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College of Law hosts annual Cutting Sign event for Native law students
Oct 21, 2025More than 100 Native law students and allies from across the United States gathered at the College of Law Oct. 17-18 for Cutting Sign to the Legal Profession, a free program that helps students launch their legal careers and network with Indian law leaders and those who work with Native communities.
Law as a tool of empowerment: Meet Arc Fellow Barbara Czaja
Oct 13, 2025Barbara Czaja was born and raised in Kielce, Poland, and came to New York City at 18 with two suitcases, a few hundred dollars and limited English. When she was physically assaulted shortly after arriving in the United States, she gained a new perspective on the world—and law.
Not alone in law school: Meet Arc Fellow Ana Lozano
Oct 02, 20251L Ana Lozano grew up on the border of Mexico and the United States. She was born in El Paso, Texas, but she was raised and attended school in the border town Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. In high school, her dream of pursuing a legal career in the United States took form.
MLS alum Norma Erekson begins her third act
Sep 21, 2025Norma Erekson, a 2025 graduate of the Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program, has raised her family, nurtured a love for lifelong learning and education, pursued a jack-of-all-trades career, and aided in various humanitarian projects. Now at retirement age, Erekson shows no signs of slowing down.
Empowering others: Meet 2L and Durham Fellow Sinndy Rios
Sep 09, 20252L Sinndy Rios—who was born in Guatemala and grew up in West Valley City, Utah—has focused her studies on helping immigrants like herself. She was recently named a 2025-2026 Durham fellow, which includes a stipend and allows her to give back to those who mentored her.
Building a career culture: Meet CDO Director Carmen Gold-Johnson
Aug 07, 2025Carmen Gold-Johnson, who recently joined Utah Law as director of the Career Development Office, has nearly a decade of experience in the career services industry—and she originally envisioned a different career for herself.
Building and burnishing: Tomu Johnson serves privacy law clients through The Broad Axe
Aug 04, 2025Since graduating, Johnson has worked at two of Utah’s oldest law firms, Snow Christensen & Martineau (now Spencer Fane) and Parsons Behle & Latimer. He started in insurance defense and personal injury law, but after a few years in this field, Johnson wanted to try something new.
Mercy and justice: Rising 2L Hattie Poole serves remandees in Africa
Jul 21, 2025Rising 2L Hattie Poole knew she wanted an international experience during her 1L summer, preferably in a developing country. She found it in Kampala, Uganda, where she is clerking for the Supreme Court of Uganda with Justice Mike Chibita.
Helping businesses avoid legal pitfalls: 2L Dev Patel
Jul 09, 2025When rising 2L Dev Patel graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in finance and entrepreneurship, he knew the next step forward for him was law school.
Prioritizing wellness: Meet Utah Law therapist Cierra Collum
Jun 12, 2025“I appreciate how the law school has prioritized getting a therapist. It was one of the first colleges at the university to advocate for one,” Cierra Collum, a licensed marriage and family therapist, recalls.
Speaking out loud: 3L Sophia Gulgulian advocates for real, lasting change
Jun 05, 2025“Growing up, I was inspired by women who took charge of their lives—those who stepped into leadership, broke barriers, and changed narratives. I knew I wanted to be one of them,” rising 3L Sophia Gulgulian says.
Par for the course: Former college golfer and Senate intern Makena Rauch returns to Washington, D.C. for spring program
Feb 26, 2025Idaho native Makena Rauch originally lived in Washington, D.C., when she interned for Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo in summer 2022. Now, nearly three years later, Rauch is once again living in the nation’s capital as part of the S.J. Quinney College of Law and Hinckley Institute’s Spring to D.C. program.
Common cents: Utah Law makes law school more affordable through scholarships and fellowships
Feb 20, 2025Nearly 95% of Utah Law students received scholarships or fellowship awards in 2023-2024, part of the School of Law’s commitment to providing generous financial assistance. See a few of the scholarship and fellowship opportunities available for S.J. Quinney College of Law students.
Stretching yourself: Bre Hickerson leads Yoga for Stressed Out Law Students group
Jan 29, 2025When 2L Bre Hickerson attended a student event at Utah Law before committing to a law school, a tour guide showed her the building’s yoga and meditation study room, a gym with an assortment of yoga mats, and a food pantry. Reflecting on that time two years later, Hickerson recalls that the wellness centers helped to make her law school decision clear.
Standing in the gap: Alumna Nubia Peña serves Utah’s vulnerable communities
Jan 07, 2025Nubia Peña (’16) describes her experience at the S.J. Quinney College of Law as a “transformative journey”—one full of challenges and illuminating experiences.
The power to change: Larry EchoHawk shares memories of a life of service
Nov 15, 2024Larry EchoHawk (’73) was finishing his degree at Brigham Young University while also completing his fourth year as a starting free safety on the football team, a role that had landed him a scholarship. He’d received a job offer and had not considered further education. Then his older brother, John, made a suggestion that changed EchoHawk’s life.
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.
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.