What do opera and oral advocacy have in common? For Baylor Law School student Joey Goodale, the connection is stronger than one might expect. After studying music at Dallas Baptist University and earning a master’s degree in voice from Southern Methodist University, Goodale performed with Opera Colorado and the Glimmerglass Festival before reconsidering a career that would require years of extensive travel. His longstanding interest in the legal profession eventually brought him to Baylor Law School, where his experience as a performer has proven unexpectedly beneficial.

In this episode of Counseller’s Corner, Dean Jeremy Counseller speaks with Goodale about his transition from professional music to legal education, managing performance anxiety, and exploring the similarities between preparing for a stage performance and presenting an argument in court.

Goodale also discusses the challenges he faced as a first-generation law student and the importance of connecting with practicing attorneys through Baylor Law’s professional development programs. He reflects on reaching the semifinals of Baylor Law School’s Durham Pittard Spalding Kaufman & Hollingsworth Fall Moot Court Competition, earning a Top 10 Speaker award, and his growing interest in civil litigation and appellate advocacy. Outside the classroom, Goodale continues to share his musical background through a student vocal quartet, Voices of Baylor Law. From the discipline of classical performance to the demands of legal advocacy, his conversation with Dean Counseller offers an engaging perspective on the diverse experiences and interests that students bring to Baylor Law School.