Aaron Thomas Lay
Aaron Thomas Lay earned his degree in agriculture from Tech in 2022, where he originally intended to pursue a career in agriculture policy. He minored in political science, which solidified his interest in law and turned him down a different track. Now, he is at Harvard Law School.
“I have found it incredibly fascinating that the legal system touches every aspect of our society,” he said. “There is a ton of room in the profession to use the skill sets we develop as lawyers for positive change in our communities, and that is what excites me the most.”
Lay received the Derryberry Award at the recommendation of his professors, who praised the high caliber of his work while at Tech, as well as his willingness to donate his time and energy to local, state and national organizations and institutions. He was the president of the Student Government Association and was involved in the Block and Bridle Club and Collegiate FFA, in addition to serving as the president’s ambassador and College of Agriculture and Human Ecology ambassador.
When he headed to Harvard in the fall of 2023, Lay had to be prepared to take his studies to the next level.
“Law School by nature is completely different from my experience as an undergraduate,” he said. “Each of my professors utilizes the Socratic learning method where we are cold-called during class and asked to answer questions regarding cases and other materials we have read without warning. Additionally, the only grade we have for the entire class is a final exam at the end of the semester; most of the exams are completely written exams that range from four to eight hours long.”
The environment is a stark contrast to his undergrad years as well. 
“There’s something surreal about walking through a campus that was founded over a century before the American Revolution began,” Lay said. “My classmates are accomplished individuals who have already completed medical school, flown fighter jets, been child actors, and have participated in cutting-edge research across the globe. Luckily, I have found the community to be warm and embracing and have settled into Harvard Law and the Cambridge area quite seamlessly.”
Now in his second year, Lay serves as the deputy managing editor, per curium, of the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy, one of the most widely circulated law reviews globally. He also secured a coveted position over the summer working at an international full-service law firm.
His wife, Madison Harris Lay, also graduated from Tech with her bachelor’s in housing and design, and her master’s in business administration. She is now a global sourcing leader for Restoration Hardware where she works with large-scale real estate projects, resorts, and multi-family developments.
Looking ahead, Lay plans to graduate from Harvard in May 2026 with hopes to join a large full-service law firm with an international presence, as well as use his training to support the community where he grew up in Madisonville, Tenn.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to study at such a storied institution that has produced Presidents, Nobel Peace Prize Winners, Supreme Court Justices, and countless other individuals of influence. It is an experience that I do not take for granted, and I have found myself fully embracing the journey that lies ahead.”
