S8 E1: Director Debrief – The 2026 Cycle So Far

Just weeks into the first year of law school, legal employers are recruiting 1Ls for 2L summer positions. Peyton Townsend ’29 and Chris Yueh ’29 share how they and their peers navigate a rigorous first-year courseload with networking, career counseling, interviewing and everything else that goes into the legal hiring process.

In this first-of-its-kind recorded Q&A session, Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 provides application advice and information about UVA Law to a group of legal analysts — and potential applicants — at the international law firm Kobre & Kim.

From course load and career counseling to section hangouts and study habits, Anusha Pakkam ’29 shares her perspective on the joys and challenges of 1L fall at UVA Law.

Professor George Geis discusses his new simulation course, the Deal Lab, where UVA Law students learn to utilize and manage artificial intelligence tools in the context of high-pressure, complex transactional law scenarios.

Buddy Palmer ’26 and Alex Wilfert ’26 share how the North Grounds Softball League helps shape student life and culture at UVA Law, even for those who never pick up a bat or glove.

Artificial intelligence expert and UVA Law professor Mike Livermore joins Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 to discuss how AI is affecting legal academia and the future of legal practice. Far from replacing the need for lawyers in the future, Livermore argues that AI — when harnessed properly by humans — could in fact elevate the standing of attorneys and democratize access to legal services.

They’ve seen it all and heard it all, and now they’re spilling the tea. Third-year law student workers join Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 to share advice and insights based on hundreds of interactions with applicants and prospective students each cycle.

Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 ventured outside the studio and into a freak snowstorm to report heartwarming stories from behind the scenes of UVA Law’s 2026 Admitted Students Open House. Through on-site interviews with admitted students, their guests, current law students and alumni, this episode highlights the admissions cycle’s main event that brought hundreds of visitors to Charlottesville this (snowy) spring.

Assistant Dean for Community Engagement Mark Jefferson joins Dean Blazer to discuss how UVA Law students are trained to become outstanding lawyers by learning to disagree with one another in a supportive environment.

Amelia Isaacs ’26 and Kyle Trotman ’26 met as undergraduates at Florida State University and quickly bonded over their interests and aspirations for law school. The couple joins Admissions Dean Natalie Blazer ’08 to share how they navigated the application process, 1L coursework, leadership positions, job searches and more, all while leaning on one another for support and encouragement.