1. Summer Experience: Katie Dietrich ’26L

Katie Dietrich '26L is a third-year law student at Washington and Lee Law School. She is currently involved in the school by serving as a Lead Articles Editor on Law Review, Vice Chair on the Moot Court Board, Student Attorney for the Community Legal Practice Center, and is a member of both Law School Football League and Law News. She spent her 2L summer as a litigation associate at Foley and Lardner, LLP in Denver, Colorado, where she plans to return after graduation.

What did you do for work this summer?

This summer, I worked as a litigation summer associate for Foley and Lardner in their Denver office. I helped in a wide variety of cases, including on topics such as anti-trust, oil and gas, cannabis law, and contract disputes. I did a lot of legal research and composed various documents such as complaints, discovery requests and responses, and internal memorandums.

How did you find/get this position?

I applied during my 1L summer through their website. As it was in Colorado, I had to get a little creative. I then went through the interview process, and the firm was a great fit.

Describe your work experience.

The best way to describe it was immersive. I had the opportunity to work under almost every senior attorney in my office as well as some from different locations. It was also a lot of fun as we had plenty of social events!

What were some skills you developed this summer?

While I was able to hone some skills like research and writing, the number one skill I learned was how to communicate with attorneys and produce work product based off their individual preferences. It was also a great learning experience in balancing various tasks at the same time.

What surprised you about the work you did this summer?

I was really surprised about the variety of tasks I was able to work on. I didn't expect it to be so hands on, but this was a huge bonus.

What was your favorite aspect of this summer work experience?

My favorite aspect was being exposed to new areas of law I haven't dealt with before and having super niche areas to research. It was challenging, but overall, very rewarding.

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

Overall, it made me very grateful for my education at W&L Law. I don't think I would have done as well if it weren't for the preparation this school has provided. It also instilled a confidence I am taking with me into my final year.

Outside Law School

Hobby/Interest

Cycling and drawing

Book/Podcast Recommendation

For books, I recommend anything by Kristin Hannah. and I am an avid Crime Junkie Podcast listener.

Favorite thing to do in Lexington

Going to the Chessie Trail or Heliotrope

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