Kicking Off the Fall Quarter: A Season of Connection and Opportunity

The fall quarter at Baylor Law School began with plenty of energy for business and transactional law. This September, students met the faculty, heard from recent graduates who are now thriving in practice, and learned about new ways to build their careers beyond the classroom. Together, these three events captured what makes Baylor’s transactional program special: a community built on mentorship, practical preparation, and real opportunity.

Business and Transactional Law Faculty Kickoff

On September 9, the Business Law Society hosted the Business and Transactional Law Faculty Kickoff. Students got a full picture of everything the program offers, including practice areas that span corporate, real estate, intellectual property, tax and regulation, trusts and estates, and state and local government work. Attendees learned about signature opportunities such as Business Law Boot Camp, the Transactional Mentorship Program, and the In-House Counsel Externship Program. The program also highlighted Baylor’s clinics, including the Entrepreneurship Clinic, along with transactional competition teams that compete at events such as UCLA, Wayne State, and the William & Mary Colonial Cup. 

Most importantly, the kickoff gave students the chance to meet and talk with the faculty who teach and mentor in the program, including our newest colleague, Professor Ben Rosenblum. Students also heard about ways to get involved outside the law school, from bar association sections to the Baylor Business Law Society. It was a warm welcome to a new year and a clear reminder that students in this program never have to find their path alone.

CDO Practice Area Spotlight: Business and Transactional Panel

On September 21, Professor Michael Smith moderated an engaging panel of recent Baylor Law graduates who are now building careers in business and transactional practice: 

• John Laughlin, J.D. ’23 (Gibson Dunn, Dallas)
• Walker Montjoy, J.D. ’25 (Simpson Thacher, Houston)
• Noah Patrick, J.D. ’22 (Neighborly, Waco)
• Trey Torres, J.D. ’24 (Neighborly, Waco)
• Garrett Welch, J.D. ’25 (Hogan Lovells Cadwalader, Houston)
• Claire Zurovec, J.D. ’25 (Jackson Walker, Austin)

The panelists spoke openly about the steps they took in law school to strengthen their candidacy for business and transactional jobs, and they shared the very personal journeys that led to their first positions after graduation. Their advice was practical and generous. They covered how to pursue transactional law intentionally throughout law school, what employers look for during hiring, and what life actually looks like in the first years of practice. Hearing from alumni who sat in the same classrooms not long ago was both inspiring and encouraging for our students. We are deeply grateful to each panelist for giving their time and for continuing to invest in the Baylor Law community.

State Bar of Texas Business Law Section Presentation

The kickoff series wrapped up on September 23 with a presentation from the State Bar of Texas Business Law Section on the Section’s Business Law Fellows Program and other resources available to law students through the Section. Baylor Lawyers Wayne Whitaker, J.D. ’71, and Christina Woodall, J.D. ’25, offered firsthand accounts of how they have benefited from their involvement in the Business Law Section. They also provided practical advice on matters generally of interest to students who want to explore a career path that involves practicing business law. 

Looking Ahead

These events set a wonderful tone for the year ahead. Thank you to our faculty, our alumni panelists, the State Bar of Texas Business Law Section, and every student who joined us. We can’t wait to see what this fall brings for Baylor’s business and transactional law community.