Michelle San Juan, Intern

The Utah Center for Legal Inclusion’s (UCLI) final seminar for the Pre-Law Fellowship program was held on November 8th at the J. Reuben Clark Law School in Provo, Utah. This marks the official end of the 2025 Pre-Law Fellowship. The Fellowship aims to support people seriously interested in the study of law, and includes an enrichment series of nine seminars on topics related to law school, the legal field, and law school applications, as well as access to attorney mentors and private law school consultation. The final event of this program was a highly anticipated event for the UCLI Pre-Law Fellows, where they could celebrate all their efforts this past year. 

Upon arriving at the law school, students had the opportunity to communicate with each other and actively participate in fun activities through an icebreaker activity where Fellows could write wishes and notes to the other members of their cohort. Next, Professor Dane Thorley led the mock law class focused on civil procedure. Prior to the event, a case had been sent out via email to all of the participants to read to prepare for this experience, and the Fellows were fully immersed in the experience – engaging with the material just as law students would in an actual classroom. The session even included the classic “cold calls,” giving participants a realistic glimpse into the rigor and interactive nature of a law school course.

As the next portion of the program, students attended a comprehensive Law School Review session led by Dean Anthony Grover, who provided valuable insight into the law school application and preparation process. During this session, students learned about key topics such as financing legal education, selecting the law school that best aligns with their personal and professional goals, maintaining a competitive GPA, and effective strategies for studying for the LSAT. This review served primarily as an informational and preparatory discussion, offering students practical advice and guidance to help them plan for their future legal studies.

Following Dean Tony Grover, students had the opportunity to explore the law school with guidance from law students Macy Smith, Noa Leituala, and Keni Reed. The tour highlighted key areas of the building, including the courtroom, the library, and other academic spaces that play an important role in the law school experience.

Afterward, these same students held a law student panel, answering any questions the Fellows had to ask about law school, the 1L year, religious requirements at BYU Law, etc. Following the law students, keynote speaker Shubham Shah spoke about his experiences in law school and his transition from being a law student to an attorney. Shubham shared his experiences from living around the world, which contributed to his understanding of other cultures and people and informed his legal practice. His speech was truly inspiring, particularly for students who may feel underrepresented in the legal field or uncertain about whether they will find belonging in law school.  

The event ended with the graduation ceremony. Each Fellow received their 2025 Pre-Law Fellowship diplomas, then captured individual and group photos to commemorate their achievements. To conclude the event, participants enjoyed light refreshments and took time to celebrate together, offering congratulations for one another’s hard-earned achievements. UCLI extends its sincere gratitude to its friends at BYU Law for hosting the seminar and giving up precious weekend time to address the Fellows, as well as the other speakers whose efforts made this event possible.

UCLI also acknowledges with appreciation the generous support of its 2025 Fellowship Program sponsors: the Litigation Section of the Utah State Bar, the B.W. Bastian Foundation, and the Utah Bar Foundation. Their continued partnership and commitment to advancing access to and inclusion within the legal profession have been instrumental in sustaining and enhancing the impact of the Fellowship.

The UCLI Pre-Law Fellowship program offers an invaluable experience for aspiring law students to deepen their understanding of the LSAT and the law school journey. Fellows receive personalized mentorship and guidance from practicing attorneys, gaining firsthand insight into the legal profession and practical advice on strengthening their law school applications. Although the program requires commitment and dedication, the rewards are well worth the effort. Applications for the 2026 Fellowship Program are now open and will close on November 30, 2025. For those eager to expand their legal knowledge, connect with mentors, and take meaningful steps toward law school, this is an opportunity not to be missed.

UCLI Fellows, Ambassadors, mentors, staff and interns gather together for a final picture at the end of the seminar.

UCLI Fellows Monique Alires, Cesar Plascencia, and James Cardon Leota (From Left to Right) wait for the seminar to commence.

UCLI Fellows write letters for one another during the icebreaker activity.

BYU Law Students Fagasoaia-Iliganoa Leituala, Macy Smith, and Keni Reed (From Left to Right) talk about their experiences during a law student panel.

Keynote Speaker, Shubham Shah, talks to UCLI Fellows about his journey and path in the legal field.

The Utah Center for Legal Inclusion is pleased to introduce Helen Wang as its new administrative coordinator. Helen was born and raised in Salt Lake, Utah. She recently graduated from the University of Utah with an Honors in Biochemistry. Helen originally wanted to go to medical school to be a pharmacist, and wasn’t planning on going into law; however, her academic journey led her down an unexpected and inspiring path toward law. In addition to her major, she completed minors in Health, Sociology, and Environmental Sustainability Studies – all of which contributed to her interest in law and in the Utah Center for Legal Inclusion (UCLI). Through these courses, Helen discovered a passion for nonprofit work and for helping individuals directly through legal channels. This newfound interest motivated her to engage in meaningful nonprofit work at the University of Utah, much of which aligned closely with UCLI’s mission. She says, “Being able to interact with different people and hear from different perspectives made me realize I want to engage within that community.” 

Helen first heard about UCLI as she was preparing to graduate from the University of Utah. While researching pre-law internships online, she came across UCLI’s website and was immediately drawn to its mission and impact. Recognizing it as the perfect opportunity to explore her growing interest in law, she applied for the Summer 2025 internship, and was thrilled to be accepted. Working as an intern helped her learn more about UCLI’s many projects, gain hands-on experiences, connect with many attorneys in various fields, and contributed to work she felt deeply passionate about. Helen states, “The mission of UCLI really aligns with my beliefs and what I would like to do with my law degree and create long term change in the community.” Helen has a strong passion for law and a deep desire to create positive change within her community. Although she is still exploring which area of law she would like to pursue in the future, she hopes that through UCLI’s work and experiences she’s had that she’ll be able to discover her passion within law. She is excited to bring that passion to her new role as UCLI’s Administrative Coordinator and to contribute meaningfully to the organization’s mission. 

Helen was drawn to this position because of the meaningful experience she had working with UCLI’s staff during her internship. She valued the opportunities she had to contribute to a variety of projects and learned a great deal from the team. Although her time as an intern was limited, she saw tremendous potential in the work she was doing and felt inspired to continue contributing. Deeply aligned with UCLI’s mission, Helen wanted to build on that foundation to help strengthen the organization’s productivity and further measure its impact on the community. Helen states, “I am excited to continue working with UCLI and expanding and creating change and increasing fairness and inclusion within the legal field.” We are excited and grateful to welcome Helen to the team and look forward to the incredible contributions she will bring to UCLI and the broader community! 

Helen Wang, 2025 Administrative Coordinator