Career Paths: Jack Leetun ’26L After graduation, Jack Leetun will join the litigation practice group at Moore & Van Allen in Charlotte.

Jack Leetun ’26L

Jack Leetun ’26L is from Weyers Cave, Viginia. He attended Virginia Military Institute, where he received a B.A. in international studies and a B.A. in Arabic languages & cultures. After college, he served in the U.S. Army as an Infantry and Special Operations officer for nine years in New York, North Carolina, and the Middle East. At W&L, he is a caseworker in the Black Lung Clinic, on Law Review, is the Executive Vice President for the Federalist Society, and is a Research Assistant for Professor Tim MacDonnell. Jack lives in downtown Lexington with his wife, Rachel, and 1-year-old son, John Mark. After graduation, Jack will join Moore & Van Allen in Charlotte, North Carolina in their Litigation practice group.

Did you know coming into law school that you wanted to work in this field?

Yes, I like fast-paced work and enjoy the adversarial nature of litigation. I left a “mini-career” in the Army specifically to join the rewarding and influential role litigators play in our society. Talking to as many lawyers as I could 1L year immensely helped me understand which practice groups would fit my personality, and which would not.

What role did the size and location of the firm play in the search and decision process?

I knew I wanted to practice in North Carolina, in a city that wasn’t too large, and still be able to do sophisticated case litigation. Moore & Van Allen, as a growing mid-sized firm that is a market leader in the Carolinas, clearly was exactly what I was looking for where people stay for careers. I’m very blessed and excited.

Was there anything in your law school or summer job experience that confirmed this career choice?

OCS alerted me to my firm’s reputation. Over my 2L summer at Moore & Van Allen, every attorney I spoke to who lateraled (transferred) from a bigger law firm told me they transferred because this firm allowed them to continue doing high-caliber legal work while also prioritizing family/free time in a smaller city environment. I was sold. I’d strongly recommend students to consider alternative/smaller markets, as many of those settings allow you to do elite work without having to be in a metropolis.

What classes do you think are helpful to prepare for this job?

Practicums. I was glad that I had done a round of Discovery Responses in a practicum class, seeing that three months later I had a partner ask me to help her draft discovery responses for a real case. My current work in a clinic—with real clients and cases—has also significantly improved my time management and legal writing, which I know will greatly help me as a first-year associate.

Can you describe the job search process?

The “Shotgun” method really works, so put in the work and apply to as many places you could see yourself working at; you only need that one offer in the end. It may seem discouraging at first hearing no or hearing nothing at all, but those who are diligent and early in the application process will see their hard work pay off!

What are you most looking forward to about this job?

I look forward to truly finding my specific calling in practicing law. I knew that litigation interested me, but finding a firm that allows me to experiment across practice groups for my first few years gives me the latitude to find niches and develop relationships where I can really become the knowledgeable advocate I’d like to be for future clients and pro bono opportunities.