Meet Katherine Berman ’22, ’25L: President of the Student Bar Association Katherine Berman enjoys working to build community while advancing the interests of the student body.

By Law Communications
February 6, 2025

Katherine Berman ’22, ‘25L is the current Student Bar Association (SBA) President at W&L Law.  Originally from Houston, Texas, she graduated from Washington and Lee University (Go Double Gennies!) with a bachelor’s degree in English and Strategic Communication and a minor in Art History. From an early age she wanted to attend law school because she has always loved reading, writing, and problem-solving. During her time in law school, she has found the law fascinating because of how it intersects with every subject matter and the way it constantly evolves and adapts.

During her 1L summer, she interned for the Honorable Lauren Reeder of the 234th Civil District Court in Harris County, Texas, and for the Appellate Division of the United States Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C. This past summer, she worked as a Summer Associate for Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in Houston.

Why did you choose W&L Law?

I chose W&L Law because of its unique sense of community and the people who make it so special. During an Admitted Students’ Weekend, I was struck by the warmth, openness, and collegiality of everyone I met. It became clear to me that W&L Law was more than just a law school—it was a tight-knit community where people genuinely cared about each other’s success and well-being.

The small class size also fosters an atmosphere of collaboration rather than competition, which is exactly what I was looking for in my law school experience. I knew that at W&L I would have meaningful interactions with my professors, get to know all my classmates (instead of just a single section), enjoy a balance of hard work and fun with plentiful opportunities to get involved with clubs and organizations, enjoy the outdoors, help out with my collegiate field hockey team, and hang out with great friends.

I knew being in Lexington for law school would also offer less distractions and allow me to focus on my studies, build lifelong connections, and enjoy the same sense of community that I experienced during my time in undergrad. The library being open 24/7 was also a huge perk for me because I’m such a night owl. Ultimately, it was the people and the values of the W&L community that made me confident this was the right place to grow as both a legal professional and an individual.

Share an experience, class, professor/staff member that has had an impact on your time as a law student.

I’ve had many meaningful experiences throughout law school, but one experience that has greatly impacted me as a law student was serving as the SBA Secretary last year. It was my first time to be involved with student government and I really enjoyed crafting the emails I sent to the entire student body. I saw my job as a way to connect students, faculty, and staff with events happening both at the law school and beyond, as well as providing a weekly laugh to all. I enjoyed expanding the secretary role from what it entailed in previous years and taking on more responsibility within the SBA Executive Board. My experience and involvement last year inspired me to run for SBA President this year.

What are some goals in your current leadership position?

As President of the Student Bar Association, I work alongside our SBA team to create a sense of community in the law school. We orchestrate a variety of events from food trucks to movie nights to parties each semester that allow law students to connect with one another outside of the classroom. Another important role of SBA is to represent the interests and concerns of the student body to the faculty and administration. My top priorities for this year are promoting our constituents’ voices in all that we do—planning events for everyone, keeping the administration and faculty updated with our successes and concerns, and creating community and cohesion among the entire law school.

Anything you are looking forward to in your 3L year?

I’m looking forward to soaking up my last year in Lexington and doing a lot of bucket list items. My friends and I have a list going, and we’re trying to go on new and exciting adventures in Lexington and the surrounding areas. Some highlights for me from this year so far include whitewater rafting down the Upper Gauley in West Virginia, attending a polo match at King Family Vineyards in Crozet, and having themed potluck-style family dinners every Sunday with my friends.

I’ve also really enjoyed serving as a judicial extern for the Honorable C. Kailani Memmer, a magistrate judge in the Western District of Virginia. I work twice a week for Judge Memmer, and it’s been an absolutely incredible experience to watch and learn from the judges, attorneys, court staff, and clients in action.