Gausnell, O’Keefe & Thomas is happy to welcome Corrin Smith, Alice Chicani, Anne Zuo, Lauren Bina, and Jerry Xia to the firm as law clerks.
Corrin is originally from California and earned her B.S. in Chemistry and B.A. in Pre-Law Sociology with a minor in Political Science from Ohio University. During her time there, she was actively involved in Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Chi Sigma, Phi Alpha Delta, the Athens County Joint Police Advisory Council, the Ohio University Libraries Student Advisory Board, Student Senate, and served as a Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) Mentor. She is currently a rising 3L at Saint Louis University School of Law, concentrating in Health Law and Intellectual Property Law. Corrin previously interned in the Appellate Division of the Missouri State Public Defender’s Office, where she developed her legal writing and research skills by drafting memoranda and appellate briefs on issues such as juvenile certification, ineffective assistance of counsel, and jury instruction errors. Corrin served as a Staff Editor for the SLU Law Journal of Health Law and Policy and now holds the position of Fall Managing Editor for Volume 19. Her forthcoming publication in the Journal, Regulating the Irremovable: PFAS Regulation and the Future of the EPA Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, explores the intersection of environmental policy and regulatory law. In addition, she is a Faculty Fellow, a Teaching Fellow for the First-Year Professional Identities, Practices, and Skills course, and is involved in OUTlaws, the Student Intellectual Property Law Association, and the Women’s Law Association.
Alice Chicani, originally from Louisville, Kentucky, now lives in St. Louis, while her family resides in Bakersfield, California. She earned her B.A. in International Studies from Saint Louis University, graduating cum laude with minors in Spanish, German, and Foreign Service & Pre-Law. Currently, Alice is pursuing her J.D. at Saint Louis University School of Law, with a concentration on International & Comparative Law and Labor & Employment Law, with an expected graduation in May 2026. She is a recipient of the SLU Law Dean’s Scholar scholarship. She was also accepted into the SLU Law Human Rights at Home Clinic, which provides free legal representation for underserved clients. Alice served as a Staff Editor—and incoming Note Editor—of the SLU Law ABA Labor and Employment Law Journal. Furthermore, she serves as the President of the SLU Law Hispanic and Latinx Law Student Association. She has also gained valuable experience working in government affairs and corporate counsel throughout her academic career.
Anne (Zhongyi) Zuo is originally from Wuhan, China, and is currently a law student at Washington University in St. Louis. She holds a B.S. in Business and a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Rochester. Anne has gained legal experience both domestically and internationally. Prior to her clerkship, she worked with the mergers and acquisitions team at a leading full-service law firm in Beijing and interned with Chubb Insurance in Philadelphia. Anne enjoys both instrumental music and vocal music, as well as running and light weightlifting.
Lauren Bina, a Fort Myers, Florida native, is spending the summer in St. Louis for her first law clerkship. She graduated summa cum laude from Florida State University in 2022 with a B.A. in English Literature and a minor in Law & Philosophy. Recently, she completed her 1L year at FSU College of Law, ranking in the top 10 percent of her class. Beginning this fall, she will serve as a staff editor on the FSU Law Review. Her clerkship will provide practical experience with litigation and courtroom practice, helping her refine her interests and determine the area of law she will pursue after graduation.
Ruijie, a.k.a. “Jerry,” is an international student from China. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Grinnell College, a small and quiet liberal arts college in Iowa. He is currently attending Washington University School of Law and is ranked at the top of his class in both Constitutional Law and Civil Procedure. During the summer of 2024, Jerry interned in the criminal defense trial division in Kentucky, where he gained invaluable experience in trial-related issue spotting and legal argument crafting.
