Believe in Yourself

In Baron Hoy’s legal career, persistence has certainly paid off.

Hoy, ’23, has worked as assistant city attorney and city prosecutor in Newton, Kansas, since February, but his path to success wasn’t always easy or straightforward. While navigating academic challenges as a student at Washburn University School of Law, he never gave up – instead, he worked harder, relying on his self-confidence and determination to get him through tough times. His new positions have allowed him to grow and learn from experience.

“Having two roles and being involved in two departments is very difficult, but overall, it’s been a great opportunity,” Hoy said. “It has challenged me to keep learning and be quick on my feet. In court you go against attorneys who have been practicing for decades, so I’ve had to learn fast. I’ve really enjoyed the challenge.”

Growing up near Wichita, Kansas, Hoy learned the importance of hard work from his father, an aircraft and auto body technician, while gleaning the value of an education from his mother, who worked as a social worker until her death last fall. As a citizen of Muscogee Nation, Hoy attended Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas, for his undergraduate studies. That’s where he got involved in mock court competitions and realized a legal career would allow him to make an impact.

“My focus was on tribal jurisdictions and what that sovereignty meant,” Hoy said. “I got involved in discussion groups on laws affecting tribes, and I thought I could make an impact on that community. I wanted to explore what different laws meant and stand up for clients’ rights when no one else would.”

Hoy’s drive to make a difference took him to Washburn, where he quickly discovered thinking like a lawyer was more difficult than he’d anticipated. A straight-A undergrad student and naturally talented at business, Hoy struggled to apply his skills to legal writing. He needed to find a way to distill his big-picture thinking down to the details – and navigate a learning disability that made following written lists a challenge. Then he met Prof. Lori McMillan, who helped him find ways to look at legal problems through mapping, pictures, and flow charts.

“I always knew he would do great things – he’s a very intelligent fellow,” McMillan said. “I’ve seen a lot of students who when they have a setback think about giving up – but Baron just worked harder. I met with him every Friday to help him train his brain for legal thinking. He’s been successful because of his persistence, and he has great people skills.”

“I would do six or seven drafts and still couldn’t hit the mark,” Hoy said. “Then Lori showed me another way of looking at it that helped me to do well. She’s a phenomenal person and professor and she helped me tremendously.”

While at Washburn, Hoy was also mentored by Barbara Ginzburg, head of access services, who hired him to help pack and move books when the library was relocating to Robert J. Dole Hall in 2023. While working with Ginzburg, Hoy gained a sense of community and an extended support system, which included U.S. Magistrate Judge Gwynne Harris Birzer, BS ’89, JD ’92, who Hoy interned for in Wichita in 2021, and his de-facto aunt Shirley Jacobson, AA ’11, senior administrative specialist at the law school.

“He was quiet but really passionate about what he wanted to do,” Ginzburg said. “He was very methodical and dedicated to becoming a lawyer. Even after we moved into the new building, he was always in the quiet reading room studying all summer long. He was here every single day. That’s what stood out to me most – he has always been willing to put in the work. And he’s a kind person. I think that makes a huge difference as an attorney.”

“She made a very big impact on me by being sunshine when there were a lot of dark moments in law school for me,” Hoy said of his time with Ginzburg. “Those great women in my life led me to where I am today. They helped me get my first As in law school and turned everything around for me. I think you can’t go through law school without a support system.”

Another key part of Hoy’s support system was his mother, who got to see him sworn in as an attorney after passing the bar exam last September. That was a pivotal moment for Hoy, who continues to honor her legacy by working hard and breaking barriers as the first Native American and African American individual to serve in his current positions in Newton.

“It’s important to me because the function of my job is being part of a diverse community with different religions, political beliefs, ethnicities, races – our differences make us strong and give us perspective,” Hoy said. “Historically the legal community is not as diverse because it is resource heavy. The bar exam costs a lot, especially if you study full-time. But I’m the first attorney in my family. I’ve had to learn how to build bridges – I’d say my talent is making connections between people and communities, and that is something to be proud of.”

Hoy looks back on Washburn as the place where he learned what he needed and established lasting connections. This has allowed Hoy to find his footing in a high-pressure career, which often requires him to shift quickly between roles, be involved in many different city departments, and review a large volume of cases each week. Still, his favorite part of the job is helping people.

“The most rewarding part of my journey is bringing resolution to people’s cases,” Hoy said. “I don’t think winning should be a goal of any prosecutor. I think the goal is getting justice, and justice cannot be met without a good defense counsel to ensure procedure was followed and there was sound, competent, and clear evidence in the case. It’s rewarding to work with defense attorneys. It’s rewarding to make a difference in people’s lives and help the city to prosper.”

Going forward, Hoy encourages any law students or legal professionals who are facing challenges to believe in themselves as they continue pushing forward.

“It took me a bit to get where I am, but I did it,” Hoy said. “Despite challenges in life, I think perseverance, faith, and tenacity make the difference. No matter what anyone says, what matters is that you believe in yourself.”