Meet Our Staff

Carol Palmer, founder and president of Palmer Legal Staffing, heads the direct hire placement division. Her 16 years of experience as an administrator of small and large law firms—including 12 years at the Washington, DC, branch of the large international law firm Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds—makes her ideally suited to assess and meet the hiring goals of Palmer clients and candidates. She “loves to help people” and personally recruits, interviews, and matches the applicants she places, so that clients and candidates receive highly individualized assessment and attention. Carol is interested in current events and is active in her church and charity work.
Peter McChesney, Jr., co-principal and vice president, joined the company in 1998, its second year, and now oversees its temporary divisions. Peter's role is to oversee operations and corporate marketing. Under his and Carol’s leadership, Palmer Legal Staffing has expanded more than ten-fold, becoming a leading source of temporary personnel for the legal community in the Washington, DC, area. An avid sailor, Peter lives with his wife and their three young boys in Annapolis, MD.
Victor Palmer, Esq., general counsel, joined the company in 1999, after serving as a chief administrative law judge in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. There, his work included hiring and supervising lawyers, paralegals, and law clerks. His previous experience, after earning his J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1958, has included teaching as an adjunct law professor at American University and representing special-needs children pro bono. In addition to advising Palmer Legal Staffing, Victor is available to consult with its clients. He and Carol live in Bethesda and Annapolis, MD.

Beverley Segel, director of the legal secretarial division, joined Palmer Legal Staffing with over eighteen years of experience in staffing.  Beverley is well-known for her ethical and diligent practices with clients and takes a personal interest in finding the truly right job for her candidates.  She specializes in placing legal secretaries and administrative assistants.  Beverley, originally from South Africa, now resides in Bethesda, MD.

Patrice Scott, senior recruiter for the temporary secretarial and support staff division, has over 15 years experience in corporate management and human resourses.  She is very skilled in recruiting, training and customer service.  Her talents include troubleshooting, team leadership and team building.  Patrice applies her skills and experience to screening and interviewing candidates.  A native of Washington, DC, she lives in suburban Maryland with her husband and two youngest children.  She's also devoted to charity work with seniors and hospital patients.

Stephanie Shemnitz, recruiter, joined Palmer Legal Staffing as the office manager and was the first point of contact for many of our candidates.  Her operational experience and introduction to the business provided a great background for her transition to the role of recruiter.  Prior to PLS she had two years of experience as a marketing coordinator at an employee-benefits firm.  Stephanie was attracted to this company by founder Carol Palmer, who impressed her as “a great lady who really cares about her employees and clients". Among her personal passions are “alternative” music and field hockey – she plays right wing.
Robin Beckwith, accountant and corporate treasurer, graduated from Marymount University in 1983 with a degree in business administration.  She has been with Palmer Legal Staffing since its inception.  Robin is in charge of payroll, billing and general accounting. Robin has two grown children and she and her husband live in Herndon, VA with their dog Leo.