Samuel Bissell

Samuel Bissell is an associate attorney in the firm’s education practice.

Sam has extensive experience assisting clients with maintaining compliance with Title IV federal student aid requirements and federal, state, and accrediting agency standards. In particular, since joining the firm in 2024, Sam has counseled institutions of higher education and other education-related entities regarding the U.S. Department of Education’s change-in-ownership and nonprofit conversion procedures, administrative litigation, Clery Act compliance, foreign gift and contract reporting requirements, written arrangements and clinical affiliation agreements, and third-party servicer issues.

Prior to joining Powers, Sam served as an attorney in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of the General Counsel (OGC) in the Division of Postsecondary Education. In his position, he represented the Department’s Office of Federal Student Aid in a variety of administrative litigation matters. He also assisted with litigation before U.S. District Courts. Sam also analyzed institutional mergers and changes-in-ownership for compliance with the Department’s regulations and drafted document requests and decision letters for institutions. Due to his prior experience with the Department, Sam brings valuable insight into regulatory processes and policy considerations to the education practice.

Sam earned his J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law. While in law school, he interned at the U.S. Department of Education’s OGC, as well as the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of the Solicitor. Sam also interned for a United States District Court Judge. While at law school, Sam served as a senior articles editor for the Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice (JCRSJ).

Before attending law school, Sam worked on several state electoral campaigns in Virginia, Michigan, Louisiana, and Ohio.

Sam graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.A., double majoring in government and history.

Licensed to practice in Virginia. Not licensed to practice in the District of Columbia.  All work performed is supervised by a Partner who is licensed to practice in the District of Columbia.