Hi Alex! Thank you for joining us for Hot Bench this week. To start us off, can you tell us a bit about yourself—where you’re from, what year you are, all that good stuff.
I am a 2L from Seattle, Washington by way of London, England. That’s the skinny version of that
You’re not going to mention New York and California ties?
Go Bears, I went to UC Berkeley, so four years in the Bay. Four years in New York, was born in New Jersey but we’re not going to talk about that one.
Wait, I didn’t know that—this is a new Alex tidbit I’m learning. How has 2L been treating you?
2L has been good. 2L has been a lot more relaxing because I know the pace of everything. It has definitely been nice after a summer away to see some friends, like Ashanti.
Aww too kind, do you want to plug your softball team?
Ooh yea, got a great team going, Slug Slug Goose. We’re flying high this semester, we’re going for the championship this year.
Do you guys think you’re going to bring it home?
Definitely going to bring it home, zero doubt.
Okay, we’ll have to do a check-in post-season interview. How was your summer—where were you, what were you up to?
Summer was great. I managed to put 6,000 miles on my car in less than two months. I was between Charlottesville, Richmond, and Washington D.C. I was working at the Virginia Office of the Attorney General in Richmond. I love it in Virginia, and I want to stay in Virginia, so it was nice to serve the Commonwealth for a bit, and Richmond is a cool city. With all the craziness of recruiting, I was up in D.C. a lot and I met my girlfriend up there, so I was there for her too. Then, I came back to Charlottesville to visit.
Have you gotten an oil change yet? It sounds like you need one. Do you know where you’re going next summer?
No, I have not, I should though. Also, to add I really liked Richmond even though someone warned me about Richmond—
I think I gave appropriate warnings.[1]
And I am going to Latham & Watkins in D.C. to do litigation work next summer.
Are you excited?
I’m super excited. I got the chance to meet a ton of Latham attorneys over the school year and I really liked the people and the office culture from my conversations. They are also an international firm, which was really key for me. I am very excited to go to D.C.
Have you found housing in D.C. yet?
No, just starting to figure that out. I’m trying to secure a roommate for next summer right now.
Best of luck with the housing search! For our 1L readers, what is one piece of advice you wished you had 1L fall?
Trust yourself before you trust anyone else. You’re going to have a hundred people trying to give you advice, but you know what works for you in terms of studying and healthy habits, so just have belief in yourself that everything will work out. Just maintain whatever routine or positive habits you already have going, and the rest will follow.
I think that’s very nice and very true. Okay, now a lighting round. I’m going to do a little fall edition. Chili with beans or without?
I don’t like chili generally.
Ooh, hot take! Football or no football?
The real football, as in soccer. Otherwise, go Hawks.
What is your favorite fall snack?
I have to be honest; I do like a pumpkin spice latte.
Those are good, I don’t understand the hate. What’s the superior fall holiday—Halloween or Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving, Halloween is for heathens.
Do you have your Halloween costume yet?
One is in the works, stay tuned.
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Interviewed by: : Ashanti Jones ’26
[1] I’m from the Richmond area, so this is not Richmond slander.