Career Paths: Rush Lee ’26L After graduation, Rush Lee will join Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP in their Washington, D.C. office

Rush Lee ’26L

Rush Lee ‘26L is from Atlanta, Georgia. She attended the College of William & Mary, where she received a B.A. in government with a minor in history. Before law school, she worked as a Litigation Project Assistant at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP in Atlanta. At W&L, she is a Managing Online Editor of the Washington and Lee Law Review. She previously served as the Vice President of Education for the Women Law Students Organization (WLSO) during her 2L year. She is also currently involved in the Judicial Externship program and externs with the Honorable Joel R. Branscom, Chief Judge, in Botetourt County Circuit Court. Her 1L Summer, she was a Judicial Intern for the Honorable Stuart A. Raphael in the Virginia Court of Appeals. Outside of law school, Rush enjoys exploring local hikes in the area, working on her pottery at The Workshop at Timber Ridge, and going to Harden’s with friends.

Where will you be working after graduation and in what practice area?

I will be joining Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP in their Washington, D.C. office. During this past summer with Hunton, I worked primarily on litigation matters including antitrust, insurance, and complex commercial litigation.

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

I came into law school knowing that I wanted to do litigation based on my previous experience as a Litigation Project Assistant, where I worked on mass tort and breach of contract matters. I knew I wanted to delve into complex commercial litigation, but antitrust was a welcome surprise. I took Professor Eggert’s Antitrust class, which really increased my interest in the field and prepared me for some of my work this past summer.

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

I knew I wanted to be in a larger office with more resources and was open to being in various states along the East Coast. I asked a few current law students and alumni about their experience with Hunton during my job search. Everyone had such positive things to say about the culture and the people, so I chose to apply as it fit my wants and needs for a firm. I was drawn to the D.C. office due to some of Hunton’s practice groups as well as being near close friends from college. Given my professional and person goals, Hunton’s D.C. office was the perfect fit.

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

My 1L summer I interned with Judge Stuart A. Raphael at the Virginia Court of Appeals. Judge Raphael pushed me to think about cases in different and more efficient ways. He also helped to improve my legal writing skills. Though I loved the legal questions that come through the Court of Appeals, I missed the courtroom and the litigation process. My 2L summer at Hunton exposed me to a variety of practice groups and fascinating overlapping legal issues. I had wonderful mentors who encouraged me and gave great advice about growing my career, which further confirmed my desire to practice litigation.

In terms of classes, law school classes cannot always prepare you for real practice. But they can prepare you to think about things differently. Professor Fairfield’s Contracts class taught me to argue both sides, think critically, and question things. Judge Hammond’s Trial Advocacy class helped me to develop practical trial skills that made me realize how much I want my practice to involve going to court. Both classes were two of my favorites and shaped how I approach legal issues.

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

Besides all the required 1L classes, I think Business Associations is essential for anyone wanting to practice corporate law or litigation because it teaches you how to understand corporate structures, which are prevalent in so many areas of law. The Trial Advocacy Practicum is also helpful to practice your oral advocacy skills while understanding how a trial works from start to finish. Finally, W&L’s 3L Actual Practice Requirement gives you opportunities to get hands-on experiences, whether it be working with actual clients and going to court in our clinics, working with a judge, working with a Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, or many more options. You get to ease into the real world of practice.

Can you describe the job search process?

For 1L, I discussed options with 2Ls and 3L about different types of summer jobs. I went to the Rachford Fellows’ office hours to revise my resumé and ask for any application advice. From there, I applied to various jobs from firms to non-profits to judicial internships while also networking. My main interest was interning with a Judge, so I prioritized those applications.

For 2L, I did a search for firms in the geographic areas I wanted and made a pretty detailed spreadsheet. I submitted all my applications within the week firms opened their online portals, which was in June my 1L Summer. The timeline has shifted considerably for law firm recruitment. If someone is interested in joining a law firm, I would track when firms open their applications and apply as soon as possible. I also networked with alumni and students who worked at the firm the previous summer, which gave me greater interest and insight into the firm that I could then translate into the interview stage.

What are you most looking forward to about this job?

I am looking forward to continue working and learning from the attorneys I worked with this past summer. It will be exciting to continue to build relationships and contribute to the team. I am excited to hopefully engage more with antitrust while also getting more experience with discovery and deposition skills. I am also looking forward to exploring more of D.C. as it will be my new home!