Summer Experience: Ben Wood ’26L Ben Wood spent his summer as an intern in D.C. Superior Court.

Ben Wood ’26L

Ben Wood ’26L is a second-year law student at Washington and Lee and is originally from Savannah, GA. He is an active member of the W&L community, serving as a German Law Journal Junior Editor and the President of the Business Law Society, among other things. This past summer he interned at the D.C. Superior Court for the Honorable Heidi Pasichow, while participating in a Law Fellowship for The Fund for American Studies. After law school, he plans on starting his legal career doing corporate transactional work at a law firm.

Describe your work experience.

It was unique. I got to research and draft orders for motions based on Fourth and Fifth Amendment matters. The judge currently oversees felony criminal cases, doing solely “drug and gun” crimes. I also handled administrative matters and even got to sit on the bench next to the judge, taking notes as a clerk would.

What were some skills you developed this summer?

Aside from enhancing my legal researching and writing ability, I learned time management and how to take more succinct notes.

What surprised you about the work you did this summer?

I was shocked at how delayed criminal cases can get because of the litigators. From being ill-prepared to filing motion after motion, cases can be stuck in front of the same judge for years before a sentence is given. To be fair, public defenders and government prosecutors have a very heavy workload and limited resources.

What was your favorite aspect of this summer work experience?

My favorite aspect of the summer work experience was probably the trial I got to see. From the Voir Dire, to opening statements, to witness testimony, to the verdict, seeing a complex trial unfold is fascinating.

Has this experience helped you figure out post graduate plans, and if so, how?

It did not help me figure out my post graduate plans, completely. However, it made me respect clerks more because of the long hours they work and the case turnover they see, especially at a trial court. While advocating for non-violent prisoners is something I hope to continue doing with the resources I acquire after law school, criminal law is not the field I intend to enter. It was, however, interesting for a summer job.

How do you think this experience will shape the rest of your time at W&L Law?

This experience made me eager to try moot court and provided me with connections, close to Lexington, that I can utilize in my future career search.