NRES Featured Alumni

Alumna and Attorney Lauren Layne Shifts Gears with Ease

When alumna Lauren Layne (Soil Science, ’06), enrolled at Cal Poly as a bioresource and agricultural engineering (BRAE) major, she intended to pursue a career as a water engineer.

“I applied to Cal Poly because I knew it had the best BRAE program in the state,” Layne said. “I wanted to work for irrigation and water districts,” she recalled. “However, physics and I didn’t get along so well.”

So she searched for a different – more compatible – major within the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences and landed on soil science.

“The seven quarters of chemistry looked much more appealing to me,” she explained. “When I changed majors to soil science, I understood that Cal Poly actually had the best soil science undergraduate program in at least the western U.S., if not the country,” Layne explained. “So, I went to the best school for both majors.”

During Layne’s final year as an undergraduate, she was considering her options for graduate school.

“I knew I would go to graduate school, but didn’t know for what or where,” she said. “I thought I wanted to teach, but luckily my professors allowed me to get some hands-on experience, and I discovered that I did not want to teach!

“At some point during my time as an undergrad, someone mentioned the idea of law school,” Layne continued. “I didn’t know anything about applying or going to law school; however, I liked the idea of becoming a water lawyer. I took a chance and applied.”

Cal Poly prepared her well for her foray into law school.

Cal Poly taught me that I can learn to do anything by putting in the hard work and time.

— Lauren Layne

“Law school was foreign to me,” she said. “Writing like a lawyer is nothing like writing like a scientist. I put in a great deal of time and effort to understand how to read case law and write legal analyses. From my time at Cal Poly, I knew how to manage my time efficiently and work hard. By applying those skills, I was able to put in the effort it took for me to be successful in law school and, similarly, as a lawyer.

“I am a huge advocate and strong believer in Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing motto,” she continued. “I took advantage of practical experience while at Cal Poly and continued that through law school. Cal Poly taught me that I can learn to do anything by putting in the hard work and time.”

As a partner at Baker Manock & Jensen, PC, the busy water and agribusiness attorney is rarely in her office. “I travel all over the Central Valley to attend several board meetings a week. I represent several public agencies, including irrigation districts, water districts, levee districts and groundwater sustainability agencies. I also represent farmers and ranchers.”

Keynote speaker at 2023 Commencement for the
College of Agriculture Food and Environmental Sciences:
Layne with the Dean, Andy Thulin.

In board meetings, Layne is generally acting as general counsel to the board or committee. “I have to be able to answer any questions asked by the board and advise on a variety of topics. Back in my office, I’m typically drafting or reviewing agreements and contracts, talking with clients, reviewing legislation, preparing water rights due diligence on a real property transaction or working on eminent domain matters.”

Layne derives a great deal of satisfaction from her job, mainly, she said, because of her clients. “I find that I am happiest when I am able to help my clients problem solve or negotiate solutions,” she said. “My clients are wonderful people to trust me, and I work hard to help them. Most are involved in agriculture, and we have a similar passion for supporting the agriculture industry. I get to help them manage compliance with various laws and regulations so that they can continue to grow the food that feeds our nation.”

In addition to a full work schedule and a busy family life as a wife and mother of two boys, 10 and 12, Layne is also vice president of Corkins Farming Inc., her family’s farming company, which grows oranges, grapefruit and olives in Tulare and Kern counties, and she still finds time to serve in numerous volunteer capacities, including as the Cal Poly Alumni Association (CPAA) president and as a member of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Dean’s Advisory Council Executive Committee.

Her involvement in CPAA began soon after she graduated Cal Poly. In early 2007, Layne and her husband, fellow alumnus Sandy Layne (Graphic Communication, ’00), attended a community alumni interest meeting in Modesto.

“We joined the Modesto Cal Poly Community Alumni Association and started helping with events,” she recalled. “When we moved to Fresno in 2010, we helped restart the Fresno Cal Poly Alumni Community.”

Layne served as president of the Fresno CPAA Community before taking over as Central Valley regional director on the Cal Poly Alumni Association board of directors. “After three two-year terms in that position, I was elected president-elect of the Cal Poly Alumni Association board of directors.”

Now serving the first of a two-year term as president, Layne works closely with CPAA’s Executive Committee and Cal Poly’s senior director of Alumni Engagement. “I try to attend as many CPAA events as I can, and I am honored to be able to speak at Cal Poly’s commencement ceremonies during my term as president,” she said. “My main objective is to strengthen CPAA’s relationships on campus. We want to ensure that the various colleges, departments, students and affinity groups know that the CPAA is an available resource to them.”

The Layne family at a Cal Poly alumni event.

“Our job in the CPAA is to connect or reconnect alumni with the university and promote the university,” Layne continued. “Our mission is: ‘To engage and serve alumni; to foster a lifelong connection between Cal Poly and its alumni; and to cultivate goodwill and support for the university.’”

She is involved in several other volunteer roles, both inside and outside her law firm. “Within my firm, I serve as a mentor to associates, the Business Department chair and the chair of the Water Law and Public Agency Practice Groups. I’m also a member of the firm’s Executive Committee,” she explained. “Outside my firm, I serve as co-chair of the Fresno County Bar Agricultural Law Section and as advisor to the California Lawyers Association – Business Law Section’s Agribusiness Committee. At McGeorge School of Law, I serve as president of the Alumni Association as well. I mentor undergraduates and law school students throughout the year.”

Layne, who has stayed connected to Cal Poly since graduation, advises students not to rush. “Make sure you take advantage of all of the opportunities that are available to you as a Cal Poly student,” she said. “Make connections with your peers and with alumni. Cal Poly Career Connections is a great way to meet alumni who may be able to help you or offer some friendly words of wisdom.”

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Read more stories in the Summer 2023 Newsletter