Class of 2025
Editor-in-Chief
Nick Kaye (he/him) – Nick grew up in Maine and studied English and American Literature at Middlebury College. Before beginning law school, Nick worked for a book publisher, several political campaigns, and a court reporting company. Nick aspires to work in public defense or civil rights litigation. As a law student, he has spent time with the Richmond Public Defender’s Office, the Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia, and the Children’s Defense Clinic. In addition to serving as Editor-in-Chief of PILR, Nick conducts research for faculty members and is involved with the Trial Advocacy Board and the National Lawyers Guild. He is the proud parent of two cats, a Sheltie, and too many houseplants.
Executive Editor
Sarah Gokelman (she/her) – Sarah came to Richmond Law from Chicago, IL, where she graduated from Loyola University Chicago with her bachelor’s degree in Theatre. In her time in law school, she has served as President of the Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Board, volunteered as an admissions ambassador, worked at the law library’s reference desk, and been involved in several other organizations such as Moot Court and Richmond Women’s Law. Her summers have been spent at public defense offices in both Virginia Beach, VA, and Wheaton, IL. She hopes to continue her work in criminal defense after graduation closer to her family and friends in the midwest. Sarah is very excited to serve as Executive Editor of PILR for the ’24-’25 academic year.
Managing Editor
Alberto Wray (he/him) – Alberto graduated from Hobart College, where he studied Political Science and Latin American Studies. Before law school, Alberto worked at the National Campaign to Stop Violence. Alberto is interested in education law, constitutional law, and disability law. He has interned with the disAbility Law Center and Advocates for Children of New York, two organizations that work to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities.
Senior Manuscript Editor
Caroline Brady (she/her) – While at Richmond Law, Caroline has completed an internship at the Fairfax Public Defender’s Office, an externship at the Richmond Circuit Court, and participated in the Institute for Actual Innocence Clinic. She is involved in the Criminal Law Society, the Criminal Justice Forum Board, and Richmond Women’s Law. During her 3L summer, Caroline will be a Law Clerk at the Second Look Project in Washington, D.C. as well as a Research Assistant to Professor Mary Kelly Tate. Prior to law school, Caroline graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with Bachelor’s of Arts degrees in Political Science and Peace, War, & Defense. In her free time, Caroline enjoys trying different coffee shops, walking her dog, Buddy, and thrifting.
Director of Programming
Emma Wilson (she/her) –Emma is from Richmond, Virginia and graduated from Virginia Tech in 2022. Emma spent her 1L summer working for a city attorney’s office and hopes to pursue environmental law after law school.
Copy Editor
Victoria Hagerott – Originally from Ft.Lauderdale, Florida, Victoria graduated from Kennesaw State University in 2022 with a Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice and Political Science. Victoria is a member of the Criminal Law Society and works as Vice President and Treasurer of the National Security and Intelligence Law Organization
General Assembly Editor
Ryan Pokorny (he/him)
General Assembly Editor
Tucker Weiser (he/him) –Born and raised in NYC, Tucker has a strong passion for public service. He earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science at Boston University, and interned last summer with New York State Assemblyman Alex Bores. In the future, he’d love to continue drafting and researching legislation. In his pastime, he enjoys fencing.
Symposium Editor
Adrianna Carpenter (any pronouns) – Adrianna Carpenter is a third-year law student at the University of Richmond School of Law. Adrianna is the Symposium Editor for the Public Interest Law Review. They are also a member of the National Lawyers Guild and If When How. Adrianna graduated with her B.A. from Sweet Briar College in 2018, having studied History and Government with a concentration in Medieval and Renaissance Studies. They have interned with the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society and the Virginia Poverty Law Center.
Symposium Editor
Katie Hall – Katie Hall is a third-year law student at the University of Richmond school of law. Katie is a Symposium Editor for the University of Richmond Public Interest Law Review Journal. Additionally, she is President of the International Law Society and a member of the Moot Court Board. Katie graduated from Christopher Newport University in 2021 with a B.A. in Political Science and History with minors in Human Rights and Conflict Resolution and Leadership. At Christopher Newport University, Katie was a Research Intern at the Reiff Center for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution where she researched and published blog articles on several international issues, including U.S. immigration. In the Summer of 2024, Katie interned at the United States Department of Justice Office of Immigration — Appellate Division.
General Topics Editor
Molly Calo (she/her) – Molly is a member of the University of Richmond School of Law class of 2025. Originally from southwest Virginia, Molly pursued her bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Molly spent her 1L summer at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia in Roanoke. Subsequently, she spent her 2L summer at the Culpeper County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office in Culpeper, Virginia. After law school, she hopes to pursue a career in prosecution.
General Topics Editor
Carly Lester (she/her) – A native of Richmond, Virginia, Carly graduated from the University of Virginia in 2021 with a degree in history and media studies. As a law student, she serves as the Director of Programming for If/When/How, an organization dedicated to reproductive justice, and works as a research assistant for Professors Danielle Wingfield and Marissa Jackson Sow. While her post-law school career path has yet to be determined, she feels passionately about civil rights, constitutional law, and criminal justice reform.
Publications & Online Editor
Sophie Fields (she/her) – Sophie is from Leesburg, Virginia, and graduated from the University of Virginia in 2018 with a major in Studio Art. She has interned at the Court for the Eastern District of New York and with the New Mexico Law Offices of the Public Defender. In her free time, Sophie loves reading, running, and drawing.
Notes & Comments Editor
Jim Geary (he/him) –Jim is this year’s Notes & Comments Editor. He is really looking forward to the notes and the comments. He expects this to be a big year for both; a lot of people cannot help themselves from making notes and comments during an election year. When not thinking about notes and comments, he can often be found playing pickleball or making a big pot of vegan chili with his friends. He encourages anyone with an interest in pickleball or chili to reach out.
Blog & Social Media Editor
Gracie Elliott (she/her) – Gracie is from Lexington, Kentucky, and attended the University of Kentucky where she majored in English and minored in Spanish. During her 1L Summer, Gracie interned at the Virginia Department of Corrections, where she has continued working as a law clerk part-time. In her 2L Summer, Gracie was a summer associate at the Ram Law Firm with Adjunct Professor Doug Ramseur and explored the intricacies of private criminal defense. Gracie is the Student Bar Association President and is also involved in Richmond Women’s Law and the Law and Business Forum. Gracie hopes to pursue a career working in a government agency or in criminal defense after graduation.
Manuscript Editor
Payton Ward (she/her) – Payton is from Kansas City, Missouri and attended the University of Kansas for undergrad and received a Bachelor of Science in Management / Leadership and Marketing, with a minor in Human Resources. Payton has worked at a personal injury law firm as well as in-house for two different companies. Payton loves staying involved and is on 2 executive boards this coming year: she serves as Vice President for Richmond Women’s Law and Secretary for SBA. She loves going on hikes and spending time with friends and is looking forward to another fun year with PILR!
Manuscript Editor
Liza Garrity (she/her) – Originally from Brooklyn, Liza graduated from Vassar College in 2017 and moved to Beijing to work as a college counselor. Liza has served in executive roles for the National Lawyers Guild, the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, and the Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Board. She is interested in child welfare and family law. She has interned with the Office of the Children’s Ombudsman and the Center for Family Representation.
Manuscript Editor
Andrew Jacobs (he/him) – In 2022, Andrew graduated from Clemson University with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Philosophy. He is working with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in the summer of 2024 and aims to pursue a career in environmental law following graduation.
Manuscript Editor
Hope Wilder (she/her) – Hope Wilder is a member of the class of 2026 at the University of Richmond School of Law and Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work where she will receive her M.S.W. She graduated from George Mason University, where she studied Criminology, Law, and Society and minored in Forensic Psychology. In addition to Hope’s membership on PILR, she is the President of the Public Interest Law Association, Vice President of the Criminal Law Society, and a member of Richmond Women’s Law. She has interned with the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance and externed with the Virginia Office of the Attorney General Animal Law Unit. In the summer of 2024, Hope interned with the Chesterfield County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and conducted research for the Children’s Defense Clinic.
Class of 2026
Sara K. Arora (they/them)
Alexa Cinque (she/they) – Alexa grew up in Rockland, New York, and received a dual Bachelors of Science in Politics and Biopsychology from Juniata College in Pennsylvania. During her 1L summer, she interned at Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia. Now as she enters her 2L year, she hopes to continue to explore different types of public interest law.
Bradford Dudley (he/him) – Bradford is from Hanover County, Virginia. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 2019, double-majoring in Political Theory and Classical Studies. Before joining Richmond Law as a 1L, he interned under the Honorable Mark C. Christie at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Bradford is interested in administrative law, and he spent his 1L summer at the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s Office of General Counsel. Additionally, Bradford serves on the Honor Council as a Justice. Outside of school, Bradford enjoys mountain biking, scratchboard drawing, and reading classical mythology.
Nicholas Eliades (he/him)
Samantha S. Farpour (she/her) – Samantha graduated from Virginia Tech in 2023 with a B.A. in Political Science. Prior to law school, she spent two summers interning at a personal injury firm in Norfolk, VA. She spent her 1L summer exploring Richmond and interning with Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, where she worked with the housing law team. Outside of law school, she enjoys reading, running, and watching Virginia Tech football (go Hokies!).
Spencer Hamilton (he/him) – Spencer is a Richmond local who graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. In between undergrad and law school he worked as a paralegal in a small law firm in Richmond specializing in Worker’s Compensation Claims. Spencer is interested in indigent criminal defense and spent his 1L summer interning at the Pulaski County Public Defender Office. Aside from PILR, he serves as the Vice President of the Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Board, Co-President of the National Lawyer’s Guild, and volunteers as an admissions ambassador. Outside of law school he enjoys rock climbing, vanity license plates, dancing at weddings, and Paddington 2.
Sarah Harker (she/her)
Paige Hathaway (they/them)
Brooke Hoppe (she/they) – Originally from Houston, Texas, Brooke studied Screenwriting at Emerson College. Before coming to law school, Brooke worked as an assistant at several major film studios and a prominent talent agency in Los Angeles. In addition to PILR, they are involved in the Trial Advocacy Board, Moot Court, National Lawyer’s Guild, and OUTLaw. Brooke has interned at the Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. She hopes to pursue a career in public defense after graduation. In her free time, Brooke enjoys talking about and spending time with their two beloved cats.
Harry “Nate” Jarvis (he/him) – Nate is a graduate of Georgetown College, where he studied English and History. Before beginning law school, Nate worked first as a legal assistant for a small Woodbridge-area legal practice, then as a wage investigator for the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission in the Prince William County Public Defender’s Office. Nate is interested in indigent criminal defense, immigration litigation, and family law. He has interned with U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston, Jr. in the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division. In addition to serving on PILR staff, Nate is involved with the Honor Council Student Advocates, the Institute for Actual Innocence Clinic, and the National Lawyers Guild. In his free time, Nate enjoys fishing, supporting Liverpool F.C., and spending time with his elderly yellow labrador.
Mary Klein (she/her) –Originally from Raleigh, NC, Mary graduated from Bard College with a degree in Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies. Before law school, she worked on a fruit orchard/winery in the Hudson Valley region of New York, where she developed an interest in labor rights and food justice. She spent her 1L summer interning at Blue Ridge Legal Services in Harrisonburg, VA, focusing on eviction defense and other housing issues. She likes strange fruits and digging in dirt.
Libby Larro (she/her) – Libby is from Midlothian, Virginia, and attended Belmont University where she studied Faith & Social Justice. She spent her 1L summer with the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission’s Bedford Office, and is excited to hopefully pursue a career in youth defense after graduation. Libby serves as the Director of Student Organizations for the Student Bar Association, and in her free time she likes to read, take walks in the Fan, and hang out with her cat, Fig.
Kadhapriya Lindo (she/her) – Kadhapriya came to Richmond Law from Central Florida, where she got her Bachelor’s Degree from Stetson University in political science and philosophy. Her academic focus was on democratic theory and feminist philosophy, and she hopes to pursue a career in gender law and women’s rights advocacy. During 1L summer, Kadhapriya interned with both the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance and AEquitas, and will be working with the Transgender Law Center in spring of 2L. Outside of school, Kadhapriya enjoys going on walks with her dog Asami, swimming, and gardening.
Áine Lowndes (she/her) – Áine graduated from University of Rochester, where she studied International Relations and Russian. Before law school, Áine taught English online to students in Vladimir, Russia. Áine is interested in labor and employment law and international human rights law. She interned with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission this past summer. Áine is the Social Media Chair of Public Interest Law Association (PILA).
Shawn Mattox (he/him) – Shawn grew up just a few hours north of Houston, Texas, and graduated from Sam Houston State University (go Bearkats!) with a Bachelors of Science in Political Science. He came to the University of Richmond interested in constitutional, labor, and employment law. After completing his first semester at the University of Richmond School of Law, Shawn interned at the First Level of Appeals at the Virginia Employment Commission.
Brianna McCall (she/her) – Brianna is originally from North Carolina, but graduated from University of Louisville where she received a Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice. Brianna spent her 1L summer working for a criminal defense firm and hopes to continue to pursue her interest in criminal defense.
Emma McGovern (she/her) – Emma is a graduate from James Madison University (go Dukes!) with a degree in Justice Studies and an interest in civil rights litigation and public defense. After completing her first year at the University of Richmond, Emma interned with the Prince William County Public Defender’s Office in Manassas, VA. She also serves as a co-President for the National Lawyers Guild. In her free time, you can find her playing Scrabble or walking to Scoop for ice cream.
Joe Meiners (he/him) – Joe is from Burke, Virginia and graduated from George Mason University with a BA in Government and International Politics with a minor in Legal Studies. During undergraduate, Joe worked as an assistant for Joanne Sgro PC Law Offices, a firm that represents residential landlords in DC. He is interested in constitutional law, property law, and intellectual property law. In his 1L summer, Joe interned at both the Department of Homeland Security in the Intellectual Property Division of the Office of General Counsel and at the Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. Joe is also a competitive powerlifter and has been replaying the Batman Arkham video game series for the past ten years.
Aislin Murphy (she/they) – Hailing from Sacramento, California, standing at a staggering 5’8.5″, Aislin is a graduate of UC Santa Cruz with a BA in Philosophy and a Minor in Education. She spent her 1L summer interning at the Pulaski County Public Defenders Office. They hope to continue to work in indigent defense next summer and beyond. Until then, Aislin is thrilled to serve this year as President of OUTLaw, Co-President of National Lawyers Guild, and a member of an unruly number of other organizations, all while pursuing her passion for walking restaurant-goers to the perfect table every weekend.
Claire Pitzer (she/her) – Claire is from Washington, D.C. and graduated from Trinity College in 2021 with a B.A. in Political Science. Over the summer, she conducted research on civil rights law for Professor Woodson and studied abroad at the University of Cambridge. In addition to her PILR membership, she also serves as the Vice Justice of Phi Alpha Delta and is an active member of Richmond Women’s Law and the International Law Society. When she’s not at school, she enjoys reading, music, and spending time with the family dogs. Claire looks forward to a great 2L year ahead!
Emma Sauer (she/her)
David Shaikh (he/him) – David came to Richmond after attending George Mason University for undergrad. This summer he worked at the Virginia Employment Commission where he would read, watch, and write decisions regarding unemployment insurance for an Administrative Law Judge. David hopes to work for a government agency or city/county attorney’s office after law school.
Logan Smith (he/him)
Sarah Stuart (she/her) – Sarah is unsurprisingly from California, and graduated from UC Merced with a B.A. in History in 2023. She has interned with the Smithfield Public Defender’s Office, and intends to work in public defense after graduation. When she isn’t pursuing a deeply held passion for spading, she’s spending time with her cat, Tabernacle.
Anna Wachsmuth (she/her) – Anna is a lifelong resident of Central Virginia. Before joining the Richmond Law community, she attended Randolph-Macon College where she double majored in political science and Spanish. During her 1L summer, she interned with a prosecutor’s office. She is interested in criminal law, elder law, disability law, and animal law.
Matt Wright (he/him) – Matt is from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and attended Old Dominion University where he studied History and Political Science. Before law school, he worked as an assistant at a small real estate law firm. He spent his 1L summer interning for the Honorable Elizabeth W. Hanes at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Norfolk. Outside of law school, Matt can be found playing trucks with his son, Robin, juggling, or swimming in a friend’s pool.