LAURA A. WEBB University of Richmond School of Law 28 Westhampton Way Richmond, Virginia (804) 289-8801 lawebb@ richmond.edu EDUCATION 1996 1999 University of Virginia School of Law Charlottesville, VA J.D. Order of the Coif (top 10% of graduating class) Honorable Mention, H. Thomas Austern Memorial Writing Competition, 1999 1992 1996 George Washington University Washington, D.C. B.A., International Affairs (minor in economics) Phi Beta Kappa Summa cum laude AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION EXPERIENCE Presidential Scholarship, 1992-1996 Legal Writing, Public Speaking, Communication, Ethics, Immigration Law, Employment Law June 2013-present University of Richmond School of Law Richmond, VA Associate Professor of Legal Writing, Fall 2016-present Assistant Professor of Legal Writing, June 2013-Spring 2016 Develop and teach Legal Analysis and Writing I-II Design process-oriented full year legal research, writing, and analysis course for firstyear law students Collaborate with legal writing and legal library faculty members to develop curriculum and exercises designed to instruct first-year law students in legal analysis, research, and writing skills Advise and assist students, through conferences and written feedback, to improve drafts and finalize written documents including memos, client letters, and briefs Instruct students on effective oral communication skills Develop and teach U.S. Legal Research and Writing Design research, writing, and analysis course for LL.M. students Collaborate with legal library faculty members to develop curriculum and exercises designed to instruct internationally trained lawyers about U.S. legal analysis, research, and writing skills Advise and assist students, through conferences and written feedback, to improve drafts and finalize written documents including memos, client letters, and briefs
Instruct students on effective oral communication skills Develop and teach The Art of Argument (first offered Spring 2018) Design advanced persuasive writing course for upper-level law students Advise and assist students, through conferences and written feedback, to improve drafts and finalize written documents that use effective rhetorical strategies and persuasive techniques Instruct students on effective oral advocacy Fall 2006-Spring 2013 University of Richmond School of Law Richmond, VA Adjunct Associate Professor (Fall 2011-Spring 2013), Adjunct Assistant Professor (Fall 2006-Spring 2011) Taught Law Skills I & II course Structured lectures and group exercises designed to instruct first-year law students in legal research and writing techniques Advised and assisted students in improving drafts and finalizing legal memos, client letters, and briefs Instructed students on effective negotiation, oral advocacy, and public speaking skills Fall 2009-Spring 2013 University of Richmond Robins School of Business Adjunct Lecturer Taught Business Communications (Fall 2011-Spring 2013) Richmond, VA Instructed undergraduate business students on techniques for effective oral and written communication Instructed and advised students on oral presentations, telephone and email skills, memos, letters, reports and networking Taught Ethical, Social and Legal Responsibilities of Business (Fall 2009-Spring 2010) Provided undergraduate business students with an introduction to the legal, social and ethical issues facing managers in a variety of organizational settings Discussed and applied theories of ethics and social responsibility Discussed and analyzed regulatory aspects of employer and employee relationships Fall 2011-Fall 2012 Adjunct Faculty John Tyler Community College Division of Engineering, Business and Public Services Midlothian, VA Taught three semesters of Introduction to Paralegal Studies Provided students with introduction to field of paralegal studies, including survey coverage of Criminal Law, Contracts, Torts, Constitutional Law, Family Law, and other areas Focused students attention on ethical issues in the law, including the Unauthorized Practice of Law, and advised them as they completed a research paper on UPL issues for paralegals PAGE 2
Spring 2009 University of Richmond School of Continuing Studies Richmond, VA Adjunct Faculty Taught Independent Study in Legal Writing for the Paralegal Studies program Structured independent study coursework designed to instruct paralegal students in legal research and writing techniques Worked one-on-one to improve paralegal writing for office memoranda and briefs March 2003-Oct. 2004 Reed Smith, LLP Richmond, VA Associate Attorney (Senior Associate, Immigration Practice Group) Specialized in business immigration and international employment compliance for universities, technology firms, and large and small businesses; also handled naturalization and citizenship issues Wrote and edited Immigration Updates on regular basis for clients nationwide Maintained high levels of client contact and independent responsibility for legal matters Aug. 1999-Feb. 2003 McCandlish Holton, PC Richmond VA Associate Attorney Specialized in immigration law, labor and employment law, and health care law Litigated cases in areas including employment law, contract law, and deportation Served as Editor of Labor and Employment Law Advisor (LEA), a quarterly client publication providing updates and insight on labor and employment law issues Summer 2002 Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA Adjunct Faculty Taught Coming to America: U.S. Immigration Policies and Practice Formulated syllabus and designed all course materials for three-credit course Chose appropriate readings, including case law SPEECHES AND PRESENTATIONS Numerous engagements as featured speaker, including: Why Legal Writers Should Think Like Teachers Legal Writing Institute Annual Conference, Marquette University Law School, July 12, 2018, Milwaukee, WI How Do We Design Curricula to Be Both Rigorous and Supportive Carolinas Colloquium, University of North Carolina School of Law, May 17, 2017, Chapel Hill, NC (panel presentation) PAGE 3
Using Cognitive Science in the Persuasive Writing Classroom Sixth Annual Capital Area Legal Writing Conference, March 11, 2016, Baltimore, MD (with Christopher Corts) The Science of Persuasion: How Cognitive Science Can Improve the Way We Write Frank Dunham Federal Criminal Defense Conference, April 10, 2015, Charlottesville, VA (with Christopher Corts) Know Your Audience: Writing Letters Your Clients Will Want to Read Virginia State Bar Young Lawyers Conference 13 th Annual Professional Development Conference, September 19, 2014, Richmond, VA (with Rachel Suddarth) Immigration Issues for Universities National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) Immigration and Employment Virtual Seminar, July 2004 (Nationwide audience of college and university counsel and administrators) International Employment Issues for Non-Profit Organizations Idealist.org Action Without Borders, Putting People at the Center Seminar, June 2003, Philadelphia, PA Immigration Law Issues and Strategies for University Research Operations after September 11 Under the Microscope: University Research and Technology Transfer in the 21 st Century, National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) Meeting, November 2002, Washington D.C. INS/SEVIS/CHEV Update Southwestern Virginia International Educators Fall Meeting, October 2002, Radford, VA Placing International Students in Work Experiences: Keeping it Legal Virginia Commonwealth University Career Center and Office of International Education Workshop, September 2002, Richmond, VA Representing the Foreign National: Immigration Issues in Criminal Law Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Seminar, Fall 2001, Roanoke, VA Telemedicine: Where We Are and Where We Are Going Legalities of Utilizing Electronic Health Information in Virginia, Lorman Education Services Seminar, July 2000, Richmond, VA Prepare Your Workplace for New Liability Risks Posed by Workplace E-mail and Internet Usage Personnel Law Update 2000, Council on Education in Management, April 2000, Richmond, VA PAGE 4
Managing Internet Use in the Workplace IPMAVirginia Chapter Meeting, February 2000, Richmond, VA PUBLICATIONS Why Legal Writers Should Think Like Teachers, 67 J. Legal Educ. 315 (2017). Immigration Law: Faculty and Staff Issues (2004). Monograph written at request of National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) FERPA and the Immigration and Naturalization Service: A Guide for University Counsel on Federal Rules for Collecting, Maintaining and Releasing Information About Foreign Students, 29 J.C. & U.L. 457 (2003). Regulation of Dietary Supplements: Five Years of DSHEA, 54 Food & Drug L.J. 623 (1999). Article cited by U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in its decision Pharmanex v. Shalala, 221 F.3d 1151 (10th Cir. 2000) Previous version of article won Honorable Mention, H. Thomas Austern Memorial Writing Competition, 1999 SELECTED ACADEMIC SERVICE Professional Identity Committee, University of Richmond School of Law, Fall 2018-present Faculty Development Committee, University of Richmond, Fall 2017-present Curriculum Committee, University of Richmond School of Law, Fall 2015-present Culture and Languages Across the Curriculum Committee, University of Richmond School of Law, 2014-17 Judge, Barnett Moot Court Competition, University of Richmond School of Law, Spring 2017 Faculty Learning Community: Law as a Healing Profession, University of Richmond School of Law, 2015-16 Student Affairs Committee, University of Richmond School of Law, 2014-15 Admissions Committee, University of Richmond School of Law, 2013-14 Faculty Learning Community: New Faculty, University of Richmond, 2013-14 Reviewer, Journal of College and University Law, 2004 Presenter, Legal Career Fair, University of Richmond, October 2002 Judge, First Year Oral Arguments, University of Virginia, 2000 and 2016 Editorial Board, Journal of Social Policy and the Law, 1998-1999 Secretary, UVA Law School Criminal Law Student Organization, 1996-1997 PAGE 5
COMMUNITY SERVICE Volunteer, J.B. Watkins Elementary, 2009-15 Assist in kindergarten -2 nd grade classrooms. Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Tax and Law Committee, 2002-2003 Planned and organized educational events designed to inform the Richmond Hispanic community of relevant tax and immigration laws. Wrote winning grant proposal to fund such activities. Volunteer, Linwood Holton Elementary, 2001-2002 Worked with low-performing kindergarten students on reading skills. Pro Bono Attorney, Virginia Legal Aid Society, 1999-2001 Provided advice and representation on housing matters to qualified low-income individuals. Virginia Bar Association Young Lawyers Division School Program, 1999-2001 Prepared and presented regular lessons on law and government to fifth grade classroom, including mock trial project. Served on organizational committee (2000-2001). PAGE 6