The Pre-Law Fellowship aims to support up to 15 individuals seriously interested in the study of law. The Fellowship includes an enrichment series of nine seminars on topics related to law school, the legal field, and law school application; access to one-on-one application assistance from a professional consultant; access to a designated attorney mentor and law student mentor; a fully paid LSAT preparation course; and reimbursement of related expenses – such as fees for law school applications, Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and the LSAT examination – up to a certain amount. Travel subsidies for those who live far from the designated seminar locations may also be approved. The Fellowship will run from February 2025 through November 2025. 

The Pre-Law Fellowship may be a good fit for you if you are passionate about entering the legal profession and practicing law in Utah, if you plan to apply to law school in 2025, if you don’t have attorneys in your family or network, and if you are eager to engage in a cohort program where you can feel connected, guided, and supported. Becoming a Pre-Law Fellow has less to do with a perfect or aspirational GPA, and much more to do with passion for the legal field and a commitment to moving forward with law school applications in 2025. 

For anyone interested in law school who does not have plans to apply in 2025, this is not the right opportunity for you. Please consider other UCLI opportunities, such as the Pre-Law Symposium on November 8, 2024; LSAT scholarship; internship program; or other pre-law resources. Check back in on this opportunity in future years as you get closer to applying to law school.

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. Undergraduate students studying in the state of Utah are invited to apply, as are individuals who have family ties or who have previously lived in Utah. Students at undergraduate institutions outside of Utah will be considered if they have family ties to Utah, have previously lived in Utah, intend to return to Utah for law school, or intend to return to Utah to practice law. 

To be eligible, applicants must: 

• Be a current undergraduate student or college graduate with an interest in becoming a lawyer
• Reside in Utah, have ties to Utah, intend to attend law school in Utah, or intend to practice law in the state of Utah
• Have a serious intent to apply to law school by the end of 2025
• Be at least a college junior by January 2025; note that graduates or more senior individuals intending to change careers are also eligible for this Fellowship
• Display academic effort and progress; no minimum GPA
• Be able to meet the Fellowship expectations as described below

Pre-Law Fellows are expected to:

• Participate in the monthly seminars on the dates listed below in the section titled “Seminar Schedule” in the format specified (in other words, Fellows are expected to be physically present for all in-person events, and to attend live for all virtual events; flexibility will be provided only for extenuating circumstances explained in advance)
• Devote rigorous study to the LSAT examination by using the preparation course offered through the Fellowship, spending a minimum of 15 hrs/week on LSAT study between February and June 2025
• Take the LSAT examination at least once by December 2025
• Apply to at least one law school by the end of 2025
• Participate in intake, exit, and follow-up surveys administered by UCLI

Awards are selected by a review committee appointed by UCLI. Applications are evaluated on the following: 

• Ability to meet the Fellowship expectations and actively participate
• Demonstrated commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable society in Utah
• Potential for future leadership in Utah’s legal profession

Note that these are the primary considerations for selection; we encourage all to apply, even if you meet only some of the criteria. 

Most in-person seminars will be held in or around Salt Lake City.

• Saturday, March 8 from 10:00am to 3:00pm; in-person 
• Thursday, April 10 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm; virtual
• Friday, May 9 from 10:00am to 3:00pm; in-person 
• Friday, June 13 from 10:00am to 3:00pm; in-person 
• Thursday, July 10 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm; virtual
• Friday, August 8 from 10:00am to 3:00pm; in-person 
• Thursday, September 11 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm; virtual
• Saturday, October 11 from 10:00am to 3:00pm; in-person
• Saturday, November 8 from 10:00am to 3:00pm; in-person 

In order to apply, please fill out and submit all required documentation by December 31, 2024. 

Am I eligible to apply if I have received a UCLI LSAT Scholarship award in the past?

Yes.

Am I eligible to apply if I have been a UCLI intern in the past?

Yes.

Am I eligible to apply if I have participated in another legal pipeline program?

Yes.

Am I eligible to apply if I applied for the 2024 Pre-Law Fellowship program but was not selected?

Yes.

Am I eligible to apply if I applied for the 2024 Pre-Law Fellowship program and was selected?

No.

Is the 2025 UCLI Pre-Law Fellowship open to undocumented students? If so, are they required to have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)?

The program is open to all undocumented students. There is no DACA requirement.

When is the application deadline?

All application materials must be received by December 31, 2024.

What are the program dates for accepted applicants?

The 2025 UCLI Pre-Law Fellowship will run from February 2025 through November 2025.

Do I have to live in Utah to participate in the program?

Because we are dedicated to expanding the pipeline of diverse attorneys in the state of Utah, we have a preference for candidates who are based in Utah or who plan to ultimately practice law in Utah. Students at undergraduate institutions outside of Utah will be considered if they have family ties or have previously lived in Utah, or if they intend to return to Utah for law school or to practice law.

Will you offer travel stipends to attend the enrichment series monthly seminars?

Travel stipends for those who live far from the designated seminar locations will be offered conditionally. 

Will you offer travel stipends to the LSAT prep course?

No, Fellows are responsible for attending the LSAT prep course on their own without travel stipends. 

When are the LSAT preparation courses typically held and how often do they occur?

Each Fellow will receive access to an ACE Test Prep subscription. Live classes and virtual classes are offered on various dates and times, and Fellows may attend classes in the format that works best for them.

What is expected of Fellows who are offered admission into the program?

Fellows are expected to participate in every workshop; act professionally, including meeting deadlines set forth by the program; participate in the LSAT preparation course; prepare and submit at least one law school application by December 31, 2025; and participate in the program from February 2025 through December 2025.

Can I contact the Utah Center for Legal Inclusion if I have additional questions?

Yes. Please send questions via email to .