Dawn Davison
Interviewed by Anna Bninksi ‘23
Dawn Davison recently joined the Law School staff as a Director of Public Service, and kindly took the time for a short interrogation by the Law Weekly.
Welcome to the Hot Bench, Dawn! To start off, where are you from?
I was born in Alabama, and I grew up in New Mexico. I’ve been in Virginia since 2004.
What drew you to study law?
I first became interested in the law when I participated in a mock trial in fifth grade. A classmate’s father was an attorney for the ACLU and he orchestrated the whole thing. I was selected to be one of the attorneys. At that point, I gave up on my plan to become an astronaut and never looked back!
Before coming here to UVA, you worked at the Virginia Capital Representation Resource Center (VCRRC), a nonprofit that focuses on death penalty cases. What was that work like? How did it feel to see Virginia abolish the death penalty earlier this year?
When I was hired by VCRRC, I felt like I won the lottery. I had decided I wanted to do death penalty work while I was in law school, and I was thrilled to line up that job after my clerkship. Capital work combines two of the things I love most about the law—intricate legal problems and one-on-one work with clients. It taxes your intellectual abilities and your social abilities. When Virginia abolished the death penalty, it also commuted the death sentences of the two people remaining on death row. Both men were my clients, so when the bill passed I felt a tremendous sense of relief and lightness. We had worked their cases hard enough to keep them alive long enough to benefit from the legislation.
It's quite a leap from capital representation to working here at the Law School! What are you excited for in your new position? And what are your wildest hopes and dreams for working with students aiming for public service careers?
I am so excited to be working with law students at the beginning of their careers. I enjoyed my time with interns in my last office—talking to them about their plans for the future, listening to them process what they had learned in our office, and hearing from them after they graduated. This job will allow me to continue those conversations on a much larger scale. For those students working toward careers in public service, my hopes are that they leave UVA Law elated by the prospect of starting their dream jobs and reasonably confident in their abilities to do good work (overconfidence is a curse!). Although, my wildest dream would be to send out a graduating class comprised only of public service attorneys and private attorneys with robust plans for pro bono work!
On to some lighter questions. What's the worst advice you ever heard about law school or getting a legal job?
Before law school, I worked as a legal assistant at a law firm. One of the attorneys suggested I read One L before I started law school. Truly terrible advice.
How about the best advice?
My criminal procedure professor told my class, “You may not always be the smartest person in the room, but you can always be the most prepared person in the room.” He meant courtroom, but I think it’s sound advice for any room.
Do you have any pets?
I have two rescue pets—a Schnoodle named Joy and a cat named Charlie.
Since the VCRRC is also in Charlottesville, were you already based here, and if so, for how long? What do you think law students should be sure to do before graduating and leaving?
I’ve lived in Charlottesville for more than thirteen years. Before law students graduate and leave, they should eat pizza at Dr. Ho’s, go for a hayride at Albemarle Ciderworks during the Apple Harvest Festival, and get a gelato at Splendora’s.
If you weren't a lawyer, what would you like to do?
I would love to narrate audiobooks!
Lightning round!
What's your favorite movie?
Legally Blonde
Dessert?
Peanut butter cheesecake
Charlottesville lunch spot?
Milan Indian Cuisine
Pet peeve?
The use of unnecessary quotation marks and capital letters
Relaxing activity?
Spending time with my friends and family
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ddavison@law.virginia.edu