1L Hannah Olsen’s journey to law school began with the question she asked as a child: “Who has the power to change this?”
“I saw my mother, an ER nurse, work tirelessly to provide for us, and I felt the injustice of a system that seemed to leave us behind,” Olsen recalls. “Her words, explaining the roles of legislators, judges, and governors—and that many of them are lawyers—became the central focus of my life’s ambitions.”
She recalls being bullied and excluded because her family didn’t belong to the dominant religion in the area, which also cemented her decision to study law.
“These experiences instilled in me an unwavering conviction to stand up for those who have been marginalized,” Olsen says. “I yearned to be strong enough to seek justice for anyone who has ever been made to feel they don’t belong.”
After earning bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice, finance, and psychological science, along with a master’s degree in higher education leadership, Olsen applied to Utah Law, which she says has been a dream as long as she can remember.
“To prepare for a career in law, I crafted a diverse academic path. My goal was to build a wide information base, understanding how the legal system intersects with human behavior, financial realities, and the mechanics of government,” she says. “I was born and raised in Utah and have met lovely people trying to make great changes to my home. I want to be part of it.”
Completing an internship with former U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney’s office and later working as a legal affairs fellow for Utah Gov. Spencer Cox gave Olsen invaluable experience as well.
“My work with Sen. Romney and the governor’s office showed me that real, consequential change happens in those rooms, among the people who craft policy and are supposed to advocate for the vulnerable,” she explains. “I wanted to understand the systems of power from every angle—from the streets to the boardroom, from the human mind to the legal code.”
Now that Olsen has a couple months of law school behind her, she says she wishes she’d known how transformative the experience would be.
“It’s more than just memorizing cases; it’s about fundamentally changing the way you think and approach problems. It’s a journey of intellectual and personal growth that is more profound than I ever anticipated,” she says.
For Olsen, the best part about attending Utah Law is the genuine sense of community and exceptional faculty.
“The professors are not only brilliant but also deeply invested in student success. This supportive environment has already allowed me to thrive and feel a profound sense of belonging,” she explains. “The curriculum challenges me to think critically and apply legal principles to real-world problems, which is exactly what I was hoping to gain from my education.”
Currently, Olsen hopes to work in government or to shape policy that creates a more just society.
“At the core, I fell in love with the law because of its promise of fairness and a fulfillment of the idea of maintaining a just society. Through experience, I have felt very passionate about public interest law and working within the government for policy creation and enforcement,” she says.
Olsen recently received the Arc to Justice fellowship, which honors high-achieving 1L students who have overcome significant obstacles and also provides a stipend and mentoring and summer job opportunities. Four local law firms dedicated to supporting underrepresented students—Dentons Durham Jones & Pinegar, Kirton McConkie, Parr Brown Gee & Loveless, and Parsons Behle & Latimer—make the Arc fellowships possible.
“Receiving the Arc to Justice fellowship is a tremendous honor. I feel an immense sense of gratitude and responsibility,” Olsen says. “This fellowship is not just financial aid; it’s a powerful affirmation of my journey and a call to action. It inspires me to work even harder to be a voice for those who need one and to live up to the mission of the program.”
Learn more about the Arc to Justice program.