Posted on Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Taylar Hall (TMSL '25)
For Taylar Hall, the journey to law school began not in a courtroom or classroom, but in a Houston Panda Express.
That’s where the Tallahassee native and Florida A&M University graduate—then a Teach for America educator—ran into U.S. Congressman Al Green. A casual conversation about her dreams of becoming a lawyer quickly turned into a life-changing moment.
“I told him I was interested in going to law school,” Taylar recalls. “When I learned that he was a Thurgood Marshall School of Law alumnus, that sealed it for me. I knew TSU was the place I needed to be.”
A leap of faith—and a full scholarship
Taylar had options. She was accepted to several law schools, but it was Texas Southern University that offered the highest scholarship.
“That said to me that they believed in me,” she says. “That they cared about me enough to invest in my future. That mattered.”
With roots already in HBCU culture—as a proud FAMU Rattler—Taylar was drawn to Thurgood Marshall for its sense of community, tradition and purpose.
“If I was going to learn the law, I wanted to do it somewhere that values its students. TSU was that place.”
Building bonds and grit
As a leader in the Student Bar Association, Taylar helped shape student life and build bridges between students and administration. But it was the day-to-day grind—especially her rigorous first year—that left the biggest imprint.
“Thurgood’s first year is known for being tough,” she says. “You’re with your section every single day. We studied late nights in the library, got cold-called in class when we weren’t ready—but it pushed us to always be ready. Nothing was sugarcoated, and that’s what I needed.”
The relationships she built with her classmates and professors remain some of her fondest memories.
“We became a family. We were in it together.”
Now, Taylar is preparing for her next chapter: commissioning into the United States Air Force as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer.
“That’s the plan,” she says. “Thurgood laid the foundation for me to serve, to lead and to stand tall in any courtroom—military or civilian.”
Advice for future students considering TSU
“Come visit. Talk to the students and staff. Immerse yourself in the culture—you’re not going to want to leave.”
From the halls of Lincoln High in Florida to the legal halls of justice, Taylar Hall’s story is one of intentionality, inspiration, and knowing that sometimes, your next big step begins with a simple conversation over orange chicken.
Category: Alumni, Students, Faculty & Staff, News Media