Our Board

Stephen Sachs – Faculty Sponsor

Educated at Harvard, Oxford, and Yale Law School, Stephen Sachs, the Antonin Scalia Professor of Law, joined the faculty of Harvard Law School in 2021. Previously, he was a professor at Duke Law School and worked in the Appellate Litigation Group at Mayer Brown LLP. Sachs started his legal career clerking first for Judge Stephen F. Williams of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and then for Chief Justice John G. Roberts. At Harvard Law School, Sachs teaches Civil Procedure, Conflict of Laws, The Original Constitution, Jurisprudence, Originalism and Its Discontents, and Abortion: Law, Policy and Ethics. He has also published many articles such as Originalism: Standard and Procedure (2022), The Unlimited Jurisdiction of the Federal Courts (2020), Originalism Without Text (2017), and Pennoyer Was Right (2017). Currently Sachs is serving as an adviser to the American Law Institute’s project on the Restatement of the Law (Third), Conflict of Laws. In 2020, Sachs won the Federalist Society’s Joseph Story Award.

Benny Paris – President

Benjamin “Benny” Rioja Paris is a 3L at HLS from Chicago, Illinois. Benny graduated from Harvard College in 2021 with an A.B. in Applied Mathematics and received a Masters in Political Theory from The University of Chicago in 2022. Before law school, he worked for The Heritage Foundation. He spent his 1L summer at Boyden Gray PLLC and his 2L summer at Holtzman Vogel Baran Torchinsky and Josefiak, both in Washington, D.C. He also completed legal work for the 2024 Trump campaign.

In addition to his work as President of the Federalist Society, he is an Articles Editor of the Journal of Law and Public Policy and a member of the Catholic Students Association and Right to Life. He is involved in multiple nonprofits, and in his free time enjoys cooking, the Latin Mass, political philosophy, and wedding planning with his fiancée Mary Hernandez. After law school he will clerk for Judge Smith on the the Fifth Circuit. Ask Benny about the function of our group and the conservative legal movement more generally.

Ryan Keane – Executive Vice President

Ryan Keane, Executive Vice President, is a third-year student at Harvard Law School from Los Angeles, CA. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in economics. Ryan helps lead the chapter by supporting the President and the board. He is also an articles editor for the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, and recently published a note with the journal.

Ryan spent both his 1L and 2L summers working at King & Spalding in Washington, D.C., and will return to the firm as an associate upon graduation. He will join the business litigation group on the appellate team. Ryan spends his free time with friends and family, and by engaging with his local church.

Daniel Nivens – Vice President of Speakers

Daniel Nivens, Vice President of Speakers, is a second-year student at Harvard Law School from Kings Mountain, NC. He graduated summa cum laude from Hampden-Sydney College with a double major in philosophy and government and a minor in classical studies.

In addition to his role with the Federalist Society, Daniel serves as a Deputy Managing Editor on the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy Per Curiam. He is also involved in Harvard Law Christian Union and attends Church of the Advent on Beacon Hill.

Daniel spent his 1L summer at the Institute for Justice in Arlington, VA, and he will spend his 2L summer at Boies Schiller Flexner LLC. Following graduation, he will clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Pierce Sandlin – Vice President of Membership

Pierce Sandlin (’27) is from Dallas, Texas. He graduated from Wake Forest University in 2024 with a double major in Politics & International Affairs and History with a minor in Entrepreneurship. In college, Pierce worked at the Heritage Foundation and with FedSoc nationals. At Harvard, he serves as a Deputy Managing Editor for the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy and is a member of the Christian Union. He is also an active member of Trinity Cambridge Church. He spent his 1L summer at Clement & Murphy PLLC in Alexandria, VA, and he will be splitting his 2L summer between the Fort Lauderdale and DC offices of Boies Schiller Flexner. In his free time, Pierce enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife.

Matt Rocha – Vice President of Social Activities

Matt Rocha, Vice President of Social Affairs, is a second-year student from Melrose, Massachusetts. He graduated summa cum laude from Colby College with a degree in history. Before law school, he worked as a reporter, covering local news in Greater Boston.

Along with his role in the Harvard Law Federalist Society, Matt serves as an editor on the Harvard Law Review and as an articles advisor on the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy. He is also a member of the Harvard Catholic Law Students Association.

Matt spent last summer at the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office. He will spend next summer as a summer associate in Sullivan & Cromwell’s New York office. Following graduation, he will clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Aaron Reid – Vice President of Education & Outreach

Aaron Reid, Vice President of Education and Outreach, is in his third-year at Harvard Law School. Originally from Verdigris, Oklahoma, he graduated from the University of Oklahoma with degrees in Industrial & Systems Engineering and Letters.

On campus, Aaron also serves as the Director of the Journal of Law & Public Policy: Per Curiam and as the Vice President of Christian Union. He enjoys

Aaron spent his last two summers with the Becket Fund in Washington, D.C and O”Melveny & Myers in Dallas. After graduation, he is clerking on the Supreme Court of Texas.

Natalie DeCoste- Vice President of Professional Development

Natalie DeCoste, Vice President of Professional Development, is a third-year law student from Lexington, Massachusetts. She graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts where she majored in political science with a minor in rhetoric & composition.

On campus, Natalie serves as the Co-Vice President of Social for the Harvard Catholic Law Student Association, she is an Executive Editor for the Journal of Law and Public Policy, and is an Admissions Fellow for the law school.

Natalie spent her 1L summer at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, and her 2L summer at Goodwin in Washington D.C. where she will be returning after graduation prior to clerking.

Monroe Harless – Vice President of Communications

Monroe Harless is a 2L at Harvard Law School from Buford, Georgia. She graduated from the University of Georgia graduate with a B.A. in Political Science and Journalism. At Harvard, Monroe serves as an Articles Editor for the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy and a Daniel Fellow at the Center for Biblical Law & Christian Legal Studies. Monroe serves on the board of the Harvard Law Christian Union and is a member of Hope Fellowship Church. Monroe spent her 1L summer at Boyden Gray PLLC and will spend her 2L summer at Latham & Watkins. After law school, Monroe will clerk for Judge Jerry Smith on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Mark Ballesteros – Vice President of External Relations

Mark Ballesteros, Vice President of External Affairs, is a second-year student at Harvard Law School from Westport, CT. He graduated from Notre Dame in 2024 with a degree in finance. In addition to his role with the Federalist Society, Mark serves as a Deputy Managing Editor for the Journal of Law and Public Policy. Mark spent last summer in DC as a law clerk for Senator Eric Schmitt’s Judiciary team and will work in New York next summer with Bursor and Fisher.

Nicholas Nelson- Vice President of Academic Affairs

Nicholas Nelson, Vice President of Academic Affairs, is a third-year student at Harvard Law School from Surprise, AZ. He graduated from Georgetown University in 2023 with a degree in political economy and minors in statistics and philosophy. At Harvard, Nick is a finalist and an oralist in the Ames Moot Court Competition, a Supervising Editor of the Harvard Law Review, and an Articles Advisor of the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy. Nick spent his 1L summer at the Department of Justice’s Civil Appellate Section and his 2L summer at Kirkland & Ellis in D.C. Following graduation, he will clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Lucy Collins – Abigail Adams Chair

Lucy Collins, Abigail Adams Chair, is a third-year student at Harvard Law School from Southern California. She graduated from Columbia University with a degree in political science.

In addition to her role with the Federalist Society, Lucy serves as President for Harvard’s Students for Life chapter and is a Senior Editor for the Journal of Law and Public Policy.

Lucy spent last summer at Kirkland & Ellis in Washington D.C. After graduation, she will clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Will Randolph- Historian

Will Randolph is a second-year law student at Harvard Law School. He grew up on a family farm in Franklin, KY and graduated from the University of Louisville with a degree in political science. At UofL, he was a McConnell Scholar and a national moot court competitor. Before law school, he worked in higher education in Kentucky.

In addition to his role as chapter Historian, Will serves as a Deputy Managing Editor for the Journal of Law & Public Policy and an Assistant Bible Course Leader for Christian Union. He is also a student attorney with the Religious Freedom Clinic.

Will spent last summer at Clement & Murphy PLLC in Alexandria, VA and will be at Boies Schiller Flexner in Washington, D.C. next summer. He will clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit after graduation.

Luke Seminara – Treasurer

Luke Seminara, Treasurer, is a second-year student at Harvard Law School from Morristown, NJ. He graduated summa cum laude from Columbia University with a degree in Political Science. Prior to starting law school, Luke worked as Director of Operations at the Morningside Institute, a New York City-based nonprofit that serves university students and young professionals interested in the humanities.

At Harvard, Luke also serves as Treasurer and Articles Editor on the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy. Luke spent his first-summer at Elsberg Baker & Maruri in New York City, and will spend his next summer at Cravath, Swaine & Moore.