Spotlight on Amanda "Shelby" Wallace, 3L

Amanda "Shelby" Wallace, 3L
Undergrad: Towson University
Major: International Studies and Mandarin Chinese

Q. Where are you from? A. Baltimore, Maryland.

Q. How did you spend your summer? 
A. 1L summer I worked for Congressman Forbes in the Chesapeake office. Last summer I interned at the ACLJ.

Q. What does becoming a lawyer mean to you? 
A. It means having the knowledge and tenacity to help people and the causes I care about.

Q. What do you wish you knew before you started law school? 
A. I wish I knew I was going to be so stressed. I think I would have taken a cruise beforehand. But it's all good, because I'm going to Disney World as soon as I graduate! Seriously though, it's a marathon, not a sprint.

Q. What surprised you most about Regent?
A. Law school is competitive. But Regent is a very kind and encouraging environment. Not to mention the faculty really care about individual students—and like them!

Q. How is law school different from your college experience?
A. Undergrad is a mix of students, some of whom are not academically focused. Not only are the people in law school the academic type, school itself is much more demanding. Law school doesn't just teach you a new subject matter, it forces you to learn it in a new language as well.

Q. What is your favorite class so far and why?
A. Biblical law—because I like history. International law—because I am fascinated by politics and foreign affairs.

Q. What kind of law do you hope to practice after graduation?
A. I would love to work in international law. But after taking trial practice I discovered I have a passion for criminal defense as well. We shall see!

Q. How would you describe the group of your closest friends found here at Regent?
A. Most of my friends here have very unique personalities and they keep me laughing.

Q. How do you prefer to study?
A. I prefer to study during the day, on my couch, with my two dogs lounging by my side. Usually with a fresh pot of coffee, too. I can only study for about 30 minutes at a time. Then I take a 5 minute break and then get back into it. Although 1L year I used to have to wake up at 5 in the morning to study because I had a 3 year old at home—it was the only time the house was quiet.

Q. What is your favorite book of all time and why?
A. Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis. I like mythology and anything by C.S. Lewis.

Q. What is your favorite Bible verse?
A. Micah 6:8 "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." This verse is kind of a mantra to me. I want to make a difference in the world by pursing what is just, but also remembering to be merciful. On top of that humility is the key to everything worthwhile.

Q. If you could meet with anyone alive or dead, who would it be and why?
A. Robert Fulton. I read a book about him when I was a kid. He had humble beginnings, but had such curiosity and drive that he became very successful in not just one, but multiple things. He taught himself French, became an excellent painter, and designed the first steam boat and submarine. His biography made me believe that I could be anything I wanted to be.

Q. If you could have lunch with any faculty member or administrator at Regent who would it be and why?
A. Professor Madison. He makes me laugh, he has a great personality, and I always enjoyed his classes. He also really cares about the spiritual growth of his students.

Q. What kinds of extra-curricular activities are you involved with?
A. I am the Chairwoman of the Republican National Lawyers Association (RNLA), a member of Phi Alpha Delta, and Secretary of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF). In my spare time I also paint (usually oil paintings).

Q. If you had an entire weekend available, what would you do in the Hampton Roads area?
A. Take my daughter to the beach and the zoo. It doesn't get much better than that.

Q. Is there anything else you would like your peers or future law students to learn about you?
A. I have two big dogs, Bam-Bam and Daphne. I would get a third, but the husband says no.

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Spotlight on Rebecca Vermette (Knight), 3L



Rebecca Vermette (Knight)
Oral Roberts University
Major: International Relations, German

Q. Where are you from?
A. I am from Livermore, California. It's a beautiful little wine town east of San Francisco.

Q. How did you spend your summer?
A. This summer I am working in Washington, D.C. as a policy intern for the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. I have the privilege of helping facilitate our Foster Youth Internship, which pairs young men and women who were formerly in foster care with Congressmen and women as summer interns, and I also help research and inform Congressional offices about adoption issues. Last summer I was with the Blackstone Legal Fellowship, which had valuable training and speakers, and through them I was able to work at the Center for Bioethics and Culture near my home.

Q. What does becoming a lawyer mean to you?
A. A lawyer is a problem solver. Lawyers have the joy of offering solutions and being advocates for clients during difficult times when things don't go as they're supposed to.

Q. What do you wish you knew before you started law school?
A. Law school is a one-way road that is guaranteed to change you. It's a rewarding investment of time, money, and hard work. It will open many doors and permanently alter the way you think.

Q. What surprised you most about Regent?
A. I knew Regent would have a supportive community, but I was pleasantly surprised by the high expectations of the faculty and the excellent training in each class. It's been a challenging but rewarding road.

Q. How is law school different from your college experience?
A. Law school matures students into professionals. It's no longer an option to be late, to wait until the last minute, or to spend the majority of your time in social activities. That said, the feeling of truly learning, growing, and changing into a capable adult entering a distinguished profession is worthwhile.

Q. What is your favorite class so far and why?
A. Constitutional Criminal Procedure—it made so many other classes come together into a holistic understanding of the law.

Q. What kind of law do you hope to practice after graduation?
A. I aspire to devote part of my practice to adoption law. Other areas I have interest in are immigration law, corporate law, and healthcare law.

Q. How would you describe the group of your closest friends found here at Regent?
A. Our class is a wonderful group of diligent and friendly students, but my roommate the last two years--Kristy--has really been my support and my best friend here. We've had many adventures, tears, and victories.

Q. How do you prefer to study?
A. My favorite three study spots are my living room, Starbucks, and Panera. I spent so much time in the library my first year that I usually switch it up now. I prefer to make studying as fun as possible (think: chocolate chips and coffee) in order to make it easy to devote most of my day to it.

Q. What is your favorite book of all time and why?
A. A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken is an amazing book based on a true story. It will forever mark you. There's also Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. It's a beautiful story of how love can change darkness, difficulty, and a broken past into a future with promise.

Q. What is your favorite Bible verse?
A. Psalms 42 (the whole chapter), but especially verse 8: “the Lord will command His loving kindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me—a prayer to the God of my life.” That verse reminds me how God is with us at all times and in all seasons.

Q. If you could meet with anyone alive or dead, who would it be and why?
A. Meeting the apostle Peter is on the top of my list. He made bumbling mistakes just as I do, and I would enjoy hearing his advice and stories from walking with the Lord.

Q. If you could have lunch with any faculty member or administrator at Regent who would it be and why?
A. Dean Brauch—he has a kind heart and great wisdom, and I trust him as a leader in our school.

Q. What kinds of extra-curricular activities are you involved with?
A. Over the course of law school, I have been on Law Review, involved with church and community group, played soccer with Regent students, been a student ambassador, worked for Kaplan, been on the leadership of the International Law Society, been in the Honors program, and planned my wedding (phew, that was a time commitment!).

Q. If you had an entire weekend available, what would you do in the Hampton Roads area?
A. Depends on the season: I love to relax and run at the beach, but I hope to see the Cape Henry Lighthouse and the Hampton Roads Naval Museum at some point.

Q. Is there anything else you would like your peers or future law students to learn about you?
A. I'm an artist. I love to paint and to craft, and I hope to one day go to art school and make it as an artist.

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Spotlight on Marcus Wood, 1L



Marcus Wood, 1L
Texas Tech University
Major: Business Administration Management



Q. Where are you from?

A. Andrews, Texas.

Q. How do you intend to spend this summer?

A. This summer I intend to work for the American Center for Law and Justice and will also be clerking for a judge in Texas.

Q. What does becoming a lawyer mean to you?

A. A lawyer is equipped to reconcile differences between opposing parties and is often in a position to influence the influencers. This role is a high calling.

Q. What do you wish you knew before you started law school?

A. It should not be your goal to learn all the law, but rather learn to think like a lawyer no matter what type of law you are learning because you will most likely be doing this for the rest of your life.

Q. What surprised you most about Regent?

A. I expected students to be different, because of Regent’s strong commitment to Christian principles, but I was still surprised to see the spirit of cooperation that existed between 1L's, the other students, and alumni.

Q. How is law school different from your college experience?

A. I get to journey through law school with my own family. I have learned that spending a little time with one or both of my daughters helps get me through the hours of study.

Q. What is your favorite class so far and why?

A. Every professor is teaching what they think is be most important class in law school, so they make them all quite enjoyable. I have enjoyed seeing how they all begin to overlap. Contracts has been a favorite for me so far.

Q. What kind of law do you hope to practice after graduation?

A. In the future, I hope to practice International Business and Mediation.

Q. How would you describe the group of your closest friends found here at Regent?

A. A group that you would have never imagined hanging out that have come together for a common goal. One thing that we all agree on is Mexican food makes for the best lunch break.

Q. How do you prefer to study?

A. I think too much study of the law before going to bed is the number one cause for nightmares or insomnia. I leave my studying for the morning and spread out over my day. The library is where I spend most of my time studying at my hand picked study carrel.

Q. What is your favorite book of all time and why?

A. The Bible, because it is the only book with power.

Q. What is your favorite Bible verse?

A. John 1:14, “The Word became flesh.” This captures the extent of how far Christ was willing to go for us. We should follow his example of self-sacrifice.

Q. If you could meet with anyone alive or dead, who would it be and why?

A. Putting aside the spiritual heroes from the Bible, Jim Elliot because he was willing to sacrifice everything to spread the Gospel message.

Q. If you could have lunch with any faculty member or administrator at Regent who would it be and why?

A. Dean Cook, because of his extraordinary history with Regent University’s School of Law.

Q. What kinds of extra-curricular activities are you involved with?

A. I am part of the International Legal Society and I am active in my local church. I am always striving to sharpen my Intercultural Intelligence (ICI), which is what I feel is a key to understanding those around us. ICI involves understanding and interpreting your own culture as well as those around you with their own unique culture.

Q. If you had an entire weekend available, what would you do in the Hampton Roads area?

A. I’d likely hit the beach, and then tour a battleship.

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