David Bainbridge ’26
Hometown: Liberty, North Carolina
Education: Patrick Henry College, government
Who I was then: I grew up on a little farm in the small town of Liberty, North Carolina, as the oldest of eight. I first knew I was interested in law school when I joined the local homeschool mock trial team in high school. After graduating from Patrick Henry College in 2022, I spent four months interning for a lawyer in Cape Town, South Africa, and then a year of school in Prague. Coming into law school, I was fresh off a two-month backpacking/hammocking trip around Europe with my brother and two college friends. I was thrilled to come back to Virginia for law school.
Amazing law school class: It is truly very difficult to narrow down my list of favorite UVA Law classes, so I will just name a few. I loved every class I took from Professor John Harrison, but I especially enjoyed his Supreme Court seminar with Professor Daniel Ortiz where we got to discuss a new Supreme Court case from the last term every week. I also thoroughly enjoyed Professor Caleb Nelson’s Legislation, which challenged me in every class session, and has already proved immensely useful in my first post-law school job. Federal Courts with Professor John Jeffries was another great highlight.
Outside class: I was the clerkships and symposium chair for the Federalist Society, a member of UVA’s Law Christian Fellowship, and a research assistant for Professors Saikrishna Prakash and Xiao Wang. One of the biggest highlights from my time at UVA was spending a ton of hours working with my good friend Eric Meinerding as partners in UVA’s annual William Minor Lile Moot Court competition.
Favorite outing/activity to unwind: My wife (Abby) and I loved walking around our neighborhood at the end of most days just to clear our heads from the day and talk. We also enjoyed exploring the sites Charlottesville has to offer, spending time with friends, and frequenting Black Cow Chophouse, Fiesta Azteca and Bodo’s Bagels. Hooping at North Grounds was another great way to unwind, especially during exams. I also drew plenty of support from our church community in Charlottesville.
Noteworthy summer job: During my 1L summer I worked for the Virginia Solicitor General’s office, which was a fantastic experience. Being in the office during prep for a Supreme Court case and then waking up at 4 a.m. to stand/sit in line to hear the arguments at the court in that case was definitely a highlight. I especially appreciated how much emphasis the lawyers in that office put on helping me grow as a student and future lawyer.
What’s next (job/location): I am currently working in the Office of the Solicitor General at the Department of Justice in D.C. as a Phillips Fellow. After I take the bar in July, we’re headed to Houston, where I’ll clerk for Judge Jerry Smith for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. After that, we’ll head to Tampa, Florida, where I’ll clerk for Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Who I am now: I leave UVA as a very grateful husband, son, brother and lawyer. So many people have sacrificed so much for me, and for that I really do feel very blessed. I am also grateful for the new friends that I have made during these three years in Charlottesville that will hopefully last a lifetime.
What you should know about Virginia Law: UVA is a tremendous place to go to law school. Its professors, staff and students are among the best you’ll meet. One thing I especially appreciate about the school is its commitment to diversity of thought. In times that feel divided, there is often a tendency, on both sides of any given divide, to shut down opposing viewpoints and develop tunnel vision. UVA Law did what I thought was an admirable job of emphasizing, from the start, that higher education is a place where we engage with ideas, not shout them down. In that way, the Law School not only teaches you how to be an excellent lawyer, but it trains you how to be a professional in the real world.