Page 12 - November December CBA Report

By Kayla Lloyd
A Non-Traditional Path to the Bar
Law is a second career for me, a decision I made right before
I turned 30 and the Universal Bar Exam helped me achieve
that dream. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English
and taught high school. My first year teaching, I began graduate
school, and my daughter was in preschool. I was stretched thin,
but graduated with my Masters in Library Science. The long-term
goal was librarianship, so post-grad I moved out of the class-
room and into a college library. Working in the library brought
me immense joy. I was still in a school setting, working with
students, and teaching the occasional research lab. The library
was and still is one of my favorite places and something I advo-
cate very heavily for. Little did I know I’d be back in the school
setting for law school in a few years.
After two years in the library, I felt like I needed to pivot. I
was craving something a little louder and a little more fast paced,
but where I could also utilize the skills I developed on my degree
paths. On a whim, I took a position as a paralegal in an estate
planning and probate litigation firm. Up until this point I had not
considered a career outside of academia. I was certain my next
step would be going back to school for my doctorate, so the legal
field and law school was not something I considered.
I found my time as a paralegal was really gratifying in the way
I was looking for. I loved the urgency of the environment; it was
hectic, demanding, and challenging. I felt like I was thriving, and
within a year, I had been promoted. I was given an office, a raise,
12 and additional responsibilities.
At the same time, the pandemic hit. Life was different in several
ways, but the firm was also going through changes, which for me
felt like I would be pivoting again soon. I was about to turn 30, the
world was thrown into very sudden and extreme chaos, and so it
seemed like the best time to make a dramatic decision.
I decided to take the LSAT, knowing I was ready to go back to
school. Law school felt like the right next step, and I spent time
every day looking at pictures of the University of Dayton. I was
living in Texas, but my parents lived in Dayton. I had two options;
I could stay put and go to Southern Methodist University, most
likely in a part time program so I could continue to work fulltime
or move 900 miles north to Ohio and attend University of Dayton
(UD). My daughter was nine by this time, but I was no stranger to
parenting, working full time, and going to school simultaneously.
But, after some deliberation and conversations with other attor-
neys, I decided the best thing would be to immerse myself entirely
into the experience. No part time programs, no hybrid programs,
just jump in with both feet and do it full time. UD was the best
option. This way we could be close to my family for the additional
support, and I could take time off work. I applied and was accepted
to University of Dayton School of Law in May of 2021.
My daughter and I moved to Ohio and lived with my parents
while I attended school. The three of us were a stellar co-parenting
team. Law school on its own is such a demanding and all-encom-
THE REPORT | November/December 2025 | CincyBar.org