Michelle San Juan, Intern

The Utah Center for Legal Inclusion (UCLI) is delighted to recognize Workman Nydegger as an Advocate Sponsor for the UCLI Sustaining Sponsorship. As a UCLI Founding Sponsor at the Diamond level in 2020, this firm has played an important role in shaping UCLI’s vision and reach from its inception and now continues its impact. Workman Nydegger is an intellectual property law firm in Salt Lake City that provides a range of prosecution and litigation services. Many of its founders and partners have a background in STEM, and the organization has attracted many professionals with backgrounds in science and engineering who can also provide services in IP law. Workman Nydegger has established extensive partnerships domestically and internationally, providing services for over 82,000 U.S. patent matters and more than 25,000 trademark applications across over 180 countries worldwide.

Beyond the impressive work it does in the legal sphere, Workman Nydegger is deeply committed to giving back and fostering meaningful change within the community. The firm recognizes that true success extends beyond the courtroom and is reflected in the positive influence it has on individuals, organizations, and the broader community. Through consistent involvement and support, Workman Nydegger upholds the core values of integrity, service, and collaboration. The company has supported many community organizations, some of which include the J. Reuben Clark Law Society, the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Wishing Place, the Utah Bar Association’s “And Justice for All” campaign, Utah Minority Bar Association, Utah Women in Technology, and many others. These partnerships highlight Workman Nydegger’s dedication to strengthening the legal profession, advancing innovation, and creating opportunities for growth and connection across industries.

Dana Tangren, president and managing shareholder of Workman Nydegger, places great importance on remaining aware of the challenges surrounding inclusion within Utah’s legal community. Supporting organizations such as UCLI reflects one of Workman Nydegger’s core values: actively working to make the legal field more welcoming, representative, and inclusive. Dana asserts that contributing to UCLI not only allows the firm to give back but also serves as a reminder of the importance of understanding the issues of inclusion and making the workplace one where everyone feels valued and respected. On a personal level, he shares UCLI’s core value of recognizing the dignity of all people, and his commitment to this belief has inspired the firm to pursue these goals in their own culture and community efforts. Workman Nydegger strives to ensure that everyone is actively involved and feels valued within Utah’s legal community. Dana hopes that by sponsoring UCLI, their reputation will inspire others to look towards similar goals; he shares his hope that “we take it seriously that people feel that their value and dignity are important.” 

One unique initiative that Workman Nydegger offers is an internship program for undergraduate students who are interested in the legal field and the firm’s mission. This internship, hosted every fall and spring, offers opportunities for attorneys to engage with students from various undergraduate universities through the program, which focuses on mentorship. The firm believes that by fostering these connections with undergraduate students and promoting inclusivity through their internships, attorneys are able to reflect on their own roots and contribute to the development of future legal professionals. Gerrit Winkel, a shareholder at Workman Nydegger, has spearheaded this internship program for the past year and has worked hard to make it an opportunity where students feel supported and valued. He shares that his personal measure of success is when students have a positive experience and speak highly of their involvement. Despite initial challenges in advertising its internship program, Workman Nydegger’s proactive engagement with local universities has yielded impressive results, growing from a single applicant a few years ago to 20 in its most recent application cycle. 

Workman Nydegger’s interns have had a great experience with the program and have stated that they cannot gain the learning experience from this internship anywhere else. One current intern, Francesca Levitas, states “Being a STEM major, [the law is] a field that isn’t really talked about … everything that I’ve learned isn’t something I would traditionally learn in school.” The interns also noted that the onboarding process was very well organized and executed through multiple attorneys who helped them understand what the internship would look like. The mentoring program consists of pairing individuals based on their major to attorneys specialized in the field. Intern Talmage Gibby states that the attitude from the attorneys he works with is  “very much like I’ll catch you when you fall, show you what to do, and move you forward.” Both Workman Nydegger interns are very appreciative of the mentorship opportunities and learning experience gained through the internship. 

This internship initiative goes hand in glove with UCLI’s programming that creates pathways for students of all backgrounds while promoting belonging in the legal community. As Gerrit shares, “the legal field can be a threatening environment and you can feel like you’re competing with everybody… The most important part of having an inclusive workplace is just treating people kindly and making sure they are comfortable.” Gerrit also emphasized that his own faith tradition has guided him to be kind and inclusive toward others. The firm’s values and ongoing commitment to inclusion are evident through the incredible people and programs they cultivate, and UCLI is proud to partner with Workman Nydegger to continue to provide programming that will support students across Utah in their pursuit of the law through the Sustaining Sponsorship.   

Firms interested in becoming Sustaining Sponsors can join UCLI in its mission to promote fairness and opportunity within Utah’s legal community. Sustaining Sponsors play a vital role in supporting programs that provide mentorship, educational opportunities, and outreach to underrepresented individuals in the legal field. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities and how your firm can get involved, please visit UCLI’s Sustaining Sponsorship webpage or contact us directly at . Your partnership helps create a more inclusive and connected legal profession for future generations.

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