2024 UCLI & Kirton McConkie Pre-Law Fellowship

We are pleased to announce that the 2024 UCLI & Kirton McConkie Pre-Law Fellowship is launching this March. The first cohort will include ten students or recent graduates from Utah who are seriously interested in the study of law. The Fellowship includes an enrichment series of ten seminars on topics related to law school, the legal field, and law school application; access to a designated attorney mentor and law student mentor; a fully paid LSAT course; and reimbursement of any related expenses, such as law school applications, LSAT test fees, and travel to attend the seminars. The first seminar of the enrichment series will be held in March 2024; they will then be held on a monthly basis through December 2024. 

The ultimate intent of the Pre-Law Fellowship is to increase the number of individuals from historically underrepresented groups in Utah’s legal profession. The Fellowship is designed to provide a pathway for people to practice law in the state of Utah. It is aimed at facilitating opportunities for undergraduate students or recent college graduates who seriously plan to pursue legal education and who have a long-term goal of practicing law in the state of Utah. Pre-Law Fellows are expected to participate in the monthly seminars in-person or remotely, participate in the free LSAT preparation course offered through the Fellowship, apply to law school by the end of 2025, take the LSAT examination at least once by December 2024, and participate in intake and exit surveys. 

We warmly welcome the ten participants in the first ever cohort of this program! You may read more about each Fellow and their impressive accomplishments below.

Thank you to our incredible sponsors who are making this program possible:

Kirton McConkie, Champion Sponsor

LSAC DEI Pipeline

Utah Bar Foundation

University of Utah Office of General Counsel, Supporting Sponsor

Family Law Executive Committee Bar Section of the Utah State Bar

 

Camden Alexander

Camden Alexander will graduate from the University of Utah in the Class of 2024 with two Bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Criminology. She has experience in environmental research, journalism and social activism, and hopes to utilize her skills as an effective lawyer. She plans to attend a law school in the Northeast, but will return to the roots she has established here in Salt Lake City. Upon graduating from law school, Camden intends to serve as a public defender before eventually becoming a prosecutor for the state of Utah.

 

Tala Alnasser

Tala is an Arab-Muslim student at BYU from Jordan and Palestine. She is a Public Relations and French double major and is minoring in sociology. Tala is deeply committed to bridge building and fostering belonging in her community. She has moved more than six different times, and speaks Arabic, English, and French fluently. In her free time, she reads, writes, hosts cook nights and plays chess. She has played for Jordan’s Olympic Chess Team and plays with chess hustlers every time she travels. Tala is a huge advocate for interfaith and cross cultural experiences and deeply believes in the power of proximity as a medium for social progress.

 

Aranza Castillo

Aranza Castillo is a proud first generation immigrant from Mexico. She graduated from the University of Utah in Business Management in 2021. As she navigated the higher education system she started learning about the different systems of oppression and noticed how they manifested in our communities. Through her personal experiences of seeing how systematic barriers have impacted underrepresented communities, it helped develop her passion for social justice. Aranza has always looked for roles that allow her to empower, educate, and support her community. While in school she was involved in various programs aimed at supporting first generation students. Aranza is excited and grateful to be part of the fellowship, and to be able to get closer to her goal of becoming an attorney.

 

Iradukunda Esperance

Iradukunda Esperance is a remarkable fourth-year student at the University of Utah, where she is pursuing a double major in Political Science and Gender Studies. Originally from Kigoma, Tanzania, Iradukunda migrated to the United States at a young age and has since been dedicated to her academic pursuits.

With a deep passion for the legal field, Iradukunda is committed to exploring the intersections of law, politics, and gender. Her diverse background and experiences have fueled her desire to advocate for justice and equality in society. She hopes to make a meaningful impact in the legal profession in the future.

 

Sophie Gordon

Sophie Kay Gordon is a Utah native and recent graduate of Brigham Young University with a degree in English Literature, and minors in Global Women’s Studies and Asian Studies. Passionate about LGBTQ+ visibility and progress, Sophie served as a Committee Chair with BYU USGA, planning activities and leading efforts to advocate for queer students. Since graduating, Sophie has worked as a legal assistant in the litigation section at Dentons Durham Jones Pinegar. In her free time, Sophie enjoys writing, collecting western-inspired trinkets, putting together a good outfit, and traveling with family and friends. Sophie looks forward to being involved with UCLI and applying to law school this fall.

 

Fagasoaia-Iliganoa Leituala

Fagasoaia-Iliganoa Leituala, or Noa for short, is currently in his fourth year of pursuing a mechanical engineering degree at Brigham Young University. Having lived everywhere from Tonga to Utah to Texas, he has had the opportunity to meet and work with people of all backgrounds and beliefs. Noa plans to be the first attorney in his family and one of the first Polynesian patent attorneys in the nation. Whenever he is not learning about mechatronics or calculus, he loves spending time with his family, finding a fun new restaurant with his wife, or volunteering at youth football camps.

 

Audrey Pozernick

Audrey Pozernick is a Philosophy and Honors Political Science major at the University of Utah. Audrey is a One Refugee scholar alumni and cares about advancing racial justice and access. She aims to attend law school to explore her interests in healthcare policy, law, and ethics.

 

Victoria Roberts

Victoria is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science at Utah Valley University, she has also been trying to gain practical legal experience through working as a paralegal for the past two years. As a first generation college student, she has had to navigate completing her education while balancing real-world work. In addition to her studies and paralegal role, she volunteers time as a translator for immigration attorneys. Through this work, she has been able to support immigrants and develop language skills. She also works as a research assistant with the Center for Constitutional Studies at UVU. As a political science major, she is deeply interested in policy, law, and social change. She has high hopes to apply her education and experiences to a career in law after graduation. She is a proud first generation college student and looks forward to all the opportunities ahead as she completes her degree. She is extremely grateful for this opportunity and looks forward to taking full advantage of this fellowship.

 

Ruby Vejar

As a first Generation student Senator at Weber State University, Ruby has reached many lives through art and service. Ruby is involved in almost any club you can think of because she likes to stay busy. She works at Center for Community Engaged Learning, serves as a college mentor, became a USHEAN board member specializing in accessibility and poverty issues, is an Newman Fellow for Utah and was asked to serve on the UServeUtah college Council. Additionally, she is a 7 for 17 award winner and has had the honor of being a panelist in many symposiums around Utah.

 

Bubba Walker

Bubba Walker is studying Experience Design and Non-Profit Management at Brigham Young University. He is a member of the BYU Men’s Lacrosse team and enjoys volunteering with local, youth lacrosse programs. Bubba looks forward to attending law school in Fall 2025.

 

*This project received funding from the Law School Admission Council, Inc. (LSAC).  The opinions and conclusions contained in this document are the opinions and conclusions of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of LSAC.