“To be selected as a Weigand Scholar and to join such an outstanding network of present and future attorneys is both humbling and motivating. The generosity of J.L. Weigand, Jr. is inspirational and should encourage us all to give back to those communities that shaped who we are today.”
Sarah Burch Macke
University of Notre Dame
Weigand Scholar: 2013
Hometown:
Clearwater, KS
Education:
B.B.A, Marketing
University of Notre Dame, 2009
J.D. Candidate, University of Notre Dame Law School, 2013
- Dean’s Circle Fellow
- Production Editor, Notre Dame Law Review
- Dean’s Award, International Law
Employer:
US Attorney’s Office
In 2009, Sarah received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business. While an undergraduate, Sarah was involved in many extracurricular activities, including the Notre Dame Women’s Boxing Club, an organization dedicated to raising money and awareness to support Holy Cross Missions in East Africa.
During law school, Sarah achieved dean’s list all eligible semesters and was named as a Dean’s Circle Fellow for finishing in the top 10% of the class. During her first year of law school, she participated in the moot court tournament and served as an ambassador for the admissions office. At the end of her first year, Sarah was invited to join the Notre Dame Law Review as a staff member and later appointed to Production Editor for the 2013 school year. As a 2L, Sarah was selected to lead an Academic Success Group for first year students and found tutoring to be both challenging and rewarding. Sarah graduated law school with the highest honors, summa cum laude, and was the recipient of the Dean Joseph O’Meara Award for outstanding academic achievement.
Upon graduation Sarah accepted a position at Foulston Siefkin. She was a member of the firm’s Labor & Employment Team. Her practice included representing clients in a wide variety of employment matters, including civil rights issues, federal and state anti-discrimination laws, contract disputes, wrongful discharge, affirmative action compliance, wage and hour laws, and other federal and state claims. She has represented employers in front of various government agencies, including the Kansas Human Rights Commission and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Sarah’s practice also included conducting internal investigations for clients on-site, directing clients in the performance of internal investigations, guiding clients in policy formulation and drafting, and advising clients on disciplinary matters.
In October, 2017, Sarah transitioned to clerk for The Honorable Eric F. Melgren in the US District Court, District of Kansas in Wichita.
Sarah began serving as an Assistant US Attorney in Topeka KS in January, 2019, and transferred to the Wichita office in 2020.
“Kansas has always been close to my heart, even when I have been very far away. I cannot imagine establishing my career or my home anywhere else and look forward to coming home soon.”