Sam Draper

As the newest associate of the firm, I come directly from clerking for Judge Clayton Greene, Jr. of the Maryland Court of Appeals. For a young lawyer, that experience was an awesome introduction to the practice of law. Because it is the highest Maryland appellate court, its decisions have enormous impact on the Maryland common law and on the citizens of our State. Judge Greene approached every decision with deep care and concern, not just for the litigants of the case, but also for the precedential implications of the decision.

Working for a law firm, of course, is different than a clerkship with Maryland’s highest court. The focus of the private practice of law is on the client and his or her interests. The transition to becoming an associate with Franke, Sessions & Beckett, however, is not as difficult or dramatic as it may seem. The firm approaches every client with the greatest care and concern, applying the highest standards to the practice of law.

I graduated from Washington College in 2015 with a B.A. in History.  Following graduation, I attended the University of Baltimore School of Law.  During my time in law school I participated in the Jessup C. International Law Moot Court Competition, was a law scholar to the L.L.M. program, a research assistant for Professor Nienke Grossman and a Production Editor on the Law Review Journal.  Additionally, during the Summer of 2017, I was an interim law clerk to the Honorable Judge Richard S. Bernhardt.  I graduated cum laude from the University of Baltimore with a J.D. in 2018 and was admitted to practice in Maryland in December of 2018.

I am excited to begin my career in the field of Estates and Trusts with the team here at Franke, Sessions & Beckett, LLC.  Being able to learn from the likes of Fred Franke, David Sessions and Jack Beckett will be invaluable to me as a young lawyer.  The work and dedication that each puts into our various clients is refreshing and something that may not be accomplished at a larger firm.  As the newest member of Franke, Sessions & Beckett team, I am excited to contribute to the small firm culture and bring the same quality of work set forth by the managing partners.