Classmates of Jessica Aber ’06 fund scholarship to preserve her legacy
When Jessica Aber ’06 suddenly passed away at age 43, the world lost a true public servant who fully embodied the ideal of the citizen lawyer. Aber was sworn in as a U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia in October 2021, and in her nearly four-year tenure prosecuted numerous prominent cases, including several cases involving national security. 
Aber earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Criminal Justice from the University of Richmond in 2003. Her law career included clerking for Eastern District of Virginia Magistrate Judge M. Hannah Lauck and time as an associate at McGuireWoods before she became an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Aber spent a year as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division at the Department of Justice before returning to the Eastern District of Virginia’s Attorney’s Office as Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division. She held this position until her nomination as a U.S. Attorney.
Throughout her career, she was successful in helping secure criminal convictions for violent crimes, immigration fraud, corruption and corporate espionage. She was invested in restoring public trust in the justice system and law enforcement and was respected by her colleagues for her leadership and devotion to the rule of law.
This year would have marked Aber’s 20th William & Mary Law School reunion, and in honor of her dedication to public service, members of her graduating class have come together to fund a new scholarship in her memory.
Michael Dick ’06, who recently retired from working as the director of the Law School’s Puller Veterans Benefits Clinic, served in the United States Marine Corps for 26 years before attending law school. His time in the military strengthened his appreciation for the rule of law in the United States, something that he and Aber had in common.
“She was a classmate of mine, of course, and I actually crossed paths with her in the Department of Justice after graduation,” Dick said. “Her achievements, her personality and her professionalism really allowed that office to do great things. The Eastern District of Virginia is an extremely important office and has had a number of high-profile terrorism and piracy cases that she supervised, and I think she did a great job with it.”
Supporting scholarships in general, and this scholarship in particular, is something Dick cares about deeply. Protecting the rule of law requires individuals to choose a path of public service, and without financial aid, some students might feel that they don’t have the option to pursue that career.
Another member of Aber’s graduating class, David Baroni ’06, was inspired to contribute to the scholarship fund because of his own experience with receiving financial support and his belief in the importance of public service. William & Mary Law School’s emphasis on preparing students for public service careers is one of the reasons he decided to attend. He sees scholarships as not only beneficial for helping students access law school, but for giving students the opportunity to choose a career they are passionate about with less concern for paying off student loans.
“There’s a lot of good lawyers can do,” Baroni said. “The more scholarships that are available, the more ability you’re going to have for people to have flexibility in their decisions post-law school.”
Baroni also hopes that creating a scholarship in Aber’s name will encourage other alumni to make a gift to benefit students. Not only will donors honor her memory, but they will be directly supporting future citizen lawyers.
The establishment of a new scholarship for William & Mary Law School students expands the financial aid options available to those who eager to attend America’s first law school. And for students who want to dedicate their lives to public service as Aber did, scholarships and other funding sources—like the Public Service Fund—make that goal more achievable.
“Law school is an expensive endeavor, so scholarships are very important in helping folks who would not otherwise be able to afford law school, or who would come out with great debt, be able to handle it,” Dick said. “Jessica was a very impressive role model and remains an impressive role model for folks looking to go into public service and government service in particular. I think that this scholarship is a great way to honor that service that she gave to our country, the department of justice and the rule of law.”
Scholarships like this one are fully funded by generous donors and can be life-changing for the students who receive them. To contribute to the Jessica Aber ’06 Memorial Law Scholarship Fund, visit the Law School’s giving page. To learn about other ways to support Law School students, contact the Office of Advancement at lsadvance@wm.edu.