As a first-generation American, Urah Goh grew up in Sandy, Utah, speaking Korean as her native language. Her parents immigrated to the United States from Jeju, an island off the coast of South Korea. However, Goh lost her fluency in the language once she began attending elementary school.
“This led to many instances where I felt not only a language barrier, but a potent cultural barrier between my family and myself,” she says. “During my undergraduate degree, I decided to relearn Korean and reclaim aspects of my culture that I felt I had lost. This really pushed me out of my comfort zone and opened up a breadth of opportunities.”
While pursuing a bachelor’s degree in political science, international studies and Korean studies at the University of Utah, Goh interned with Presiding Judge Laura Scott of the Third District Court and then with the Utah Prison Education Project. Moreover, as she reconnected with her native language and culture, Goh saw the parallels between language, law, and advocacy and realized she could fuse these passions together. Law school then became the right path for her.
“In both the Korean language and law, every word serves a purpose, and a single word can change the power of communication entirely. I quickly realized the barriers I had experienced could be overcome with the strength of language,” she says. “There are many people who have lost their language, feel dissonance with their culture, and are otherwise underrepresented in different areas of their lives. I believe the law and language are both tools for advocacy and bridging these gaps.”
When applying to law school, Goh was drawn to the S.J. Quinney College of Law for its programming, such as the International Law Clinic and Pro Bono Initiative, and its low student-to-faculty ratio. Since classes began, she’s also been impressed by the college’s supportive community.
“The smaller class sizes make seeking out professors’ guidance much more accessible, and I also have felt a strong sense of community among my peers, who have come from all different walks of life,” she says. “The S.J. Quinney College of Law also offers a lot of opportunities to lean on upperclassmen and faculty through different initiatives, which makes the 1L experience a lot less daunting.”
She is also honored to be a recipient of the Arc fellowship through the Arc to Justice program, which provides full-tuition scholarships to high-achieving first-year law students who have overcome significant challenges. These Arc fellowships are supported by four local law firms dedicated to supporting the College’s underrepresented students: Kirton McConkie, Dentons Durham Jones & Pinegar, Parr Brown Gee & Loveless, and Parsons Behle & Latimer.
“This fellowship is meaningful to me because it recognizes something I value: lifting unique stories and diverse voices within the Utah legal community,” she says. “I am excited to meet more exceptional members of the local legal scene through this fellowship. I plan to make the most out of this opportunity and pay it forward later as an attorney.”
Goh looks forward to the many career opportunities available with a JD degree and hopes that a judgeship might be in her future. She’s also ready to engage in community service and pro bono work.
“I plan to integrate my Korean skills into my future work as an attorney, either through international law or by serving the Korean American community in the U.S. One of my other goals is to engage in as much pro bono work as possible and continually give back to my community,” she says. “In particular, I want to support organizations like the Utah Center for Legal Inclusion and the Utah Prison Education Project that have made a major difference in providing resources for underrepresented populations throughout Utah.”