Lena Welch ‘20
New Media Editor
Hi Lena, welcome to Hot Bench! Where are you from?
McLean, Va.
Tell us something about McLean!
Mmmmh, I don’t like it. I do like Chesapeake Bagel Bakery though.
Who will you root for when UNC comes to JPJ Dec. 7?
Don’t be silly. #GoHeels
What’s something at which you’re elite?
Serving up piping hot reality-checks to my friend Harrison or serving up piping hot bakes. Also remembering people’s computing IDs.
Speaking of “hot bakes,” what do you put in your cookies that causes professors to get into a bidding war?
Love.
If you were a kitchen utensil which would you be?
I’m probably a wooden spoon. I’m really traditional, and I think wooden spoons are more useful than people give them credit for.
Best episode of GBBO?
I’m torn between the finales of Nancy’s season (I love Luis) and Nadiya’s season (I love Tamal). Killer finalists, and some of my favorite showstoppers.
Favorite food?
Never met a carb I didn’t like, but let’s say chocolate chip cookies. Also, I’m a big believer in breakfast milkshakes.
Favorite place in Charlottesville?
Klöckner Stadium, where they play soccer and lacrosse. It was actually my favorite place at UVA before I came to Law School, because I love watching my teams play there. It’s a beautiful stadium.
What’s your favorite UVA Sport?
I can’t answer that.
What song would play in the background of your life?
Right now, it’s probably the Whitney-Kygo version of Higher Love.
Anti-Stress Hobby?
Yoga at FlyDog.[1] Or baking. Or hanging with my cat. All of my hobbies are anti-stress hobbies.
What is your favorite yoga pose?
Side angle. I’m big into turning my rib cage to the ceiling.
What do you like to do with your cat Draco?
What don’t I like to do with my cat? He’s my favorite guy.
Pet peeve?
When people do not use a direct address comma.
Catch phrase?
“Catch you on the flippity flip.”
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
Scotland. I can’t explain why.
What’s one movie that left an impression on you?
The Peanut Butter Falcon. Absolutely my favorite movie. It’s like someone made a movie just for me.
The Office or Parks and Rec?
The answer has to be The Office, but I recently came up with the phrase “Parks and Rec-ference," so people should start using that. You know what else I do that people should do? Voice-memo my laughter and use it instead of “lol.”
Very cool. So what are you involved in?
Public Interest Law Association, the Program in Law and Public Service, the Virginia Law Weekly, Amici Signatae Linguae (the ASL club), itrek, and I’m an LL.M. PA.
What was your favorite thing about planning PILA?
Well, the Live Auction was the most fun, so I’ll say selecting the items that went into that.
Who is the person at the Law School that you most want to kick in the head?
Bill Re ’21 thought I couldn’t kick him in the head, so he is top of the list.
How do you give people nicknames or, as you like to call them, codenames?
Glad you asked. You take someone’s first and last initials, flip the order, and now come up with a word representing those letters in that order. Ex: Michael Schmid ‘21, MS, SM, Superman (I exclusively call him Superman at Law Weekly meetings).
What’s something you know now that you would tell yourself coming into law school?
You’ll make some of the best friends of your life. Brag.
What will you miss most about the Law School?
I can’t answer this. It can’t be helped. Classic Daisy Buchannan stuff right there. What will I miss? Um, it’s a real bummer I’m never going to see Jansen VanderMeulen ’19 again.[2]
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lw8vd@virginia.edu