Edwardsville, Ill. – July 31, 2026 – The Gori Law Firm proudly welcomed 10 students this summer to serve as law clerks and interns for the firm’s office and headquarters in Edwardsville, Ill.
The selected students come from across Illinois and Missouri and have spent the past few months deepening their legal knowledge and skills and preparing for future careers in law by contributing to ongoing casework and collaborating with the firm’s award-winning team of attorneys on research, writing, discovery and trial preparation.
“This is a generation of enthusiastic young professionals, and we’re excited to provide them with an opportunity to take what they learn in the classroom and apply it in a real-world setting,” said Sara Salger, managing partner of The Gori Law Firm. “We have a very talented group of both new and returning individuals joining us this summer, all of whom bring unique experiences and backgrounds. It’s been a pleasure getting to invest in their careers, and we look forward to seeing where their drive and passion take them.”
“Students come from across the region, including grad students from law schools, like my alma mater, Saint Louis University,” said attorney and partner Chris Layloff. “It’s great to make these connections and contribute to their professional careers.”
Meet The Gori Law Firm’s 2026 Summer Law Clerks and Interns:
Caitlyn Ashbury – Caitlin Asbury serves as a law clerk for The Gori Law Firm’s personal injury department, where she assists attorneys in advocating for injured individuals. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from McKendree University, where she graduated summa cum laude with a major in sociology and criminal justice and a minor in the honors program. She is currently pursuing her Juris Doctor at Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School.
Ashlyn Betz – After graduating from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a degree in political science, Ashlyn Betz joined The Gori Law Firm as a legal assistant, where she worked in asbestos litigation. The experience and encouragement she received at the firm inspired her to attend law school at Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School. Since completing her first year of law school, Betz has accepted a teaching assistant position at the law school. She was also chosen to serve as a mentor for incoming students through the Taylor Mattis Fellowship Program and elected secretary of the Women’s Law Forum.
Jessica Booher – Jessica Booher is a rising third-year law student and Dean’s Scholar at Saint Louis University Law School, where she has earned awards in both health care law and criminal law. Booher is the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund president, a faculty fellow and a Student Services office assistant. She grew up near Akron, Ohio, and studied mathematics, marketing, and data science at Westminster College in Pennsylvania, graduating summa cum laude before working as a software engineer.
Tori Kierbach – Tori Kierbach is a rising second-year law student at Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School. In 2025, she graduated summa cum laude from Williams Baptist University with a Bachelor of Science in biology and a minor in political science while competing as a collegiate student-athlete. During her first year of law school, Kierbach finished in the top 10 of her class and earned two CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Contracts I & Contracts II. This coming year, she will serve as a teaching assistant for Contracts, Torts, and Mastering Legal Education.
Paige Lampin – Paige Lampin is currently pursuing her Juris Doctor at the Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School. She graduated summa cum laude from Lindenwood University with a Bachelor of Arts in advertising and public relations, and is the recipient of the Alexa Presley Advertising Award, the university’s highest honor for a graduating advertising student. Lampin also served as vice president and treasurer of the Advertising & Public Relations Club and was inducted into Alpha Delta Sigma, the national advertising honor society. She is also a member of Phi Delta Phi Law Fraternity and the Women’s Law Forum at Simmons Law School.
Craig McGee – Craig McGee graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a minor in Spanish. McGee is a rising second-year law student at Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School. He is a research assistant, member of the Black Law Student Association executive board and a recipient of the Madison County Bar Association Scholarship. McGee was recently published as a co-author in the Illinois State Bar Association’s Diversity Matters Newsletter.
Connor Parkinson – Conor Parkinson graduated from Granite City High School before attending Missouri State University. There, he earned his Bachelor of Science in political science with distinction, alongside a minor in criminology. Parkinson is currently a second-year law student pursuing his Juris Doctor at Saint Louis University School of Law.
Toby Sommer – Toby Sommer is returning for his second summer at The Gori Law Firm. His legal experience includes personal injury, workers’ compensation, mass tort and municipal law. Sommer attends Missouri State University in Springfield, where he also works part-time at Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer, and Patton P.C. He is pursuing a degree in political science and a minor in economics and is on track to graduate in three years before attending law school in Fall 2027.
Carson Walker – Carson Walker is a recent graduate from Belleville Township High School West. He graduated cum laude and will be attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the fall, where he will major in political science with plans to attend law school. Until then, Walker is gaining new experience at The Gori Law Firm, where he is interning in the personal injury department, reviewing clinical data, ensuring client privacy and providing litigation support.
Brianna Winston – Brianna Winston graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice. Currently entering her second year at Saint Louis University School of Law, she is pursuing her Juris Doctor through the part-time evening program while working full-time at The Gori Law Firm. Throughout her career, Brianna has gained experience in mass tort, asbestos, and personal injury litigation, developing skills in case management, client relations and litigation support.
For more information regarding The Gori Law Firm’s services and areas of law practiced by attorneys, please visit gorilaw.com or call 877-456-5419 to contact a representative.