Following the Common Thread: Hailey Batista Seeks to Serve through the Law
As a child, Hailey Batista’s dream career involved becoming an astronaut. But when space didn’t prove to be the final frontier for the admitted Star Trek-Star Wars fan, they looked inward and studied psychology.
No matter the direction, Batista constantly sought a path that would serve others the best. And the eventual decision wasn’t surprising.
“In college, I thought for a while that I would get a doctorate in clinical psychology,” Batista says. “After a talk with a close mentor and lots of self-reflection, I realized that what drove me and the common thread through all of my various jobs since high school was helping people.”
Combining that calling with a love for reading and writing, Batista quickly realized that attending law school and becoming a lawyer might be the best fit.
“After completing my first semester, it seems I was right.”
Originally from Palm Harbor, Florida, Batista graduated from Duke University in 2023 with a B.S. in psychology. During a gap year before law school, Batista completed a year of AmeriCorps service with the GO Foundation in Washington, D.C., providing high-dosage tutoring, mentorship, and enrichment opportunities to students at Center City Charter, Shaw Campus.
Following this rewarding work, Batista checked out myriad law schools and weighed a number of factors. The culture at William & Mary Law School ultimately felt like the right fit.
“When I visited for admitted students’ weekend, current students talked constantly about the network of support and lack of competition at William & Mary Law,” Batista says. “I was skeptical, but everyone I talked to had the same thing to say—people support each other here.”
Early into their second semester, Batista can totally confirm that it’s true.
“This law school is a real community filled with extremely kind individuals, both students and faculty, who are ready and willing to help you out however they can,” Batista says. “I can wholeheartedly say that choosing William & Mary Law was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
Quickly embracing involvement beyond the classroom, Batista is currently a member of the Public Service Fund, OUTLaw, and Lawful Good and is also a Fellow for the Center for Legal and Court Technology.
Knowing that William & Mary Law strives for a diversity of perspectives, Batista hopes to add a unique way of looking at things and solving problems.
“I have ADHD and have always been someone who thinks about things and analyzes them in a much different way than most people,” Batista says. “I hope that approaching things in a novel or unconventional way can potentially help others see issues through a different lens.”
Each day at the Law School, Batista reflects on the promise of becoming a Citizen Lawyer and using a strong legal education to help underrepresented individuals and to work toward making the legal system more equitable for everyone.
Batista also looks forward to a summer internship and possibly getting involved with a journal. “I'm mostly just looking forward to all the opportunities to try new things and figure out what I want my life to look like after graduation,” they say.
But hard work is balanced with a number of hobbies and interests. A voracious reader, Batista’s favorite genre is fantasy, especially the Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman. “I’m on Book Three and loving it at the moment,” Batista says.
Batista also enjoys playing Dungeons & Dragons, watching Dimension 20 and Critical Role, and listening to NADDPOD (Not Another D&D Podcast). Other than that, it’s video games, hanging out with friends, and exploring new coffee shops.
Asked about plans after law school, Batista admits it’s early yet, but working in social justice law is still the aim.
“I’ve also developed a strong interest in criminal law after my first semester here,” Batista says. “Right now, I’m trying to embrace the uncertainty and explore wherever my interests take me.”