Laura Baker is a shareholder and trial attorney at the Law Offices of John Day, P.C. With decades of experience, she has helped individuals and families navigate some of the most difficult and challenging moments of their lives, successfully handling personal injury and wrongful death cases involving car and truck crashes, unsafe property conditions, medical negligence, and defective products.
Laura is known for her strategic approach to litigation, careful preparation, and unwavering focus on her clients. She takes the time to understand each client’s story and builds strong cases through diligent investigation and thorough legal analysis. Her goal is to protect her clients’ rights and pursue the justice and compensation they deserve.
Laura’s work has earned widespread recognition from her peers and professional organizations. She has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs, and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs. She has been named a Mid-South Super Lawyer in Personal Injury every year since 2013 and has also been recognized among the Top 50 Women Lawyers in the Mid-South, Top 100 Lawyers in Tennessee, and Top 50 Nashville Super Lawyers. The Nashville Business Journal has named Laura to its “Best of the Bar” list numerous times and recognized her as a Woman of Influence and a “40 Under 40” honoree. She also holds the AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest peer rating for professional excellence.
A respected leader in the legal community, Laura is a Past President of both the Nashville Bar Association and the Lawyers’ Association for Women. She served on the Nashville Bar Association Board of Directors from 2016 through her presidency in 2020 and as Immediate Past President in 2021. She received the NBA President’s Award in 2017 for her work establishing Friday Fundamentals, a 13-week program designed to help new attorneys transition from law school to legal practice. Laura is also a Fellow of the Nashville Bar Foundation and was a member of the inaugural Nashville Bar Foundation Leadership Forum.
Laura served as President of the Lawyers’ Association for Women from 2014 to 2015 and has held several other leadership roles within the organization. She is also a Master of the Harry Phillips American Inn of Court and has previously served the Inn as an Associate Member, Barrister, and member of its Executive Committee.
Laura’s commitment to the profession extends to service in the broader community. She has been recognized as an Attorney for Justice by the Tennessee Supreme Court for her pro bono work. In 2021, she chaired the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands’ Campaign for Equal Justice, which raised an unprecedented $1 million to support free civil legal services for low-income and vulnerable members of the community. She has also received the Rising Star Award from the Lawyers’ Association for Women and has twice been an Athena Young Professional Award nominee.
Laura is a member of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women, and the Nashville, Tennessee, and American Bar Associations. She was selected for the Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law class in 2013 and is frequently invited to speak to attorneys and community groups about legal issues and developments in the law.
A native Nashvillian, Laura attended St. Henry School and Father Ryan High School before completing her undergraduate studies at Rhodes College in Memphis. She earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Tennessee in 2006, concentrating on Advocacy and Dispute Resolution. During law school, she was selected for the National Trial Team, served as a member of the Tennessee Journal of Law and Policy, and won the Ray H. Jenkins intramural mock trial competition. Following law school, she received the Tennessee Attorney General’s Award of Excellence in Trial Advocacy in 2006.
Laura was born and raised in Nashville and is proud to serve the community she calls home. Outside of her legal practice, she enjoys spending time with her husband, J.T., their two children, and their Labrador retriever, Knox.
Education
- University of Tennessee College of Law - J.D., Concentration in Advocacy and Dispute Resolution
- Editorial Staff, Tennessee Journal of Law and Policy, 2005-2006
- National Trial Team, Member, 2004-2005
- First Place Team, Ray H. Jenkins Intramural Trial Competition, 2006
- Moot Court Board, 2004-2006
- Tennessee Attorney General Award of Excellence in Trial Advocacy, 2006
- Hamilton Burnett American Inn of Court, Student Member, 2005-2006
- Rhodes College - B.A., Political Science
- Pi Sigma Alpha
- Order of Omega
- Intercollegiate All-American Attorney, American Mock Trial Association National Championship, 2002
Publications and Speeches
Publications
- Car Insurance Basics for the Non-Injury Law Practitioner, Legal Summitt, May 2018
- Handling Difficult Conversations with Clients, Legal Summit, November 2017
Speeches
- How to Level Up with Effective Case Management, Middle Tennessee Lawyers' Association for Women, July 2019
- Personal Injury Law, Nashville Bar, Friday Fundamental Program, January 2019
- Rule 12 Motions and the Proper Pleading of Affirmative Defenses, Tennessee Attorneys Memo, Tort Law Conference, September 2018
- #MeToo, How the Social Movement is Impacting the Law, Tennessee Bar Association, Nashville, TN, June 2018
- CLE Presenter, Fundamentals of Civil Litigation Seminar, Nashville, TN, April 2018
- Client Communication and Case Management
- Making the Most of Case Management
- Advanced Discovery Practice – Party and Fact Deposition Tactics
- Rules to Know
- Drafting Pleadings
- Personal Injury Law, Nashville Bar, Friday Fundamentals Program, February 2018
- Just Enough to Be Dangerous: Practice Legal Tips for Your Family and Friends, Personal Injury Law, Lawyers’ Association for Women, September 19, 2017
- Mastering the Deposition: Critical Skills and More, Overview of Applicable TRCP and FRCP Rules, Tennessee Bar Association, April 6, 2017
- Personal Injury 101, Friday Fundamentals, Nashville Bar Association, March 2017
- Deconstructing Dedmon, Nashville Bar Association, December 2016
- Deconstructing Dedmon, Tennessee Attorneys Memo, Live Webinar, December 14, 2016.
- Post-Trial Issues and Preserving Issues for Appeal, Nashville Bar Association, December 2016.
- Sophisticated Deposition Strategies, Tennessee Attorneys Memo, Tort Law Conference, September 2015
- Maximizing Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Tennessee from the Plaintiff’s Perspective, Tennessee Attorneys Memo Live Webinar, July 2015
- Women and the Media: Overcoming Misrepresentation with Effective Communication, moderator, Lawyers’ Association for Women annual free member CLE, December 2014
- Auto and Trucking Update, Tennessee Association for Justice, Annual Review, December 2014
- Legal Realities, Harpeth Hall School and Montgomery Bell Academy, November 5, 2014
- 15 Deposition Rules to Remember, Tennessee Bar Association, Mastering the Deposition: Critical Skills and More, April 10, 2014
- What You May Not Know You Need to Know About Car Insurance, LAW Matters, March 2014
- Theories of Liability in Automobile Wreck Cases, Tennessee Attorneys Memo Tort Law Conference, December 13, 2013
- Rule 12 Motions / Dealing with Bogus Affirmative Defenses, Tennessee Association for Justice, Annual Review, December 12, 2013
- Personal Injury Introduction, Tennessee Bar Association, General Practice Bootcamp, August 15, 2013
- Belli Program: Motions to Strike, Tennessee Association for Justice, June 13, 2013
- Speed Mentoring, panelist, Tennessee Bar Association, Diversity Leadership Institute, January 19, 2013
- Liquor Liability Claims in Tennessee: Who is Responsible When Alcohol is Involved, Tennessee Attorneys Memo Tort Law Conference, December 14, 2012
- Personal Injury Cases in Tennessee: Subrogation, Reimbursement, and Liens for Medical Benefits, Tennessee Attorneys Memo Live Audio Conference, November 15, 2012
- Medical Proof Requirements in Personal Injury Cases, Tennessee Attorneys Memo Live Audio Conference, August 22, 2012
- Liquor Liability Claims in Tennessee: Who Can Be Left Holding the Bag?, Tennessee Attorneys Memo Live Audio Conference, October 18, 2011
- Workers' Compensation Law, United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1995 Annual Steward Conference, September 2011
- More Insurance in Auto Accident Cases in Tennessee: Exploring All Possibilities, Tennessee Attorneys Memo Live Audio Conference, June 14, 2011
- Personal Injury Cases - What Role Can the Legal Nurse Consultant Play?, Tennessee Chapter of the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants, March 12, 2011
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Claims: How to Serve Your Clients More Effectively, Tennessee Attorneys Memo Live Audio Conference, September 16, 2010
- Settlements on Behalf of Minors: Protecting Your Clients and Yourself, Tennessee Attorneys Memo Live Audio Conference, July 21, 2010
- Locality Rule: Recent Case Law Update, Tennessee Medical Malpractice Conference, May 21, 2010
- Dram Shop Laws, “Let’s Talk Law” with Steve Oberman, aired on WNOX-FM 100.3 News Talk 100, November 1, 2009
- Litigation Skills for Legal Staff, Lorman Education Services, 2008
Bar Service
- Nashville Bar Association, 2006-Present
- President-elect, December 2018-present
- Board of Directors, 2016-Present
- Chairperson, Steering Committee, Friday Fundamentals, 2016-2018
- Co-chair, Chancery and Circuit Courts Committee, 2016
- Lawyers’ Association for Women, Marion Griffin Chapter, 2006-Present
- President, 2014-2015
- President-Elect, 2013-2014
- Treasurer, 2012-2013
- Board of Directors, Newsletter Editor, 2010-2012
- Co-chair, Programs Committee, 2009-2010, 2017-2019
- Co-chair, Mentoring Committee, 2008-2009
- Marion Griffin Women’s Symposium, Steering Committee and Champions’ Liaison, 2016-2017; Steering Committee and Programs Chair, 2017-2019.
- Nashville Bar Foundation Leadership Forum
- Leadership Forum Steering Committee, 2015-Present
- Leadership Forum Steering Committee Co-Chair, 2018-2019
- Leadership Forum, member of inaugural class, 2014-2015
- Harry Phillips American Inn of Court
- Executive Committee, 2017-2018
- Barrister, 2014 to 2018
- Associate, 2011 to 2013
- John Marshall American Inn of Court, Associate, 2013-2014
- Nashville Bar Foundation, Fellow, 2015-Present
- American Bar Association, 2006-Present
- Tennessee Bar Association, 2006-Present
- Leadership Law Class, 2013
- Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, 2006-Present
- American Association for Justice, 2006-Present
- Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women, 2014-Present
- Chair, Legislation Committee, 2015-2016
Awards
- Best Lawyers in America, Personal Injury Litigation, 2018
- President's Award, Nashville Bar Association, December 2017
- Rising Star Award, Lawyers' Association for Women, 2016
- Athena Young Professional Award nominee, 2016
- 40 Under 40, Nashville Business Journal, 2015
- Best of the Bar, Nashville Business Journal, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
- Mid-South Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyer, Personal Injury-Plaintiff, 2013-2018
- Top 100 Lawyers in Tennessee, 2018
- Top 50 Women Lawyers in the Mid-South, 2015, 2018
- Rising Star, 2012
- AV® Preeminent™ ranking from Martindale-Hubbell, 2013-Present
Community Involvement
- Tennessee Justice Center, Raising the Bar Committee, 2016
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee
- Co-Chair, Lawyers’ for Littles bowling fundraiser, 2010-2014
- Co-Founder of Lawyers’ for Littles bowling fundraiser, 2010
- Bowl for Kids’ Sake Committee, 2011-2014
- Fund Development Committee, 2009-2011
- Metropolitan Nashville & Davidson County Foster Care Review Board, Board Member, 2007-2009
Client Reviews
So let us start out with this - the few firms we contacted prior to John Days Office were not even willing to listen to the situation and circumstances surrounding the...
The Law Offices of John Day have been exceptional to work with on my case. I have worked primarily with Thomas Mihalezo and his para-legal, Natalie Primm, for the bulk of...
A year ago, I was involved in a car accident that was not my fault. The Law Office of John Day was referred to me by another attorney. Rachael Booker and Vada Newman were...
Other attorneys said my case was too difficult under Tennessee law. John Day's office had confidence and took the case. I received a significant settlement in ~ 6 months...
From my initial call with Penny to my numerous communications with Rachel, the professionalism, efficiency, and compassionate way in which my case was handled was the...
I love the law office of John Day. They treat you with respect, you feel like a family to them. They take time not only to listen to your case also they make you feel...
I would give John Day Law ten stars if I could. They started working with me the very day they agreed to take my case and whether I was working with an attorney or one of...
I definitely recommend the staff at The Law Offices of John Day! Not once did we have to call to inquire if they were working on our case. Alexandria and Natalie were...
Everything was great. You guys are a great representative. I was satisfied with everything. Truly appreciate John Day and his hard-working staff.
We thought that you did an excellent job in representing us in our lawsuit. We would recommend you to anyone.
The Law Offices of John Day, P.C. is, without a doubt, the best in Nashville! They treated me with the utmost respect and tended to my every need. No question went...
I would definitely recommend to anyone to hire John Day's law firm because everyone was helpful, made everything clear and got the job done. I am satisfied with how my...
It's been a long battle but this firm has been very efficient and has done a remarkable job for me! I highly recommend them to anyone needing legal assistance. Everyone...
I had a great experience with the Law Offices of John Day. The staff was very accommodating, and my phone calls/emails were always responded to in a timely manner. They...
The office stuffs of John Day law firm made my injury case with State Farm stress free. They were very professional and respectful. My attorney was accessible anytime I...
