Faculty Profile: Laura Baker

Laura Baker is a Shareholder with the Law Offices of John Day where she handles personal injury, wrongful death, and tort litigation for individuals across the state of Tennessee. In her practice, Laura represents people who have been seriously injured as a result of the carelessness of others. She also represents families who have suffered the loss of a loved one in wrongful death accidents.
Laura's reputation and experience have earned her several accolades. Laura was awarded the Rising Star Award" by the Lawyers' Association for Women in 2016. She was also recognized as an Athena Young Professional Award Nominee in 2016. In 2015, Laura was a winner of the Nashville Business Journal's "40 Under 40" award. Hundreds of professionals were nominated and Laura was chosen based on her professional accomplishments as well as her community involvement. Laura has also been recognized as one of the "Best of the Bar" by the Nashville Business Journal in 2015, 2017, and 2018. Laura was selected as a one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in the Mid-South by Super Lawyers and as a Super Lawyer in the category of Personal Injury-Plaintiff in 2015. She was also named a Mid-South Super Lawyer every year since 2013, and a Mid-South Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2012. Laura has also earned the AVr PreeminentT ranking from Martindale-Hubbell through its peer-review system, which indicates a ranking at the highest level of professional excellence.
Laura is a leader in the legal community. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Nashville Bar Association. She also Chairs the Friday Fundamentals steering committee, a 13-week program for new lawyers designed to bridge the gap from law school to law practice. She previously served the NBA as co-chair of the Chancery and Circuit Courts Committee. Laura served as the President of the Lawyers' Association for Women, Marion Griffin Chapter from 2014-2015. She remains active in LAW, serving on the Programs Committee since 2017. She previously has served this organization in a number of other leadership roles, including as Treasurer from 2012-2013.
Laura is a former Barrister of the Harry Phillips American Inn of Court, and served on the Executive Committee for the Inn from 2017 to 2018. She is a member of the Nashville, Tennessee, and American Bar Associations. Laura is also a Fellow of the Nashville Bar Foundation. Before becoming a Fellow, she was selected as one of 28 inaugural members of the Nashville Bar Foundation Leadership Forum. She now serves as co-chair of the steering committee for the Leadership Forum. In 2013, she was selected to the Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law class, an honor reserved for approximately 30 lawyers across the state each year.
Laura is frequently invited to speak to other members of the bar in continuing education programs on topics of interest in civil litigation and tort law. Her recent speeches have focused on topics of liability in automobile wreck cases, uninsured motorist coverage issues, liquor liability claims, settlements on behalf of minors, and depositions.
A native of Nashville, Laura graduated from Rhodes College and the University of Tennessee College of Law. In law school, Laura focused her studies on advocacy and dispute resolution and earned the Tennessee Attorney General's Award of Excellence in Trial Advocacy in 2006. She also served on the editorial board of the Tennessee Journal of Law & Policy."