by Andy Jones and Janet Smith
May, 2017

Haleigh Jones is a person of excellence. Honoring commitments, growing relationships, and serving others all matter deeply to Haleigh. Throughout everything she does, Haleigh is an example of candor, service, and grace.

Haleigh’s commitment to excellence is exemplified by her academic achievements. As an undergrad at the University of Cincinnati, Haleigh won the Edward Coughlin Outstanding Spanish Scholar award and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. This commitment continued into her studies at SMU Dedman School of Law. Haleigh masterfully excelled in both her classes and her extracurricular activities, graduating both summa cum laude and with the distinctions of Fred C. Moss Outstanding Graduating Advocate and as the Executive Editor of the SMU Science & Technology Law Review. Haleigh took SMU’s moot court program to new heights, winning top brief and oralist awards, competing on six moot court teams, and securing the tournament championship at the USD National Criminal Procedure Moot Court Competition.

Immediately after Law School, Haleigh served as a Clerk to Justice Douglas Lang of the 5^th District Court of Appeals here in Dallas. Haleigh tremendously enjoyed this work, and considers Justice Lang to be one of her mentors. Importantly, Haleigh’s service to the 5^th District Court of Appeals turned her acute legal writing and analytical skills into razor-sharp advocacy for her clients today as an associate at Gardere.

Service to the Bar requires more than membership in an organization. Haleigh is naturally giving of her time and abilities, and immediately got involved with DAYL upon graduation. For the past two years, Haleigh has served as a co-Chair of the DAYL Judicial Intern Committee. In 2016, Haleigh was an integral and instrumental part of creating the DAYL’s first-ever Judicial Intern Stipend. She also serves as a member of the DAYL Trial Skills Boot Camp Committee and the Courthouse Tour Committee. At the DBA, Haleigh is a member of the Professionalism and Judiciary Committees.

Haleigh has also served as a coach to several SMU Law moot court teams. She has a genuine passion for learning about and educating her students on the intricacies of appellate law, legal writing, and oral advocacy. She has led her ABA National Appellate Advocacy teams to the final round of regionals for the past two years, securing second and fourth best briefs and two best speaker awards this spring. She also led her National Moot Court Competition team to the final round of regionals, where they won third best brief. Students comment that her exceptional coaching style makes them eager to try out for her team each semester—one of the many reasons why Haleigh was named Outstanding Coach by the SMU Board of Advocates in 2016.

When not engaged in legal pursuits, Haleigh is a joy to be around. Haleigh is a true embodiment of generosity—she is always willing to give of her time, energy, efforts, emotions, words, or assets without the expectation of something in return. Her genuine interest in others make her someone who others can depend on, and her candor makes her someone who others can trust. A person of deep faith, Haleigh enjoys sharing a moment or laugh with all those her life touches.

Congratulations to Haleigh Jones, this month’s Dallas Association of Young Lawyers “One to Watch!”