Cate Carson, Intern

On Wednesday, September 30th, the All Rise Utah Opening Social took place at The Ballpark at America First Square. Graciously hosted by All Rise Utah, a committee led by the Utah State Courts Office of Fairness and Accountability and supported by many in the legal community, this annual event is dedicated to connecting current law students with an interest in becoming a judge with judicial officers from across the state. The event began with a tour of the field and facilities, and Justice Jill Pohlman made a keynote speech about the importance of the legal community committing themselves to promoting justice not just in their future legal professions, but in their everyday lives. 

After that, mixed tables of law students and judicial officers alike began sharing anecdotes of their experiences in law school and what it is actually like to work as a judge in Utah today. I personally had the opportunity to speak in depth with Justice Paige Petersen and Judge Todd Olsen. Justice Paige Petersen was appointed to the Utah Supreme court in December 2017, and Judge Todd Olsen was appointed 4 months ago. Speaking with them and the other law students and hearing their dynamic experiences was not just an eye-opening moment for me, but for everyone at the table. A key idea I took away from both of them was this: not just current law students, but anyone in the legal profession and beyond should aim to maintain the importance of leading with integrity when it is integrated with justice and equity. 

Thank you again to All Rise Utah, Justice Jill Pohlman, The Ballpark at America First Square, and everyone who helped in creating and setting up for this lovely event.

On Friday, August 21st, UCLI kicked off its orientation seminar for this year’s Maschoff Brennan & ACE Legal Leaders LSAT Scholarship recipients, graciously hosted by the law firm of Strong & Hanni. This year’s cohort is made up of 22 individuals who are preparing to take on one of the most challenging steps in the law school application process: the LSAT examination, the admissions test used by law schools as part of the application process.

While preparing for the LSAT can feel daunting, this cohort has an extra layer of support through the UCLI LSAT Scholarship and its partnership with ACE Test Prep, founded by Brent Dunn. Through this partnership, Scholars have access to structured preparation, resources, strategies, and guidance designed to help them approach the LSAT with confidence and a clear study plan.

The orientation featured several presentations designed to introduce Scholars to the program and set them up for success. UCLI Associate Director Sabrina Ruiz-Monroy provided an overview of the scholarship, including program expectations, resources, and what scholars can expect throughout the year. Cate Carson, UCLI Fall Intern, introduced the cohort to UCLI, highlighting the organization’s website, programs, and community partnerships. Scholars then received a detailed and insightful introduction to ACE Test Prep from the one and only Brent Dunn, who walked the cohort through the platform and shared strategies and study tips for approaching the LSAT.

With orientation officially underway, the cohort is now equipped with the tools, resources, and support to begin their LSAT study journey. Over the coming months, scholars will not only prepare for the LSAT but also begin curating their law school lists and preparing the many pieces of their law school applications, finalizing it all by hitting ‘Submit!’ by the end of October 2027.

The cohort was also accompanied by attorney Eli Leggett, part of the aviation, construction, and insurance defense teams at Strong & Hanni. He gave a full office tour to the group, filled with the stunning views Strong & Hanni’s office has to offer, as well as personalized introductions to the different attorneys in the building, going over the various law practices Strong & Hanni offers.

The whole team at UCLI is excited to watch the 2026-2027 LSAT Scholarship recipients embark on this new adventure, and we are grateful to be with them every step of the way.

Thank you again to Strong & Hanni for allowing us to host our orientation event, to Eli Leggett for the personalized tour, and a big thank you to Brent Dunn for showing our cohort the ropes on his highly effective LSAT preparation course. UCLI also expresses its gratitude to the 2026 Sustaining Sponsors whose generosity has made this LSAT Scholarship possible.