2023-2024
Christian Leon Sanchez
It is that time of the year again, when the LiveLikeLara Board of Directors get together to choose the next scholarship recipient. As difficult as that is, what an honor it is. If these students are our future, we have no need to worry as we are in good hands!
It is our honor to announce Christian Leon Sanchez as the recipient of the 2023-24 Lara D. Gass ‘14L Memorial Law Scholarship. He stood out as someone with Lara’s values of leadership, community service, compassion and always a smile.
Some comments from his professors speak to his compassion for others and his determination to make his community a better place: “Christian ranks among the smartest, most conscientious students whom I have had the pleasure to teach.”
“Christian has always demonstrated a desire to use his enormous talents on behalf of vulnerable and underserved communities.” “Christian has the personality that others are drawn to, including his easy laugh and collaborative spirit.”
Past Recipients
2022-2023
Charisma Hunter
Charisma passed the bar exam in North Carolina and is working for McGuire Woods Complex Commercial Litigation Group in Charlotte.
2021-2022
Emma Burri
Emma has been involved with the Student Bar Association since her 1L year as Student President; 2L year she was Executive Vice President and will be the Executive President during her 3L year. In 2022 Emma passed the Georgia Bar and is currently completing a clerkship with the Eastern District of Michigan, Living in Flint Michigan.
2020-2021
Noriya Shahadat
Noriya is a 2021 graduate, currently studying for the bar exam and will be an associate at McGuire & Woods in Richmond, VA. Her specific areas of practice will be in products, environmental and mass torts litigation.
2019-2020
Talia Homchick
‘Talia graduated in 2020, passed the New York Bar exam and has been living in the ‘big city’ ever since. She is an associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in the firm’s corporate department. Talia recently completed a rotation in the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions group and is currently completing a rotation in the Private Funds group
2018-2019
Zac Crawford-Pechukas
Zac graduated in 2019 and went on to a year-long federal clerkship with Judge Madeline Haikala from the Northern District of Alabama. During that time COVID struck and he decided to embark on a lifelong dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail! As he put it “you have to do the things you want to do in life and not put them off for some unguaranteed future”. Once Zac completes his trip, he plans on returning to New Orleans and starting a solo practice specializing in criminal defense and civil rights work.
2017-2018
Catherine Woodcock
Catherine graduated in 2018 and had a surprising connection to the LLLF as she grew up in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Currently, Catherine is an associate at Covington & Burling LLC in Washington, DC. where she practices in the litigation and white- collar defense practice groups. She represents clients in civil and criminal government investigations across a range of industries, with specific experience in the healthcare field. Catherine also maintains an active pro bono practice.
2016-2017
Jessica Winn
While at W&L, Jess was active in the Women Law Student Organization, helping to coordinate the Lara D. Gass Women in the Law Symposium. She graduated from W&L Law in 2017 and clerked for Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson in the Eastern District of Washington for one year. Since 2018, Jess has been working as an assistant public defender at the Alaska Public Defender Agency.
2015-2016
Julianne Freeman
Julianne graduated in 2016 and was our first scholarship recipient. Since 2017 Julianne has been an attorney in the legal department at Norfolk Southern Corporation, a freight railroad. Her areas of practice include economic, safety/operational regulatory law, commercial and antitrust law. Currently she resides in the Norfolk area, but will be moving to Atlanta when the headquarters of NS relocates.
