The 2026 UCLI Pre-Law Fellowship Comes to an End
By: Sabrina Ruiz-Monroy, UCLI Associate Director
The Utah Center for Legal Inclusion’s final seminar for the 2026 Pre-Law Fellowship was held on September 11 at the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah, marking the conclusion of another successful year of the UCLI Pre-Law Fellowship Program. The Fellowship is designed to support students who are seriously interested in pursuing a legal education by providing mentorship, professional development, exposure to the legal field, and guidance throughout the law school application process.
The final seminar gave Fellows an opportunity to reflect on the work they had put into the program while experiencing what it is like to be a law student. The day began with activities designed to bring the cohort together and celebrate the relationships they had built throughout the Fellowship. UCLI Intern Silvia Caballero and Helen Wang helped lead a writing activity that encouraged fellows to reflect on their experiences, connect with one another, and consider the goals they hope to pursue in the future.
One of the highlights of the seminar was a mock law class led by Professor Brigham Daniels. Fellows were provided with a case in advance and came prepared to participate in a law school-style classroom discussion. The class centered on Goddard v. Boston & Maine Railroad Co., a 1901 Massachusetts case involving a passenger who slipped on a banana peel at a railroad station. Fellows worked through the facts of the case, considered the legal issues presented, and experienced the type of preparation and classroom participation expected of law students.As the discussion progressed, it was clear that the Fellows’ minds were turning. What began as a case about a banana peel quickly became a refreshing insight into what law school could look like for these Fellows.
Furthermore, the Fellows also participated in a law school panel moderated by UCLI Intern Cate Carson. The panel featured law students who shared their experiences navigating law school and answered Fellows’ questions about the transition to legal education, the realities of being a law student, and what students can expect as they begin their own journeys. Panelists included Taha Benadallah, Sakina Steflik, and Sven Karabegovic. Sam Nyborg, a Utah Law faculty and administrative representative who works with admissions and financial aid, also joined the panel to provide details and tips into the admissions process and financial considerations associated with attending law school.
The panel gave Fellows the opportunity to hear directly from people who are currently experiencing law school, while also providing practical information about how to prepare for the application process and what resources are available to prospective students. The conversation allowed students to ask questions that extended beyond what can be learned from an application website or information session and offered a more personal perspective on the law school experience.
One of the most meaningful moments of the seminar was the keynote address delivered by Dean Elizabeth Kronk Warner. Dean Kronk Warner spoke about the perseverance required to pursue a legal education and encouraged the fellows not to give up on their goals. She reminded students that law school is attainable for them and encouraged them to continue moving forward even when the process feels difficult or uncertain. Her message reinforced the importance of perseverance and served as an encouraging reminder that the work the Fellows have already put in is part of a larger journey toward becoming attorneys and leaders in their communities.
UCLI Board Member Christina Jepson also joined the Fellows during the seminar and spoke with the group about the hard work required to reach law school. She encouraged the students to recognize how much they have already accomplished and reminded them that UCLI is proud of each of them. Christina, along with Stephen Kelson, was one of two volunteer attorney mentors who attended the event to support the Fellows and participate in photographs commemorating the conclusion of the program.
The seminar concluded with a graduation celebration recognizing the Fellows for completing the 2026 Pre-Law Fellowship. Fellows received certificates commemorating their participation in the program and gathered for individual and group photographs with UCLI representatives and attorneys. The celebration provided an opportunity for everyone involved to recognize the Fellows’ commitment, hard work, and progress throughout the year. Throughout the Fellowship, students have had opportunities to learn about the LSAT and law school admissions, connect with attorney and law student mentors, strengthen their applications, and gain a better understanding of what a career in law can look like. The program is designed not only to provide information about the law school process, but also to give aspiring law students a community of people who believe in their potential.
UCLI is grateful to the S.J. Quinney College of Law for welcoming the Fellows and to the attorneys, law students, faculty, mentors, speakers, and volunteers who contributed their time throughout the program. Their support helps provide Fellows with meaningful opportunities to see themselves in the legal profession and take concrete steps toward law school. Most notably, UCLI congratulates the 2026 Fellows on reaching this milestone. Their completion of the Fellowship represents the culmination of months of preparation, mentorship, studying, reflection, and hard work. As they move forward with their law school journeys, UCLI hopes they carry with them the encouragement shared throughout the program: law school is attainable and their communities are proud to see them pursue their goals!
Applications for the 2027 Fellowship Program are now open and will close on November 29, 2026! Apply here.
