Counseller’s Corner

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 career path has influenced his law school experience.

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, Special Distinctions, and transactional competitions prepared him for real-world dealmaking. He also emphasizes how prior professional experience can transform abstract legal concepts into concrete business realities.
 
And then there’s that story: Jared shares a memorable story about negotiating in an American Bar Association mergers and acquisitions competition mere hours after the birth of his daughter.
 
The conversation offers insight into preparation, perspective, and the realities of navigating high-stakes professional moments alongside major life events.

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 profession, especially the legal profession, demands.

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 overcoming challenges.

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 to the realities of law school resilience, this conversation is a thoughtful examination of what it takes to grow from an eager 1L to a confident future lawyer.

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 strengthen both the law school and the Waco community. 

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 public defenders. From visiting prison and mobile courts to witnessing the power of compassion in action, Dylan reflects on how the experience deepened his passion for public service and law.

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 nationwide.

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 conversation ranges from fajitas-for-breakfast to the responsibilities of a lawyer—and even dips into lightning-round favorites like board games, road trips, and Italian food.

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.