Meet Robbie Santos ’27L Robbie Santos was drawn to W&L Law by the world class legal education and the collaborative community.

Robbie Santos ’27L

Robbie Santos ‘27L was born and raised in northern New Jersey. Before joining W&L Law, Robbie attended Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in politics & international affairs. Robbie decided to pursue law school because of an interest in oral advocacy and enhancing his skills in effective writing.

During the 2025 summer, Robbie worked as a judicial intern with Judge Michael Newman of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. His experience with Judge Newman’s chambers helped shape his interest in pursuing a career in litigation, and he credits Judge Newman’s unwavering mentorship for making his 1L summer deeply meaningful. Robbie will be returning to New Jersey this upcoming summer and will join the firm Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete as a summer law clerk.

Why did you choose W&L Law?

W&L Law ranks high on all of the important metrics of a law school, but the true value of a law school is the people that shape it – and the incredible faculty, staff and students at W&L are why I chose to call Lexington home. Since arriving at W&L in August of 2024, I have been fortunate to meet some of the most intelligent, curious, hard-working, and helpful people that I have ever come across. While W&L does not cater to single type of student, I think almost all students share similar qualities; chief among them being a willingness to collaborate honestly and earnestly with each other. Throughout my research into potential law schools, W&L stood out to me for many of these reasons, and I ultimately decided on W&L because of the combination of a world class legal education and the incredible people (and the scenery doesn’t hurt).

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

During my 2L fall semester, I competed in the Negotiations competition hosted by the law school. Competitions like this are commonplace in law schools across the country and are great opportunities for students to hone important legal skills in a fun and lightly competitive atmosphere. I, along with my partner, were fortunate enough to advance through several rounds of the competition and reach the finals. This was a great accomplishment, but the best part of the experience was the feedback I received from the various competition judges. From 3L students during the early rounds, to professors in the semifinals, and working professionals in the finals, each judge provided us with individual, specific feedback on what we did well, and areas we could improve on in the future. I gained confidence in my negotiating skills, preparation ability, and public speaking all in the course of this competition.

Why did you choose to be a Law Ambassador—what are some responsibilities you have in this role?

While an undergraduate student, I worked closely with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and saw first-hand how important the work of an admissions office can be.  I greatly enjoyed sharing my experiences with prospective students, and I valued playing even a small role in helping students decide where to pursue their education. After my positive experiences with the law school and W&L broadly during my 1L year, I again felt compelled to share my experiences and perspective with prospective students. As a Law Ambassador, some of my responsibilities include connecting with visiting students in person and virtually to explain what life is like as a law student at W&L. Law Ambassadors frequently give tours of the law school and provide a glimpse into living and studying in Lexington.

What do you enjoy about working with the Admissions Office and meeting prospective law students?
 
One of my favorite parts of being a Law Ambassador is helping students picture themselves at W&L. Deciding if and where to attend law school is a massive, and frequently life changing decision. I think it is extremely important that students take time to learn about the schools they are considering, and I am proud that I can contribute to this important decision. I enjoy connecting with prospective law students and going beyond what the numbers can tell a student about the school. Anyone can get a picture of a law school by reading about their median stats and bar passage rate, but in my conversations with prospective students, I try to put them in the shoes of a W&L law student. I share stories of the willingness of professors to lend a helping hand to students, of connections made between classmates, and of the challenges we face together as a class. By sharing my experiences, and answering their questions, I hope to paint a picture of life in Lexington. Deciding where to spend 3 years living and studying law is anything but an easy decision, and I enjoy providing students with a perspective that goes beyond statistics.

Anything you are looking forward to this spring semester?

I am taking courses in entirely new subject areas this semester, and I am excited to learn about new areas of law. Many of my classes this spring include elements of oral advocacy, and I am looking forward to building those skills. I am also eager to get outside more and take advantage of the many hiking trails around us.