“I think advocacy has always been at the center of what I do,” incoming 1L Hailey Champagne said. “I’ve always felt like I had to speak up, for myself and for others. I think that’s really what pointed me towards law school.”
A first-generation college student, Champagne grew up in Lewiston, Maine, after an early childhood spent in Wisconsin. After graduating from a small high school in Maine, Hailey pursued undergraduate studies at the University of Southern Maine before transferring to the University of Maine in Orono. There, she majored in sociology and political science, minoring in women, gender, and sexuality studies, legal studies, and criminal justice.
Navigating higher education was unfamiliar territory for her and her family. “My parents didn’t go to college, so everything—from understanding a semester bill to applying for scholarships—was new. I was figuring things out on my own and teaching them at the same time,” she recalled. That trial-by-fire experience and self-advocacy became a skill she valued in herself and decided to hone by pursuing her J.D.
Before jumping back into school, however, Champagne worked with AmeriCorps VISTA with the Building Performance Association, focusing on sustainable housing initiatives and earning a Building Performance Institute certification. Her role took her across the state, connecting with contractors, community leaders, and everyday Mainers to talk about sustainability. She also worked in case management—another arena where advocacy was essential.
“I think those experiences confirmed what I already knew: I want to help people navigate systems that often feel overwhelming or closed off,” she says. “Being first-gen gave me an early sense of what it’s like to feel like an outsider, and it made me want to open doors for others, and I really want to do that throughout Maine.”
Those “others” also include her own siblings. Hailey’s sisters are now beginning their own college journeys—one at the University of Maine Farmington and another at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “I’m so proud of them,” she smiled. “They talk to me about everything from paying bills to everyday college life, and I love that I can help guide them. I hope I make it easier for them in the long run.”
When it came to choosing a law school, Maine Law felt like the obvious choice. Champagne studied hard for her LSAT exam, ending up with a score so impressive she broadened her application pool, receiving several acceptances.
“I had more choices than I assumed I would have,” she said. “Even so, Maine Law felt like the right fit. I wanted a place that wanted me, and from the beginning their message to me has been ‘you belong here’ and I believe that’s true.”
Hailey’s long-term goals are ambitious but grounded. She hopes to clerk after graduation, ideally in Maine, and is drawn to healthcare and government law. “I don’t know exactly what shape it will take–and that’s okay– but I know I want to use my degree to make this world more endurable,” she says. Hailey wanted to give thanks to her professors Dr. Sporer and Dr. Glover; her LSAT tutor, Ben Paris; and the UM system for supporting her into a fruitful career path.
As she prepares to begin her 1L year, Hailey admits to the usual nerves but focuses on the bigger picture. “I know I’ll be challenged,” she says, “but I also know I’m here to connect, learn, and grow.”
