From the Courtroom to the Boardroom: Jennifer Hay, JD ‘01, President and General Counsel of Park Lawn Corporation

January 10, 2025

Jennifer Hay of Park Lawn Corp. superimposed on image of Baylor Law School

When Jennifer Hay graduated from Baylor Law School in 2001, she envisioned a career centered on litigation, a path she passionately pursued during her early years as an attorney. Two decades later, she holds a vastly different role as the President and General Counsel of Park Lawn Corporation (PLC), a leading funeral, cremation, and cemetery services provider. Her journey showcases the power of Baylor Law School’s rigorous training and the flexibility it provides for graduates to excel in diverse career experiences.

Jennifer’s journey to law began with a fascination for the legal system and a strong desire to gain hands-on experience. While earning her undergraduate degree in Business Management from Texas A&M University’s Mays School of Business, she interned at the Brazos County District Attorney’s Office and worked on a capital murder case. “That experience helped me better understand what a day in the life of a prosecutor really looked like and that it wasn’t the best fit for me,” she explained.

Drawing on her business school background and internship experience, Jennifer changed her emphasis to employment law and commercial disputes when she began law school at Baylor. Baylor Law School’s broad-based curriculum and focus on practical skills contributed to Jennifer’s early career success in litigation, where she thrived in large firms and boutique practices.

After graduating, Jennifer joined Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP (now Norton Rose Fulbright), where she honed her skills as a young litigator. “As a young lawyer, I was fortunate to be surrounded by excellent role models in the partners I worked with,” she shared. “These strong leaders afforded me countless opportunities to actively participate in representing our clients.” From drafting briefs to arguing motions and taking depositions, Jennifer gained invaluable courtroom experience early in her career. After a few years at Fulbright, she moved to a litigation boutique, Watt Beckworth Thompson & Henneman, LLP, a firm formed by some of Fulbright’s former partners. At Watt Beckworth, she continued an active litigation practice and was exposed to multiple businesses and industries of all types and sizes.

Over time, however, Jennifer began to feel drawn to something beyond litigation. “I had a strong desire to be a part of a business team that was focused on building something rather than remaining on the team assigned to clean up a problem once it had developed,” she said. This realization led her to her first in-house counsel position—a pivotal moment that set the stage for her future leadership roles.

In 2018, Jennifer joined Park Lawn Corporation as Associate General Counsel. Her ability to tackle legal issues while also contributing to the company’s business development and market expansion propelled her to a series of leadership positions, including General Counsel in 2020, Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel in 2022, and President and General Counsel in 2024. She works for fellow Baylor Lawyer CEO J. Bradley Green, BBA ’92, JD ’94. Together, they exemplify the leadership and expertise cultivated at Baylor Law School, driving the success of PLC as a leading company in its field.

Jennifer finds her role at PLC both dynamic and fascinating. “At a high level, every day looks a little different,” she explained. “I have the opportunity to touch on all aspects of our business and operations and participate in setting and executing the organization’s strategic objectives.” Jennifer’s work ranges from corporate compliance, mergers and acquisitions, and day-to-day cross-border operational concerns to working closely with and offering strategic advice to CEO Green and the rest of the executive team. “I find tremendous value in being a part of a business team that aligns strategic growth and organizational success with creating something meaningful for the communities we serve,” she shared.

Jennifer has flourished in her multi-faceted role and credits her litigation training and the practical skills she gained at Baylor Law School, “Having the background and experience of a litigator combined with a learned transactional or business skillset has provided me with a unique advantage in critically analyzing issues and assessing risk,” she said.

Jennifer offers simple but impactful advice for current law school students and recent graduates: keep an open mind. “As a law school student, I wasn’t terribly interested in transactional law because I had the perception that it was boring. With time and experience, it is easy to see that there is nothing further from the truth,” she noted. Her journey is a compelling illustration of the variety of professional options that a Baylor Law School education offers, highlighting how a Baylor Law School education equips law students with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue a variety of legal careers, ranging from traditional roles in litigation and corporate law to innovative positions in public service and entrepreneurship.