, & Society and Italian from College of the Holy Cross. Outside of school, Christina is an avid baseball fan, an iced latte connoisseur, and a Taylor Swift enthusiast.

Anna is a 3L interested in information privacy law and FOIA. She is the Senior Managing Editor of the Federal Communications Law Journal and a member of the GW mock trial board. Anna has always loved writing and is excited to help students adjust to law school and find their legal writing voice. She is originally from Michigan and went to UCLA for undergrad, where she majored in Communications and minored in Classical Civilizations. Outside of school, Anna likes crocheting, playing tennis, and listening to Taylor Swift.

Maggie Deas is a 2L from Charleston, South Carolina. She graduated from Clemson University with a BA in Political Science. She is a member of the Moot Court Board and the Federal Communications Law Journal. Maggie is interested in criminal law and civil rights. She wanted to become a Writing Fellow to support first-year law students not only with their legal writing but with any challenges that they may face. In her downtime, she enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, and watching Real Housewives.

Sam is a 2L who spent his 1L summer interning at the Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of Virginia. He is a member of the GW Law Moot Court Board and The George Washington Law Review. Sam holds a BA in English from The Ohio State University and an M.A. in English from the University of Dayton. Prior to law school, he was a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in the Czech Republic and served as an infantryman in the United States Army. At one time, he had the dream of writing the next Great American Novel. While stationed in DC, Sam met his wife, who is a civil rights and racial justice lawyer. They have two kids together, a 3-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son. Outside of GW, Sam loves watching sports, trying new restaurants, and attempting to follow recipes from America's Test Kitchen and Cooks Illustrated.

MacKenzie is a 2L at GW Law and a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill, where she majored in Business Journalism and Political Science and minored in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. Before law school, she spent two years as an investment banking analyst in New York. Outside of law school, MacKenzie loves to try new brunch spots in DC, spend time with friends, and watch Survivor or football. MacKenzie is excited to be able to help students feel confident with the legal writing process and is happy to answer any questions students have about the law school experience.

Echo is a 2L from Jiaxing, China. She came to Philadelphia for high school, where she considers as her second home. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a political science degree. Echo worked in a global marketing firm in Shanghai before she came to DC for law school. This past summer, she interned at Nevada Attorney General’s Office for civil defense, helping Deputy Attorney Generals with inmate litigation issues. At GW, Echo is a member of the Moot Court Board and the International Law Review. Echo is also a nerd in history and old texts. During her spare time, she enjoys going to the gym, wandering through cities and hiking trails, exploring new restaurants, and rewatching her favorite shows. Her last dream job was being a traveling writer in desert.

Olivia is a 2L interested in Corporate & Transactional related work. She graduated from the University of Michigan and spent two years working in New York City. Last summer, Olivia interned for a Judge on the Appellate Court of Maryland. Olivia is a member of the GW International Law Review and Women's Law Association. In her free time she enjoys running, yoga and exploring DC with her friends. As a Writing Fellow, Olivia's goal is to help students gain confidence in their legal writing and serve as a resource for all things law school!

Yan is a 2L student interested in corporate and employment law. She is a member of The George Washington Law Review and spent this past summer working in Nevada Attorney General’s Office. Prior to law school, she studied German literature at Nanjing University (China) and Washington University in St. Louis. She also worked for two years as a project manager in a tech company. As a first-generation law student, Yan is excited to help others find their voice in legal writing. In her free time, Yan enjoys traveling to different countries with friends or watching arthouse films at home.

Angie is a 2L interested in healthcare law. She received her BA in International Relations and Philosophy from the University of St Andrews and her MS in Global Governance and Ethics from University College London. Before law school, she worked in marketing and fine art in Los Angeles. In her free time, Angie enjoys creating art, playing video games, seeing live music, and caring for her two senior cats.

Michelle is a 3L from Miami Beach, FL interested in white collar and anti-corruption law. She graduated from the University of Florida with a BA in Political Science and Criminology and a Minor in Economics. Michelle hopes to help other students navigate the writing process and is excited to continue serving as mentor to 1L students. Last year, she was also President of the Anti-Corruption and Compliance Association. In her free time, she loves catching up with friends, exploring farmers markets and thrift stores, and spending time outside (at the beach, preferably)! Michelle is a first-generation law student and is happy to answer any student questions about the law school experience.

Hannah is a 2L passionate about art law, cultural heritage law, and international law. Before law school, she spent a year as a Fellow at the Pardes Institute in Jerusalem and before that she completed a Master’s Degree in Art History at the University of Oxford. At GW, she is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association Quarterly Journal and the Jewish Law Student Association. This past summer, Hannah was a Summer Associate at Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts in NYC. When not studying or working, she writes freelance reviews of cookbooks, bakes sourdough and other carb-y delights, and seeks out new nature/art adventures!

Avi is a 3L from Atlanta, Georgia. At law school, she is involved with JLSA and GW International Law Review. This past summer, she worked at a law firm in DC in the Antitrust group, and before that worked as a judicial intern at the Court of Federal Claims. Avi loves chatting about matcha lattes, pop culture news, and international travel. The Writing Center was an invaluable resource to her during 1L year, and she is looking forward to giving back!

Amanda is a 2L from Parkland, FL interested in health law. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Public Health from the University of Florida. At GW, Amanda is actively involved in several organizations: she is a member of the George Washington International Law Review, the Moot Court Board, Kahan Health Law Fellowship, and serves as the President of the Student Health Law Association. As a Writing Fellow, she is dedicated to helping students at any stage of their writing process, emphasizing the discovery of each individual's unique voice and writing style. Outside GW, you can find Amanda practicing at a hot yoga studio, enjoying a sweet treat, or exploring the city with friends.

Anna is a 2L interested in litigation, privacy, and civil rights work. She grew up in Bethesda, MD and graduated from the University of Michigan with a double major in Political Science and Cognitive Science. Before attending GW, Anna worked on federal consulting projects for the Department of Transportation, as well as worked as a Paralegal for the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division. She is a member of the George Washington Law Review and spent her 1L summer interning at the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. As a Writing Fellow, Anna is thrilled to support students in their development of personalized and confident approaches to legal writing. In her free time, Anna enjoys hiking, baking, and playing pickleball.

Leliana McDermott is a 2L with a keen interest in litigation. She is thrilled to serve as a Writing Fellow this year, eager to assist her peers through the challenging yet rewarding process of legal writing. Alongside her role as a Writing Fellow, Leliana is a member of the Federal Circuit Bar Journal, the President of the Lambda Law Alliance, and the Vice President of the Anti-Corruption and Compliance Association. This summer, she is gaining valuable experience as a Summer Legal Intern at the Bronx County District Attorney's Office.

Originally from Westchester, New York, Leliana studied International Relations and Art History at The State University of New York at Geneseo, where she graduated in 2020. During her undergraduate years, she was the President of the social service sorority the Royal Lady Knights, a Title IX Intern, and an Art History Teaching Assistant. Leliana also enriched her education by studying abroad in Amman, Jordan, Dublin, Ireland, and Belfast, Northern Ireland. Between undergrad and law school, she worked as an elementary school teacher in San Francisco. Outside of her academic pursuits, Leliana enjoys reading, sewing, and is an enthusiastic admirer of Julia Fox.

Katie is a 3L with an interest in environmental and administrative law. She graduated from Loyola University Maryland with a major in global studies and history. As a writing fellow, she is excited to help other students develop confidence in their legal writing skills and find their unique writing style. She is also a first-generation law student and happy to answer any student questions, whether related to legal writing or not. At GW, Katie is an articles editor on the George Washington Law Review. In her free time, she loves cooking, going on hikes, and playing connections on the NYT.

Navya is a 2L interested in international law and human rights work. She is from Chicago, IL and graduated from UCLA with a degree in International Development Studies with minors in Gender Studies and Arabic & Islamic Studies. Navya is a member of the GW International Law Review and the President of the Law, Justice, and International Development Society. She spent her summer working for the IL Human Rights Commission reviewing and drafting orders for pending human rights cases. Navya chose to become a Writing Fellow because, as a first-generation law student, she found the Writing Center incredibly helpful during her 1L year, and is excited to work with students to achieve their potential as legal writers and develop their own unique writing styles. Outside of school, Navya enjoys traveling, lifting weights, and rewatching Disney and Star Wars movies.

Tegan is a 2L from central Pennsylvania interested in civil litigation (and still figuring out the rest!). She received her undergraduate degrees in Public Health and Political Science from UMass Amherst in 2023. Tegan spent her 1L summer with Judge AliKhan on the U.S. District Court for DC, which reaffirmed a passion for litigation and complex legal issues. At school, she is involved with Mock Trial Board, SBA, and GW Law Review. Outside of law school, Tegan loves hiking, yoga, and portrait photography. Tegan is looking forward to working with students to grow their skills and confidence in legal writing! She is happy to answer any questions, legal writing or otherwise.

Rachel is a 2L with an interest in animal law. She is from Montgomery County, MD and graduated from the University of Maryland with BAs in English and Russian. The Writing Center was incredibly helpful to her as a 1L, so she decided to become a Writing Fellow to pay it forward and help future 1Ls. She is currently the co-president of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund and a member of the Mock Trial Board, Moot Court Board, and GW Law Review. Outside of law school, Rachel enjoys reading and talking incessantly about theme parks.

Zoe is a 3L who spent equal time living in San Francisco and Salt Lake City before heading to DC to pursue work in energy and environmental law. She graduated from the University of Utah in 2021 with a degree in Environmental and Sustainability Studies. She is currently a member of the Moot Court Board and the Journal of Energy and Environmental Law. In her free time, she teaches canine scent detection, enjoys spending time with her own two scent detection dogs, reads, does puzzles, and hikes. Zoe is excited to spend another year on the writing fellow team helping students on their writing journeys!

Alana is a 2L from Boca Raton, FL interested in antitrust law and white collar defense/investigations related work. She graduated from Florida State University with a BS in Criminology and Political Science and a Minor in History. Alana is the Deputy Vice President of First Year Students (so you may recognize her from orientation), is involved in the Antitrust Law Association, and is a GW Law Student Ambassador. As a Writing Fellow, Alana wants to meet students where they are and cater her feedback to what is most effective for each individual student. She is a first-generation law student and understands how daunting the legal writing process can be. In her free time, she loves to chat with friends about pretty much anything, watch the sunset on her roof, and follow everything & anything related to college football – Go Noles!

Anne is a 2L from Naples, FL. She graduated from Washington & Lee University with a BA in Economics and German and a minor in Arabic. Prior to law school, Anne did a Fulbright in Graz, Austria, where she taught English to Austrian high school students and German to refugees. At GW, Anne is part of SIPLA, the International Law Society, the Moot Court board, and International Law Review. Anne is interested in antitrust, international trade, and national security law (among other things - too many to choose!), and spent her 1L summer interning for Magistrate Judge Harvey in the District Court for DC. Outside of school Anne enjoys learning languages, taking workout classes, baking, and playing tennis and golf.

John is a 2L from Northern Virginia pursuing a concentration in government procurement law. At GW, he is a member of the Public Contract Law Journal and Moot Court Board. Before law school, he studied Political Science and Economics at Oberlin College where he was a catcher on the baseball team. John found legal writing assignments to be the most rewarding part of his 1L year, and he hopes to work with students on building skills that will help them succeed in law school, and eventually, in practice. When he’s free, John spends his time in the gym, watching movies, and serving as Commissioner of the (self-proclaimed) greatest fantasy football league of all time.

Julia Scolapio is a second year law student and member of The George Washington Law Review. Prior to law school, Julia received her undergraduate degree at The George Washington University, and a Masters in Bilingual Education at Southern Methodist University. She published during her undergraduate research on the Policy and Practice of Disability in rural zones of Ecuador and Peru to the George Washington Undergraduate Review. Before law school, Julia worked as a bilingual elementary school teacher in Dallas, TX through Teach for America and lived in Ecuador as a Fulbright Scholar. One fun fact is that while in Ecuador, a student gifted Julia a dog who is now living his best life in Washington, DC. On weekends and after long workdays, Julia loves taking her two dogs on walks and bike rides through Rock Creek Park.

Rachel is a 2L interested in appellate litigation. She is from Randolph, NJ, and she graduated from the University of Virginia with a BA in Foreign Affairs and French. After graduating, Rachel participated in the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) and taught English in France for seven months. This past summer, Rachel interned at the Office of General Counsel for the Department of Veterans Affairs. At GW, she is a member of the George Washington Law Review. She is excited to help 1L students feel confident in their legal writing and watch them grow. Rachel is more than happy to discuss research and writing, classes, career paths, or anything at all with students. In her free time, she enjoys reading, drawing, and re-watching Derry Girls.

Talia is from Reading, PA -- the hometown of Taylor Swift and the the infamous lantern fly! She graduated from University of Pittsburgh in 2023 with a BA in Political Science. She is a member of SBA, FCLJ, and the ADR Board. Outside of school, you can find her exploring new places to run in DC, playing New York Times games, and drinking lots of coffee. She is so excited to get to help students grow their legal writing skills!

Rachel is a 3L at GW Law interested in corporate/transactional work. She is a member of the Business and Finance Law Review, Moot Court Board, and Alternative Dispute Resolution Board. She received her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University in Economics and Justice & Peace Studies in 2020, and before law school, she worked in executive recruiting helping place General Counsels and other top in-house legal executives at leading US companies. She spent last summer as a Summer Associate at Goodwin Procter, LLP in their Business Law Department in DC. In her free time, Rachel enjoys trying new restaurants and traveling.

Jaemin, from Atlanta, Georgia, is a 3L focusing his studies on Intellectual Property and Data Privacy Law. His academic background is in Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering, which he pursued at Georgia Tech. Before attending GW Law, he held a professional role as a software engineer, primarily within the financial sector. During his 2L summer, Jaemin gained practical experience in intellectual property litigation as a summer associate at Baker Botts LLP. Beyond his professional and academic pursuits, he is an avid reader and maintains his physical health, participating in various sports and hiking activities. Additionally, he enjoys discovering the diverse culinary offerings of restaurants in the DMV area. Having lived in South Korea and Germany, Jaemin has a keen interest in following global affairs. As a Writing Fellow, Jaemin is looking forward to the opportunity to work with students of varying writing skills, as he believes that the process of enhancing one's writing skills is an endless journey of self-improvement.

Les is a 2L from Northern Virginia interested in environmental law and human rights work. Born and raised in Falls Church, VA, she received her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia in 2019, majoring in Cognitive Science (concentration in Neuroscience) and Foreign Affairs. Before law school, she was a paralegal at a boutique law firm in Charlottesville, VA (her second home). At GW, Les is a member of the Journal of Energy and Environmental Law and a moderator for the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Brief. As a Writing Fellow, Les hopes to create a safe and collaborative space to help students become more confident in their legal writing. Outside law school, you can find Les obsessing over all things baking, scouring local thrift stores (ask for recommendations!), or watching movies at the Avalon!

Grace Tramack is a 2L from Nashua, NH. She graduated from the College of William and Mary with a BA in Government and History. At GW, Grace is part of the Moot Court Board and Federal Circuit Bar Journal, and she is the Vice President of the Law Association for Women. She is excited to work as a Writing Fellow to help new law students find their voice and feel more confident in their legal writing. Outside the Writing Center, Grace loves cooking, hiking, cheering on the Boston Celtics, listening to Taylor Swift, and swimming.

Kaci is a 2L interested in government contracts and regulatory law from Destrehan, LA. She graduated from Northwestern State University of Louisiana with a BA in Liberal Arts with a concentration of Humanities and Social Thought and BS in Psychology. At GW Law, she is involved in the Student Bar Association, First Generation Professionals, and the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association. This past summer, she worked both in a small immigration firm focusing on asylum and SIJS cases and as a research assistant for Professor Liu. In her free time, Kaci loves to take a drive to the suburbs, try new restaurants, and binge-watch her latest TV show obsession.

DuPree Walker is a 2L hailing from the great state of Alaska. Her career interests lie in international arbitration, trade disputes and human rights work. At GW, DuPree is a member of the International Law in the Domestic Courts Journal, International Law Society, Black Law Students Association and does health and wellness programming for the SBA. DuPree understands how challenging legal writing can be and the Writing Center was an integral part of her overcoming the obstacles that many 1L's face. Because of this, she is overjoyed to be a part of this amazing center and help students find their footing as they take on legal writing.

Prior to attending GW, DuPree graduated from Howard University with degrees in International Affairs and Spanish with a minor in English. After Howard DuPree spent two years in DC working at a law firm as an International Arbitration and Litigation Paralegal. Outside of school you can find DuPree practicing yoga (she is a certified instructor), along with this she loves to read, crochet, cook, flip through fashion magazines and take her perfect pooch Grover on lots of runs.

Sheryl is a rising 3L from Shanghai, China. She graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in Communication and Political Science. Sheryl is very passionate about antitrust law, and during her 2L summer, she gained invaluable experience working at a plaintiff-side antitrust litigation firm. Outside of school, she loves experimenting with different coffee drinks and playing mahjong and poker with her friends. Sheryl looks forward to connecting with fellow students and helping them become better writers, just as others once helped her.

Chenyang is a rising 2L who’s passionate about International and Immigration Law. She grew up in China and went to Peking University Law School. Before starting law school, she worked at a law firm and traveled a lot around China and Japan. Chenyang is a native Chinese speaker and also fluent in Japanese. In her free time, she loves watching TV shows and anime.

Matthew is a 2L interested in litigation, regulation, and all things to do with the federal government. Originally from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Matthew went to undergrad at GW and studied economics and history. Since moving to DC, he spends his free time searching for obscure monuments around the city, trying new restaurants, and watching old movies. He is excited to work with the writing center and work with students on their legal writing questions and assignments.

Isabel is a 2L pursuing a concentration in National Security & US Foreign Relations Law. She graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2022 with a double major in Political Science & Global Studies, and is a passionate fan of Tar Heel basketball. Isabel is a member of GW Law Review and Moot Court Board, and secretary of the Law, Justice & International Development Society. During her 1L summer, Isabel worked for an immigration law firm, an interest that she hopes to pursue as part of her future pro bono practice. In her spare time, Isabel enjoys hiking, running, baking, and exploring the DC restaurant scene.

Matt is a 3L evening student originally from Wethersfield, Connecticut, who now calls Washington, DC home. He graduated from American University in 2017 with a BA in Political Science and Economics. Since graduating from AU, he worked as a Government Affairs Analyst in Sullivan and Cromwell's Financial Institutions Group, writing and publishing the S&C Financial Services Digest, a weekly newsletter detailing key legislative and regulatory developments affecting the financial services industry. When not studying or working, he can usually be found biking around the city, playing with his cat, or looking for ice cream.