Amicus #2: U.S. Diplomat. Mentor. Mom. Why Go To Law School Now?

This is the second episode of Amicus, the Yale Undergraduate Law Journal’s podcast, which features candid conversations with leaders at the forefront of the legal field. In this episode, host Joel Vincent sits down with Kindall Hayes, a highly accomplished 2L J.D. candidate at Yale Law School.

Key highlights of the interview include:

Diverse Background and Career Experience: Before entering law school, Kendall Hayes spent nearly a decade in high-level American foreign policy as a consular officer for the U.S. Department of State. She served in numerous countries, including Bangladesh, Egypt, Jordan, and Colombia.

Government Service: Her background includes serving as a presidential appointee in the Obama administration at the Department of Homeland Security and working on Capitol Hill. She has adjudicated thousands of visa cases and managed the prison portfolio for American citizens incarcerated abroad.

Motivation for Law School: Hayes decided to pursue a JD to gain more flexibility and choices in the U.S. marketplace after years of working primarily abroad. She views the law as a tool to create systems, institutions, and policies.

Importance of Mentorship and Community: Hayes emphasizes that influencers can come from unlikely places, citing her pastor, who encouraged her to become a global citizen and learn critical languages like Arabic. She also stresses the importance of having a strong support system, including family, especially when balancing law school and motherhood.

We are also excited to share an upcoming Yale Law School event led by Kindall Hayes. A Symposium on Citizenship.