The Sky’s the Limit

For many, the path after law school follows a well-trodden route. For Kali Hague, ’13, that path cuts through the clouds at 28,000 feet.

An accomplished pilot and a partner at the Washington, D.C., aviation law firm Jetlaw, LLC, Hague has crafted a one-of-a-kind career that seamlessly merges her passion for flight with her love of the law’s intellectual challenges. Her unique focus, combined with a strong legal foundation, has propelled her into a rewarding and truly high-flying profession.

A Passion for Flight Takes Off

Hague’s love affair with aviation began long before she ever cracked open a law book. As a child growing up in the Kansas City area, her family frequented air shows, where the roar of engines and the excitement of aircraft in flight sparked a fascination that would define her future. As a teenager, she took a job at a local airport, washing and fueling airplanes to save money for flying lessons. By the time she graduated from high school, she had earned her private pilot’s license.

“I wanted to go to college, but I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do for a major; nothing really felt like it was a fit,” Hague said. “When I started flying and realized that I could make that a bachelor of science degree, I thought, ‘well, that’s pretty fun.’”

This led her to Kansas State University’s prestigious professional pilot program in Salina. There, she furthered her training, earning her commercial pilot certificate and multiple ratings. A career as a full-time pilot seemed to be her flight plan, but the global economic downturn of 2009 sent shockwaves through the aviation industry, grounding many career prospects just as she neared graduation.

“The economy for pilots really took a dive,” Hague said. “There just weren’t any jobs, and I realized pretty quickly it was going to be really difficult to continue with that career.”

From the Cockpit to the Courtroom

Luckily for Hague, a moment of turbulence directed her to a new destination. An aviation law course at K-State opened her eyes to a different way of staying in the industry she loved.

“I loved flying, but there wasn’t as much of an academic aspect to the bachelor of science as I wanted. I realized I really missed that piece of it, and that maybe I didn’t want to fly all the time,” Hague said. “Law school seemed like a good way to combine both interests.”

Looking to blend her technical expertise with the intellectual challenge she craved, she discovered Jetlaw, a firm specializing in aviation law. Before beginning her 1L year, she worked at the firm for a summer, filling in for a legal assistant. The experience solidified her decision.

Since aviation law is a niche field, Hague knew there wasn’t a dedicated program waiting for her at Washburn Law. However, she quickly discovered that the school’s strong emphasis on foundational legal skills would be essential for navigating and excelling in this specialized area.

“When I went to Washburn for a prospective student day, I remember one of the professors telling me that attorneys are professional writers,” Hague said. “She was right, and that mentality has served me well.”

According to Hague, Washburn Law’s emphasis on legal writing gave her the versatile tools necessary to succeed. Dean Jeff Jackson, BBA ’89, JD ’92, who was Hague’s Legal Analysis, Research, and Writing professor, echoed this sentiment.

“No matter what area of law you go into, strong writing is absolutely essential,” Jackson said. “It’s how you communicate complex ideas, persuade, and ultimately help clients solve their most challenging problems – even in highly specialized fields like aviation law.”

Hague’s time at Washburn was also marked by a global perspective. During her 3L year, she participated in a dual-degree program with Maastricht University in the Netherlands, earning a master of laws in international and European tax law. Immersing herself in international legal systems and cross-border complexities, she gained insights that would later shape her approach to aviation law.

Navigating the Complexities of Aviation Law

Upon graduating in 2013, Hague joined Jetlaw, where she is now a partner and chief operating officer. Her work is as varied and complex as the aircraft she flies. She advises Fortune 50 and Fortune 100 companies, as well as ultra-high-net-worth individuals, on aircraft acquisitions and sales. This involves navigating cross-border transactions, tariffs, and intricate tax structuring.

“Often, tax is a big motivator for their purchase,” Hague explains. “Sometimes, what a tax attorney will want to do doesn’t work from an FAA side. We do a good job of making sure that those mesh together.”

Her practice also extends to defense contracting, a sector she says has seen a significant uptick. She works with clients who fly fighter jets to train U.S. and foreign troops – a complex area where FAA and Department of Defense jurisdictions often overlap.

In this highly technical field, Hague’s background as a pilot is not just a line on her resume; it’s an essential tool. She acts as a bridge between the flight department and the C-suite, translating pilots’ technical jargon into relevant legal and business considerations for executives.

“Being able to kind of bridge the gap between them – to say, ‘Okay, your pilot’s saying this, and here’s why that’s relevant to you’ – is really valuable,” Hague said.

Jackson noted Hague’s collaborative strength was evident even in law school.

“So much of the law is working with and helping other people. Kali was always really good at working with a team to get things done,” Jackson said. “She was one of those students you just knew was going to be a success.”

Staying Connected to the Skies

Despite the demands of her legal career, Hague’s connection to the cockpit remains as strong as ever. She flies a few times a month, accumulating a couple hundred flight hours a year.

For work, the firm relies on a Piper M600, a state-of-the-art turboprop that Hague describes as “our workhorse,” highlighting its speed, efficiency, and advanced technology – including an auto-land system. The aircraft enables seamless monthly trips between the firm’s Washington, D.C., and Kansas City offices and visits to clients across the country.

For fun, her ride is decidedly more old-school: a 1946 Luscombe 8E. It’s a small, tail-wheel aircraft with no autopilot – just pure, hands-on flying.

“It’s just fun to fly on the weekends to go get a hamburger or a piece of pie at an airport,” Hague said.

That vintage plane has also been her partner in the Air Race Classic, a historic, all-female cross-country air race. The event, which traces its roots to a 1929 race featuring Amelia Earhart, is a four-day, 2,200-mile test of skill, planning, and endurance. Competing against dozens of other teams, pilots are judged not just on speed but on their ability to plan and execute the perfect flight, navigating weather and taking advantage of tailwinds.

Flying her Luscombe in a race across the country, from North Dakota to South Florida, presented unique challenges.

“Doing it in this plane from the ’40s added a whole new layer of difficulty,” Hague said. “It’s exhausting, but it is really fun.”

The experience is also a powerful source of camaraderie, as Hague competes alongside her racing partner, Robin Laws, and fellow women pilots, forging bonds while navigating the challenges of the Air Race Classic.

“There still aren’t that many women who are pilots in the U.S.,” Hague said. “So this is just a fun experience to be with 100 other women pilots. It’s really unusual.”

Charting a Unique Course

Recently, Hague’s leadership in the aviation community was recognized with an appointment to the board of directors for the Experimental Aircraft Association. This influential organization, which hosts the world’s largest air show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, advocates for pilots and works to make aviation more accessible. In her role, Hague will focus on governance and human resources, shaping the future of the organization. 

Hague lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband, Kent Jackson, a fellow partner at Jetlaw, LLC. The couple shares a strong connection to Washburn, as Kent’s mother, Mary Jo Jackson, BA ’57, late father, Hon. Fred Schuyler Jackson, BA ’57, JD ’60 – who taught at Washburn Law and served on the Shawnee County District Court – and late grandfather, Hon. Schuyler Wood Jackson, BA ’27 – who served as the law school’s dean and later served on the Kansas Supreme Court – are all alumni.

From washing planes in high school to advising global corporations and serving on the board of a major aviation association, Hague’s career illustrates what is possible with determination and a clear vision. Always eager to grow, she continues to seek new challenges and is currently working toward her airline transport pilot certificate – the highest rating a pilot can hold.

For Hague, aviation and law are inseparable, and if you asked her to choose, she simply couldn’t.

“Aviation checks the sense of adventure that I need in my work, and I really like the academic part of the law,” Hague said. “I’m really glad I was able to combine them.”