2. Summer Experience: Lilian Sampson ’26L

Lilian Sampson is a third-year law student at Washington and Lee University and is originally from Richmond, Virginia. She is an active member of the W&L community, serving as a Law Ambassador, former Vice President of the Black Law Students Association, and Lead Articles Editor of The Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice. During her first-year summer, Lilian interned at the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and Central Virginia Legal Aid Society in Richmond, Virginia. This past summer she interned at the Virginia State Corporation Commission Financial Services Division in Richmond, Virginia. After law school, she plans to clerk for a judge.

How did you find/get this position?

Prior to law school, I worked as an assistant property manager. When I started law school, my manager connected me with an attorney who worked at the Virginia State Corporation Commission (VASCC or "the Commission"). I stayed in touch with her, and she suggested applying. I interviewed during fall finals last year and received a position a few weeks later.

Describe your work experience.

When the summer started, I was tasked with preparing memos comparing insurance regulation in Virginia with that of other states. I also assisted attorneys in preparing for hearings involving securities matters in the state of Virginia. I looked over the evidence and prepared for potential hearsay objections. I appreciated the check-ins with the attorneys at the commission. They allowed me to bounce ideas off of them and talk through difficult topics in insurance regulation and the Virginia Securities Act.

What were some skills you developed this summer?

I developed my statutory interpretation skills over the summer. I needed to look over the Virginia Annotated Code to answer most of the issues this summer. Sometimes I needed to cross reference terms and organizations in the Virginia Code with information in the Virginia Constitution. I have used this skill throughout law school, but I did not feel comfortable with it until this summer.

What surprised you about the work you did this summer?

Before my internship, I had no idea what the Virginia State Corporation Commission did. I was surprised to learn that the Commission is involved in a lot of areas such as insurance licensing, securities, and regulating insurance policies. Even though I was working under the Financial Services division, the attorneys in the Utilities division allowed me to sit in on hearings. I got to see many of the industries the VASCC was involved in.

What was your favorite aspect of this summer work experience?

My favorite aspect of this summer experience was getting to know the team of attorneys at the VASCC. On Tuesdays we had bi-weekly meetings where the Financial Services team updated one another on what they are working on. We also made plans for team bonding during this meeting. One of our team bonding adventures was held at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. While there, we had snacks inspired by the Frida Kahlo exhibit. We were also able to watch a wedding. On another outing we attended the Richmond Greek Festival. I was able to learn about some of the attorney's hobbies outside of the Commission during the festival.

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

Prior to this experience, I was only focused on clerking after law school. I was not sure where I would go from there, but this experience opened my eyes to the work of the Commission. I would love a job opportunity that allows me to explore different issues and grow from those experiences. New issues came up everyday in the Commission. This allowed me to research new areas of the law I haven't seen in the classroom. I still plan on clerking, but I will be keeping an eye on opportunities like the VASCC.

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

This experience reaffirmed my interest in code dominated sections of the law. My favorite issues from the summer involved the Virginia Securities Act. I also enjoyed code-based classes like bankruptcy, so I was driven to take more code-based courses this semester.

Outside Law School

Hobby/ Interest

Gardening-This past summer I grew cucumbers, sweet peas, and corn for the first time. I'm hoping to have some luck growing broccoli this year.

Book/Podcast Recommendations

"Don't Believe Everything You Think." It is a great book if you're dealing with an anxious internal dialogue.

Favorite thing to do in Lexington

I love jogging on the Chessie trail.

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