Cliff graduated cum laude with his J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law where he served as a Note and Comment Editor of the Law Review. After law school, he practiced commercial and IP litigation for over 16 years as an associate and then a partner at Kennedy Covington, LLP (now K&L Gates). There, he was a member of the firm's Recruiting Committee and helped start the firm's associate mentoring program.  In 2007, Cliff started the North Carolina office of Major, Lindsey & Africa, where he specialized in helping partners and practice groups find new opportunities for their practices. He placed lawyers at mid-sized and large law firms all over the United States, consulted on law firm merger discussions, and collaborated with managing and recruiting partners at numerous firms. In 2014, Cliff accepted the position as Assistant Dean for W&L Law's Career Office where he led a team that dramatically improved employment results for students. Cliff lives in Virginia with his wife, Amy, where he follows Arsenal soccer, listens to live music, and deals with two excitable rescue hounds.