Counseller’s Corner

What does it look like to find your place in law school when your path does not fit a template? Baylor Law School 2L and student ambassador Marley Rokas shares her journey from college basketball at Sul Ross State to Baylor Law and the lessons athletics taught her about pressure, preparation, and persistence. Along the way, she brings the lighter moments too, from Law League basketball to Waco lif...

From ranch work and cutting horses to national Strongman competitions and the classroom at Baylor Law School, second-year law student Niko Nemanic is taking an uncommon path to the legal profession. In this episode of Counseller’s Corner, Niko shares how growing up on a ranch shaped his work ethic, why a conversation about eminent domain pushed him toward law school, and how he hopes to help farme...

In this episode of Counseller’s Corner, Dean Jeremy Counseller sits down with first-year law student Mari Sanchez, who began her journey at Baylor Law School as an undergraduate student worker in the Dean’s Office. Mari shares how her early experiences shaped her understanding of the purpose and community that define Baylor Law School, influencing her decision to attend despite the program’s rigor...

In this episode, Dean Jeremy Counseller sits down with 2L Roderick Wilson, who spent eight years building a career before choosing law school. He shares what pulled him back to the classroom, how coaching high school hockey in Texas helped him find meaning, and why real-world experience changes how you see the law. Roderick also breaks down his winning brief in Baylor Law’s Ultimate Writer competi...

Christa Walton took an unconventional path to Baylor Law School. Before preparing for a career in the courtroom, she was busy developing her music career and scoring soundtracks for Netflix. But the most important part of the story isn’t the career pivot; it’s Christa’s commitment to public service. In this episode of the Counseller’s Corner, Christa shares how Baylor Law’s Career Development Fell...

What does it really take to make the most of law school? In this episode of Counseller’s Corner, Dean Jeremy Counseller has a candid, engaging conversation with Baylor Law student Sheldon Furqueron, navigating law school with perseverance and purpose. They unpack what it’s really like to live and study in Waco, reflect on time spent at Baylor Law School’s Academy of the Advocate in St Andrews, Sco...

After 20 years in the U.S. Army, second-year Baylor Law student Casey Stege has transitioned from the armed forces to studying case law and establishing community ties. In this episode of Counseller’s Corner, Casey discusses how his service influences his journey—from working at a small-town newspaper to joining the Army, and now attending Baylor Law. He explains his desire to become a trusted com...

Elexis shares how, now as an involved student, she contributes to BPILS, including their work to completely transform the Law Center for Adoption Day, and how fostering a dog during finals served as an excellent stress reliever. Throughout her journey, she reflects on lessons from dance and living abroad and highlights her family’s connection to one of Dean Counseller’s favorite films.

From the tennis courts of San Antonio to the courtroom in Practice Court, third-year student Charli Delmonico brings a competitor’s mindset to Baylor Law School. As the current Editor-in-Chief of the Baylor Law Review and having recently finished Big Trial, she reflects on discipline, resilience, late nights drafting motions, and the moment she realized she could do more than she ever thought poss...

In this episode, first-year Baylor Law student Jonathan Winn joins Dean Jeremy Counseller to share the story of his path to law school. Jonathan reflects on his early years performing opera abroad, his work in journalism and marketing, and the experiences that eventually led him to pursue a legal education. Now a father of three, Jonathan also speaks about balancing family life with the demands of...

Jax Mahlstadt, a second-year law student, reflects on leadership, service, and the significance of saying yes at Baylor Law School. As the president of the 2L Student Bar Association and co-president of the Baylor Environmental and Natural Resource Law Society, Jax discusses embracing leadership opportunities, representing the student body, and how prioritizing involvement over a predetermined car...

In this episode of Counseller’s Corner, Dean Jeremy Counseller sits down with seventh-quarter law student Jared Miller, a CPA who holds two master’s degrees, is a husband and a father, to talk about carving a strategic path to transactional practice. Jared shares why he left a successful accounting career with a Big Four accounting firm for law school, how Baylor Law School’s Professional Tracks,...

From the neonatal intensive care unit to Baylor Law School, third-year student Kaitlyn Charles brings a rare perspective shaped by compassion, clarity, and the hard truths she learned as a NICU nurse. In this episode of Counseller’s Corner, Dean Jeremy Counseller talks with Kaitlyn about delivering difficult news, building emotional resilience, and how telling the truth with care is a skill every...

From teaching high school Spanish to tackling the challenges of Baylor Law, Julia Incerpi brings insight and humor to her conversation with Dean Jeremy Counseller. Together, they explore Julia’s hour-long daily commute, her balancing act as a parent and law student, and her leadership of the Hispanic American Law Student Association (HALSA), all while reflecting on the growth that comes from overc...

This episode of Counseller’s Corner features a lively conversation between Dean Jeremy Counseller and third-year Baylor Law School student Caroline Bizarro. Caroline shares what drew her to advocacy, how her experience relaunching the Baylor Undergraduate Law Review shaped her approach to legal writing, and why grit may be the most underrated skill in the legal profession. From moot court strategy...

In this episode of Counseller’s Corner, Dean Jeremy Counseller talks with 2L Kenadie Wilde, a Baylor undergrad, Baylor2Baylor scholar, and student leader, about her journey from overcoming challenges to spearheading initiatives. Kenadie shares insights on launching Baylor Law’s Real Estate & Construction Organization, leading the Women’s Legal Society, and creating meaningful connections that...

In this episode of Counseller’s Corner, Dean Jeremy Counseller sits down with Baylor Law School student Dylan Mayne, whose summer took him from the Gulf Coast to the heart of Africa. Dylan shares how his Baylor Law Externship in Zambia with the nonprofit Undikumbukire Project Zambia gave him firsthand insight into the country’s justice system and the challenges faced by juveniles without access to...

Baylor Law School student Drew Calvert joins Dean Jeremy Counseller to talk about his road to law school and his unforgettable summer at Baylor Law School’s Academy of the Advocate at St Andrews, Scotland. Drew shares how this immersive international experience with world-class mentoring sharpened his advocacy skills and why it is one of the most rewarding opportunities available to law students n...

In this episode of Counseller’s Corner, Dean Jeremy Counseller speaks with first-year Baylor Law student Austin Lalomia about his path from Georgia to Baylor Law School, his passion for prosecution and public service, and how comic books inspired his commitment to justice. Austin also shares insights on leading the Student Wellness Organization and his experience studying abroad in Spain. The conv...

In this episode of Counseller’s Corner, Dean Jeremy Counseller talks with 1L Hope Arredondo, whose dream of becoming a lawyer began at age ten and never let go. Hope shares her passion for prosecution and public service, her vision of being a “friendly neighborhood Spider-Man” kind of lawyer, and how her journey led her to Baylor Law School. Her story is focused, driven, and sure to inspire.

Counseller’s Corner – Episode 14: In this episode of Counseller’s Corner, Dean Jeremy Counseller sits down with 1L Justin Paley, a former tech recruiter with advanced degrees in religious studies, and the host of the Thinking Biblically and Beyond podcast. Justin opens up about his unconventional path to Baylor Law School, the intellectual itch that law school scratches, and the unexpected paralle...

In this episode of Counseller’s Corner, Dean Jeremy Counseller speaks with third-year Baylor Law School student Elsa Tovar Morin about her journey to law school as a paralegal and single mother. The discussion emphasizes the importance of community support and the mindset that has helped her thrive both academically and personally. Elsa shares her reasons for choosing Baylor, the lessons she has l...

Before he was briefing cases, Jerry Attaway was breaking down the Bill of Rights for eighth graders. In this episode of Counseller’s Corner, Dean Jeremy Counseller talks with Jerry—now in his second year at Baylor Law School—about his bold pivot from public school teaching to legal training and the surprising ways his past experiences continue to shape his law school journey and beyond.   The conv...

In this episode of The Counseller’s Corner, Dean Jeremy Counseller talks with second-year law student Lauren Monroe, whose path to Baylor Law School was shaped by unwavering faith, resilience, and a delayed admission that became a blessing in disguise. Lauren shares how she discovered her passion for advocacy, took on leadership through the Student Bar Association, and followed a God-given calling...

From writing code to briefing legal cases, 2L Austin Lau made a bold pivot from software engineering to studying law at Baylor Law School—and he hasn’t looked back. In this episode, he shares what pulled him away from tech, how his Baylor Lawyer dad helped ease the transition, and why he’s so inspired by intellectual property law’s blend of creativity, independence, and constant innovation. Austin...