Category: Alumni
UD Hosts Pre-Law Conference
May 06, 2026 Written by Natasha Kapadia | Photos by Maria Errico
Students, alumni and legal professionals gather for a day of networking and professional development
University of Delaware undergraduate students, alumni, legal professionals and law school representatives came together for a full day of networking, panels and professional development at the University’s first pre-law conference in six years.
The event ran from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Trabant University Center and featured concurrent sessions, a keynote session led by the Honorable N. Christopher Griffiths–Justice of the Supreme Court of Delaware and UD alum from the class of 2002–and an exhibitor networking session that drew students from UD and several partner institutions. The event featured 23 speakers, including 18 UD students and alumni and was attended by over 100 students and alumni.
A Collaborative Effort
Latoya Watson, senior assistant dean of co-curricular coaching in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Student Success Center (SSC), organized the conference alongside a broad coalition of campus partners. The conference was proudly sponsored by the Legal Professional Preparatory Program (LP3), a cornerstone of the university's commitment to aspiring lawyers.
LP3 is one of several comprehensive pre-law services offered by the SSC. From LSAT preparation workshops to one-on-one mentorship, the SSC provides the essential tools students need to navigate the complexities of law school applications and professional development.
"We've been working for about nine months now, a collaborative effort, not just with our unit, but also across campus," Watson said.
Campus collaborators included the Honors College and multiple student organizations, including Mock Trial. The conference also received sponsorship from Maron Marvel, Richards, Layton & Finger and Wilmington University School of Law.
Watson noted that this was the first conference held since 2018 and that her team began managing the Legal Professional Preparatory Program (LP3) in 2022. She emphasized that the strong turnout reflected months of dedicated planning and a long-standing commitment to the program’s mission.
"We've been trying to work towards having packed houses and we're very excited," she said. "We're thankful the students came out on a Saturday morning."
Insight from Current Students and Alumni
Raheem Wicker, a junior double-majoring in Africana studies and sociology with a minor in legal studies, attended the conference hoping to make meaningful connections with alumni and legal professionals. Wicker, who began his UD career in the Associate in Arts Program at the University's Wilmington campus, said the conference aligned with his broader academic and professional goal of becoming a civil rights attorney. He currently serves as a social justice peer educator and is an active member of the Henlaw Society and Black Student Union.
Reflecting on the experience afterward, he noted that the event delivered on its promise.
“It exceeded my expectations,” Wicker said. “I was able to connect with so many people who share the same interests. Hearing directly from alumni about their paths made everything feel a lot more achievable.”
Gabriella Porco, who graduated from UD in 2025 and earned an honors degree with distinction in political science, with minors in legal studies and English, shared insight into her LSAT preparation process as a panelist during the conference.
At UD, Porco interned at the Bergen County Public Defender's Office, for the Honorable Gregg A. Padovano, J.S.C. in Pretrial Services and with the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. She will attend Seton Hall Law School this fall to pursue a career in criminal law. She recommended consistent, section-focused practice as the most effective strategy for LSAT improvement.
Porco reflected on what it meant to return and engage with students.
“Coming back to UD and being part of something like this feels really meaningful,” she said. “If I can share even a small part of my journey and help students feel more confident about their own path, that’s my way of giving back to a community that supported me when I was in their shoes.”
Sara Brick, a senior honors history major with minors in European studies and philosophy, was a panelist during a session that covered study tips and LSAT preparation.
Brick, who will begin studying at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School this fall, has built an extensive record of legal experience as an undergraduate, interning with the Delaware Community Legal Aid Society, Delaware Volunteer Legal Services and externing at the Delaware Family Court. Through these experiences, she developed a focus on public interest advocacy and constitutional interpretation.
Brick credited LP3 and UD's advising network as central to her success.
"The only reason I was able to do that is the amount of support I received from various counselors, from LP3 specifically," she said.
During her panel discussion, Brick encouraged students not to count themselves out of opportunities, particularly when it comes to financing law school.
“Don't assume that anything is out of reach for you,” Brick said. “There's a lot of hidden scholarship money and paths and people that want to support you. So if you have the drive to do it, it's going to get done.”
Looking Ahead
Watson said the conference is part of a larger effort by LP3 to build a sustained pipeline of pre-law programming at UD, which has included workshops and LSAT preparation events throughout the academic year.
“We plan on hosting the conference on a biennial basis, with the next conference in spring 2028,” she stated. “In alternating years, we will host networking nights.”
“It's been a long few months and I'm very proud to see this,” Watson said. "This is the passion we've had since 2022.”
