The Pre-Law Fellowship aims to support up to 10 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 applications; access to one-on-one application assistance from a professional consultant; access to a designated attorney mentor and law student mentor, and fully paid LSAT preparation course. Travel subsidies for those who live far from the designated seminar locations may also be approved. The Fellowship will run from January 2026 through October 2026.

Please note that access to certain Fellowship benefits will be offered conditionally. Fellows are required to meet certain program benchmarks—including consistent seminar attendance, LSAT class participation, and achieving at least two practice test scores within a certain range—before receiving access to one-on-one application assistance with a professional consultant. Other terms and conditions exist for other program elements such as travel subsidies and reimbursement of LSAT-related expenses.

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 2026; if you have time to devote to the rigorous demands of this program; if you don’t have attorneys in your family or immediate 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 2026.

For anyone interested in law school who does not have plans to apply to law school in 2026 or to devote the required amount of time to LSAT study, this is not the right opportunity for you. Please consider other UCLI opportunities, such as the Pre-Law Symposium; LSAT scholarship; internship program; Ambassador program; or other pre-law resources. Check back 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. We define this broadly to include first generation students, students from rural communities, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and students from low-income households. The Fellowship is designed to provide a pathway for people of all backgrounds 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 2026
• Be at least a college junior by January 2026; 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

Participation & Attendance

• Fellows must attend all monthly seminars listed below in the section titled “Seminar Schedule” in the format specified (allowed to miss one total with prior notice for extenuating circumstances).

LSAT Preparation

• Fellows must devote rigorous study to the LSAT examination by using the preparation course offered through the Fellowship, spending a minimum of 15 hours per week on LSAT study between January and October 2026.
• Fellows must attend the LSAT Live classes (in-person or online) from January 2026 to October 2026.. 
• Fellows must complete a minimum of two proctored practice exams by the month of June.
• Fellows must take the LSAT examination at least once by December 2026.
• Fellows must create both an LSAC account and apply for a LSAC fee waiver in January 2026.

Accountability & Professionalism

• Fellows are expected to uphold professional standards (standard etiquette, prompt communication, and program engagement).
• Fellows must complete all required surveys (intake, exit, post-seminar, and annual follow-up).
• Fellows must submit quarterly progress check-ins with the program director.

Law School Application

• Make active progress on components of applying to law school by completing required assignments throughout the course of the Fellowship.

• Apply to at least one law school by the end of 2026.

Mentorship

• Fellows must initiate and attend at least one mentor meeting per month.
• Fellows must log all mentor meetings and submit a monthly reflection to the program director.
• Fellows are expected to engage with their mentor with professionalism, gratitude, and follow-through.

Please note that failure to meet the expectations for participation as described above may result in consequences, such as not receiving access to certain program benefits or dismissal from the Pre-Law Fellowship program. As mentioned above, access to professional law school consulting and stipend/reimbursements is contingent upon active participation and meeting benchmarks.

Awards are selected by a selection 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 fair society in Utah
• Financial and/or practical need for the services offered by the program

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

Seminar 1: Saturday, January 17, 2026 (10 AM – 2 PM in-person)

Seminar 2: Thursday, February 19, 2026 (6 PM – 8 PM virtual)

Seminar 3: Friday, March 13, 2026 (10 AM – 2 PM in-person)

Seminar 4: Friday, May 15, 2026 (10 AM – 2 PM in-person)

Seminar 5: Friday, June 19, 2026 (10 AM – 2 PM in-person)

Seminar 6: Thursday, July 16, 2026 (6 PM – 8 PM virtual)

Seminar 7: Friday, August 14, 2026 (10 AM – 2 PM in-person)

Seminar 8: Friday, September 11, 2026 (10 AM – 2 PM in-person)

In order to apply, please fill out and submit all required documentation by November 30th, 2025.

• Who qualifies to be a UCLI Pre-Law Fellow?
  Applicants should be aspiring law students from underrepresented backgrounds who are committed to pursuing a legal career. 

• Am I eligible if I am undocumented or a DACA recipient?
  Yes.

• Am I eligible if I received a UCLI LSAT Scholarship in the past?
  Yes.

• Am I eligible if I have been a UCLI intern in the past?
  Yes.

• Am I eligible if I have been a UCLI Ambassador in the past?
  Yes.

• Am I eligible if I have participated in another legal pathway program?
  Yes.

• Am I eligible if I applied for the 2025 UCLI Pre-Law Fellowship but was not selected?
  Yes.

• Am I eligible if I applied for the 2025 UCLI Pre-Law Fellowship and was selected?
  No.

• When does the application open and close?
  Applications for the 2026 Fellowship open October 13, 2025 and close November 30 2025.

• What does the application process look like?
  Applications will be reviewed by the selection committee and final decisions will be communicated by December 2025.

• What are the program dates?
  The fellowship runs from January 2026–October 2026.

• Is there an orientation?
  Yes. Fellows will participate in an orientation in January 2026.

• What is the time commitment?
  Fellows should expect to spend 10–15 hours per month in workshops, mentorship meetings, and independent assignments during the core fellowship. Additional time will be required for LSAT preparation between January–October 2026.

• Will Fellows receive LSAT prep support?
  Yes. Each Fellow will receive complimentary access to LSAT Test Prep, including live and virtual class options.

• When are LSAT prep courses held?
  Course dates vary; Fellows may attend whichever live or virtual class sessions work best for their schedules.

• Will UCLI offer travel stipends for LSAT courses?
  No. Fellows are responsible for attending LSAT prep on their own without travel stipends.

• What is expected of Fellows?
  Fellows are expected to:

• Participate in all monthly workshops and enrichment seminars.
• Act professionally, including meeting deadlines and maintaining communication.
• Fully engage in LSAT preparation.
• Submit at least one law school application by November 1st, 2026.
• Remain active in the fellowship from January 2026 through October 2026.

• Do I need to live in Utah to participate?
  Preference is given to applicants who are currently in Utah or who intend to return for law school or legal practice. Out-of-state applicants with meaningful ties to Utah (e.g., family, prior residency, future career plans) will also be considered.
• Will travel stipends be offered for in-person seminars?
  Yes, but only conditionally and depending on distance from the designated seminar locations.