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Students helping students become lawyers: 3L Parker Airmet forms Utah Law’s student wellness community
Nov 19, 20243L Parker Airmet admits that he didn’t know much about what being a lawyer meant while growing up, but he did know the value of hard work from his parents, who both showed him how to provide for a family. With this example in tow, along with interests in U.S. government and the Constitution, Airmet decided to apply to law school.
Supporting veterans: Meet 2L Alessandra Coote and learn more about Utah Law’s Veteran Support Center
Nov 11, 20242L Alessandra Coote attended the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, earning her undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering. She spent five years as an engineer officer in the U.S. Army and also graduated from the Sapper Leader Course as a combat engineer.
Video spotlights: Meet six Utah Law students
Nov 08, 2024Six current Utah Law students—Valeria Jimenez, Brock Smith, Rachel Prickett Passey, Nate Bramhall, Kiersten Vandervelde, and Seth LaPray—talk about their law school experiences in the latest Student Spotlight video series.
Protecting creativity: 3L Matt Petersen pursues career in IP law
Nov 05, 2024Though 3L Matt Petersen comes from a family of multiple lawyers and worked as a runner for a law firm in high school, he wasn’t set on a career in law and had planned to apply to medical school instead. While earning his bachelor’s degree in English and biology at Utah Valley University, Petersen held two different jobs that steered him toward law school.
More than just a degree: McKell OldBull talks about motivations for MLS program
Oct 22, 2024McKell OldBull knew she wanted to pursue a career in the justice system while attending high school. Originally from Peach City, Arizona, OldBull grew up on the Hualapai Indian reservation and recalls that there were limited resources when she was growing up.
Learning about LAWS: Austin Edens represents University of Utah at Geneva convention
Oct 15, 20243L Austin Edens’ focus on international law has allowed him to travel the globe. In summer 2023, he studied in the United Kingdom through the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute’s Global Internship Program. During summer 2024, Edens had planned to work with the Australian parliament, but he couldn’t get security clearance in time. Fortunately, another opportunity presented itself—this time, in Paris.
Utah Law holds annual Cutting Sign event for Native law students
Oct 10, 2024More than 70 Native law students and allies from across the United States gathered at the College of Law Oct. 4-5 for Cutting Sign to the Legal Profession, a free program designed to help students launch their legal careers and network with leaders who practice Indian law or work with Native communities.
Finding place and belonging in Utah’s legal community: 3L Eben Kohtz
Sep 30, 2024Eben Kohtz always had the intent to enroll in a JD program once she finished her undergraduate degree in geography at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. However, like many, her plans shifted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, she wound up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, working with education nonprofit City Year.
A more significant impact: Arc Fellow Brock Smith discusses passion for forensic social work
Sep 23, 2024Brock Smith is a tribal member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. As an adolescent, he faced socioeconomic hardships that led to his involvement with Utah’s juvenile justice system, an experience that sparked his curiosity about how society manages social issues.
Winning the legal lottery: 3L Nate Bramhall talks about his post-graduation job placement
Sep 12, 2024Though Nate Bramhall didn’t travel far to attend the University of Utah—he crossed the divide from Utah County to Salt Lake County—the proximity to home allowed him to continue performing in a few local indie rock bands. After earning his bachelor’s degree in English and environmental and sustainability studies, Bramhall found himself exploring other states.
Part of Utah’s legal legacy: Meet Arc Fellow Valeria Jimenez
Sep 09, 2024A first-generation Latina law student and the daughter of Mexican immigrants, Valeria Jimenez says her parents instilled in her the importance of education from a young age. That focus on learning inspired her to launch a scholarship program for first-generation students in her hometown of Heber City, Utah.
Medical malpractice in the Mountain West: 3L Kiersten Vandervelde recalls her law school experience
Aug 28, 20243L Kiersten Vandervelde grew up in East Tennessee and became fascinated with the law after taking a business law class during her undergraduate studies. Her fate was sealed after speaking with a professor who had a JD degree, and she was thrilled to learn about the S.J. Quinney College of Law.
Celebrate Public Interest Law Week Aug. 26 – Sept. 3
Aug 21, 2024The Career Development Office (CDO) has partnered with the Public Interest Law Organization (PILO), Experiential Education, and the Pro Bono Initiative (PBI) to put together programs and events for Public Interest Law Week (Aug. 26 – Sept. 3), helping students get information, network, and pursue jobs. Find out what’s planned.
Student editors share behind-the-scenes action of the Utah Law Review
Aug 19, 2024The Utah Law Review board busied themselves this summer selecting the junior staff members for the upcoming academic year and diving straight into the editing process for their first issue, which will be published this fall. A student-run organization, the Utah Law Review publishes five issues each academic year on national and international legal topics.
From mayoral candidate to SBA president: 3L Seth LaPray seeks to serve his community
Aug 15, 20243L Seth LaPray hails from the small southeast Texas town Vidor where, prior to law school, he decided to run for mayor. At the time, LaPray was teaching high school after receiving a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas when he realized he wanted to do more for his community.
U Law announces 2024 Order of the Coif inductees
Aug 09, 2024Congratulations to the 10 recent graduates from the class of 2024 who were inducted into the Order of the Coif national honor society, which recognizes law students who attained a high grade of scholarship.
3L Enrique Martinez embraces the learning experience law school provides
Aug 07, 2024Born and raised in Utah, rising 3L Enrique Martinez made the decision to apply to law school based on three reasons: 1) hearing about his mom’s work as a paralegal; 2) taking law-related classes as an undergraduate; and 3) working as a legal assistant.
Paulina Barboza and Seth LaPray featured in Humans of the U
Jul 26, 2024Rising 3Ls Paulina Barboza and Seth LaPray were recently featured in the University of Utah’s @theU series Humans of the U.
John Seegrist finds new opportunities with MLS degree
Jul 24, 2024Seegrist began the Master of Legal Studies program (MLS) in fall 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, he was the operations director for Willis Towers Watson and thought the knowledge would be beneficial to his career, but he never had any intention of changing directions once he graduated.
3L Leah Bench seeks to aid military members with family law services
Jul 17, 2024Leah Bench first began her legal education at the S.J. Quinney College of Law as a student in the Master of Legal Studies program in fall 2019. From there, her desire to practice law only grew, and now she is a rising 3L in the JD program.
Cycle-breaker: Find out why Shyanne Blackburn chose to attend Utah Law
Jul 08, 2024Rising 2L Shyanne Blackburn grew up in a small rural town in south-central Utah. As a Navajo first-generation student, she was excited to recently receive the Flora Sombrero and Neeta Lind Diné Law Scholarship, a fund started by alum Jeffrey Fillerup and his wife, Neeta Lind, to help Diné students attend local colleges on or near the Diné Nation.