Judicial Clerkships - Perspectives & Advice

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The Maryland State Bar Association's Young Lawyers' Section and the Bar Association of Baltimore City's Young Lawyers' Division are hosting a panel on Judicial Clerkships in Maryland. Our panelists, all former clerks, bring firsthand experience in applying for judicial clerkships at both the state and federal levels and across trial, appellate, and supreme courts throughout Maryland. This panel will provide an in-depth discussion of the benefits of judicial clerkships, the similarities and differences of clerkship experiences across court levels, the application process, interviewing strategies, and much more. The event is open to University of Baltimore law students and is ideal for anyone interested in exploring judicial clerkships. Food will be provided!

Contact info for any questions: Raelyn Schuh (raelynschuh@gmail.com;Thomas Kiley (tkiley@fsb-law.com)

Panelists:

Brandon Wharton - Federal District Court and 4th Circuit
Brandon is a member of Gallagher’s Education, Employment, Investigations, and Litigation Practice Groups, advising schools and employers on complex legal matters including risk management, Title IX compliance, employment law, and litigation. He served as a law clerk to the Honorable Paula Xinis of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (2021-2022) and to the Honorable Diana Gribbon Motz of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (2022-2023), gaining extensive federal judicial experience. A trailblazer at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, Brandon was the first Black editor-in-chief of the Maryland Law Review, graduated magna cum laude, and received The Roger Howell Achievement Award for leadership and contributions to student life.
Derek Van De Walle - District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City and Appellate Court of Maryland
Derek is a graduate of the University of Michigan and William & Mary Law School. After law school, he clerked for the District Court of Maryland in Baltimore City and later served as Senior Law Clerk to the Honorable Christopher B. Kehoe of the Appellate Court of Maryland. He then practiced at Semmes, Bowen & Semmes before joining the Baltimore City Law Department, where he now serves as a Chief Solicitor in the Litigation Division. Derek is also an adjunct professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law and at the Community College of Baltimore County. He is deeply involved in the Bar Association of Baltimore City, where he serves as Chair of the Young Lawyers’ Division, is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, and serves on several local nonprofit and professional boards.
Christina Araviakis - Baltimore City Circuit Court
o Christina is a member of Gallagher’s Litigation and Multifamily Residential Practice Groups, representing residential and commercial property owners and management companies in litigation, risk management, and Fair Housing compliance. Prior to joining Gallagher, she served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Lawrence P. Fletcher-Hill of the Baltimore City Circuit Court (2020-2021), gaining firsthand experience with court processes and judicial decision-making. Christina earned her J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law, where she was Executive Editor of the Law Review and recipient of the Dean’s Citation and Clinical Excellence Award. She is a 2025 Super Lawyers® Maryland Rising Star.

Lauren Lake - Federal District Court & Appellate Court of Maryland
o Lauren is Counsel in Gordon Feinblatt’s Litigation practice group, representing clients in complex commercial disputes involving real estate, contracts, employment, trusts and estates, unfair competition, trade secrets, negligence, and environmental matters, as well as advising secured and unsecured creditors on loan workouts and related litigation. Prior to joining the firm, she served as a judicial clerk to the Hon. A. David Copperthite of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland and the Hon. Douglas R. M. Nazarian of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, gaining extensive insight into judicial decision-making and court procedures. Lauren is a Maryland Rule 17 Certified Mediator, Consumer Commissioner for the Maryland Home Improvement Commission, and earned her J.D. summa cum laude from the University of Baltimore, where she served as Business Editor of the Law Review.

Moderators: Thomas Kiley and Raelyn Schuh

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