Driven to serve: Mercer Law's Caroline Hager finds purpose in advocacy

For Caroline Hager, a third-year student at Mercer Law, the pursuit of a legal career began long before she ever stepped into a courtroom. Growing up in Lexington, Kentucky, Hager found herself drawn to service from an early age. In high school, she founded a charity that sponsored an after-school tennis and tutoring program at a local elementary school. When the school’s social worker identified families in need, Hager raised funds to help them. But as she became more involved, she noticed something that changed her perspective.

“I found myself faced with problems such as custody, housing, or criminal issues that I couldn’t address,” she said. “Becoming a lawyer would allow me to help in those moments when families need more than goodwill—they need advocacy.”

That drive to serve—through both leadership and law—has shaped every step of her Mercer experience.

As a member of the Student Bar Association’s Community Outreach Committee, Hager channels her compassion into tangible impact. In October, she organized Mercer Law’s Wellness Week Resource Fair, connecting students with local organizations that serve vulnerable populations—including the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank, The Methodist Home, Crisis Line and Safe House, and Habitat for Humanity.

“This role isn’t just about giving back,” Hager said. “It’s about rallying others to become engaged in their communities, whether through legal or non-legal service.”

Her leadership, she says, has strengthened her communication and time-management skills, but more importantly, it has taught her empathy. “I’ve learned how to talk with people who have endured serious trauma,” she reflected. “That’s a skill I know I’ll carry into my legal career.”

Outside the classroom, Hager’s name is well known among Mercer’s award-winning advocacy teams. A member of the Mock Trial team, she helped lead Mercer to victory in the Premiere Trial Competition in Fall 2024 and the American Association for Justice Regional Competition in Spring 2025, earning a spot at nationals in Atlanta. This semester, she’ll compete again—this time at Hofstra University’s National Medical Legal Competition in New York.

“As we say in MAC ‘hard work truly betrays none,’” Hager said, reflecting on those moments in the courtroom. “It’s been such a privilege to compete alongside the Mercer Advocacy Council.”

Hager also contributes to Mercer’s Domestic Violence Clinic, where she’ll begin representing clients seeking protective orders under Director of Experiential Education and Associate Professor of Law Bonnie Carlson’s supervision. Hager is a member of the American Bootle Inn of Court, serves as a peer mentor and criminal law group mentor, and represents the school as a student ambassador for admissions.

When she’s not balancing her extensive extracurriculars, she works as a research assistant for Professor Sarah Gerwig, drafting motions for pro bono cases, assisting with class preparation, and serving as a peer mentor.

“Professor Gerwig has made Mercer feel like home,” Hager said. “She’s an unbiased source of encouragement I know I’ll always have in my corner.”

Hager’s journey to Mercer was intentional. After graduating a semester early from Clemson University with a degree in international business and Spanish—and after two years rowing Division I on Clemson’s women’s team—she sought a law school that emphasized readiness and community. Mercer’s small class sizes and hands-on training were the perfect fit.

“Mercer Law’s commitment to training practice-ready lawyers is real,” she said. “Being able to say I can confidently give a direct examination or cross a medical expert coming out of school is a skill I’ll never take for granted.”

That preparation will soon pay off. Hager has accepted a position in civil litigation defense in Atlanta, where she hopes to build her courtroom experience. But her ambitions extend far beyond billable hours.

“I want to continue pro bono work helping victims of human trafficking,” she said. “Georgia has laws that allow those who were compelled to commit crimes while being trafficked to be acquitted, and I want to help them find justice.”

Outside of law school, Hager keeps her competitive spirit alive. She runs half marathons—including Mercer Law’s Association of Women Law Students annual Lauren Giddings 5K where Hager has won the women’s division the past two years—and enjoys tennis, workouts, and intramural soccer. Her commitment to community doesn’t stop at the classroom door; she frequently attends fundraisers supporting the same local organizations her SBA committee partners with.

Some of her favorite Mercer memories tie back to that same sense of teamwork and service: winning two Law School Legal Food Frenzy competitions, where students rallied to raise money and volunteer at the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank.

“We played trivia, volunteered, involved our families, and had fun doing it,” she recalled. “It was incredible to see our collective efforts turn into real impact for people facing food insecurity.”

From rowing for Clemson to advocating in courtrooms and classrooms, Caroline Hager embodies the spirit of Mercer Law—dedication, service, and readiness to lead. As she prepares to graduate and begin her career, she carries with her not only the skills of a trial lawyer but the heart of a servant leader.

“I chose Mercer because I wanted to learn how to practice law, not just study it,” she said. “Now, I feel ready to make a difference.”