Carrying Community Forward

July 9, 2026

In June, Yale Law School welcomed participants in the Launchpad Scholars Program to New Haven for its Launchpad Residential Institute. The week gave Scholars the opportunity to prepare their law school applications, meet faculty and alumni, and connect with their cohort.

The event, which took place June 20 through June 26, was the culmination of the program’s effort to broaden access to legal education by easing the application process and preparing prospective students for law school and future careers. Scholars — thanks to the support of Latham & Watkins — benefit from LSAT preparation, leadership and career preparedness workshops, and mentorship opportunities as they navigate the law school application process.

The Launchpad Scholars Program is designed to be most beneficial for people who come from low-income, first-generation, or underresourced backgrounds. Dina Abdelfattah, like many Launchpad Scholars, had not imagined law school as an option for her before.

“Launchpad has allowed me to see myself in shoes that I grew up believing were too big for me to fill,” said Abdelfattah. “I have been motivated to look past what once felt like obstacles, such as the LSAT and writing a personal statement, to an opportunity of transforming my doubts into a sense of realizing I have so much to learn and grow into.”

Highlights of the week included a breakfast with Professor James Forman ’92, a mock class on torts and regulation with Professor Douglas Kysar, lunch with Dean Cristina Rodríguez ’00, and workshops where Scholars could meet one-on-one with Yale Law School admissions staff or law firm professionals to prepare for law school interviews and application essays.

“A key change we made this year was working with Scholars to draft their personal statements before the Residential Institute, which freed up more time during the week for the things that benefit more from being together in person: workshopping ideas for other application materials, interview practice, career exploration, and receiving direct feedback and guidance from our team of admissions officers, faculty members, volunteers, and legal practitioners,” said Van Ann Bui, senior advisor to the Law School’s Admissions Office.

Launchpad Scholars in seminar room — The Launchpad Residential Institute was a chance for Scholars to prepare as they begin their law school applications.

“The Residential Institute was packed with programming in the best way possible,” said Jalen J. Woodard, who currently works as a public policy fellow for the Alameda County Office of Education in Hayward, California.

Scholars also traveled to New York City, where they met with mentors and leaders at the Latham & Watkins office and the New York City Bar Association. Another day, the cohort traveled to Bridgeport, Connecticut, where they visited U.S. District Judge Stefan Underhill ’84 in his chambers and sat in on a criminal sentencing hearing.

“That was an incredibly informative, eye-opening, and emotional experience,” said Woodard. “Before and after the hearing, Judge Underhill offered us invaluable insight into the daily life of a federal judge. As someone with a background and deep interest in policy, I was fascinated to observe how a judge operates within statutory confines, carefully balancing mandatory minimums and sentencing guidelines with his own rationale for justice.”

For Abdelfattah, the week proved to be a productive and worthwhile venture and left her inspired to continue growing and learning.

“Not only am I walking away with an instilled sense of confidence in my application and professional skills, but a community within my cohort of the most genuine, authentic, and motivated people I have met,” she said.

Woodard credited the program for emphasizing the importance of broadening access to the legal profession.

“If there was one lesson that echoed across every session, it was the importance of perspective,” said Woodard. “From lunch conversations with attorney mentors and summer associates to essay workshops with YLS staff and my peers, I was constantly reminded that students should never feel ashamed of where they come from as they apply to and matriculate into law school.”

Launchpad Scholars with Dean Cristina Rodríguez — Scholars had the chance to connect with Dean Cristina Rodríguez.

Building Community

Woodard credits the weeklong program with giving him a second opportunity to connect with his Launchpad cohort in person, allowing for the Scholars to engage with each other on a more personal level.

“The Institute gave us a powerful opportunity to learn about each other's backgrounds, passions, accomplishments, and motivations for pursuing a law degree,” said Woodard. “Unsurprisingly, sharing this experience with them was my favorite part of the week.”

Matthew Braun, a Launchpad Scholar who currently works as a senior associate at a government relations firm in Washington, D.C., said connecting with fellow Scholars was a profound part of the week for him, as well.

“The most impactful part of this past week has been spending time with people who care about and understand the difficult process we’re going through right now,” said Braun. “For one reason or another, these resources would not have been accessible to us had it not been for Launchpad. Being able to share a community who understands that has been so meaningful.”

For Valeria Ibarra, the quality time she spent with her fellow Launchpad Scholars left her feeling not only connected but deeply accepted.

“For me, I could have never imagined being welcomed with open arms at such a prestigious globally recognized institution,” she said. “There was an effort to pronounce my name correctly, an appreciation for the advocacy work I have wholeheartedly dedicated myself to, and an intention and care behind every one-on-one conversation with the program directors and guest speakers.”

Launchpad Scholars in mock interview — The week included time for mock interviews to prepare Scholars for the law school application process.

Lasting Impact

Overall, the Scholars seem unanimous in the fact that they will go forth in their law school journeys and legal careers with the desire to pay this experience forward.

“I am certain that I will feel the effects of this program as intensely 30 years into my legal career as I do today,” said Ibarra. “Every day felt like a dream, and I have left the Residential Institute with gratitude, clarity, and direction. I will carry this experience with me as I apply to and navigate law school, accomplish my dreams, and continue my commitment to expand accessibility for those who will come after me.”

Braun said that the sense of community and altruism that the Scholars experienced during their time at the Law School will have a cascading effect throughout their lives.

“The lives that this program will positively impact will continue to grow exponentially,” said Braun. “As we enter the workforce and start practicing, those of us who have come out of the Launchpad Program are going to carry the sense of community and gratitude that we have built here into the legal profession. The impact this will have on our clients, colleagues, and society will be all because of investments that YLS is making in us as individuals right now.”

“As in past years, our Scholars brought a great sense of curiosity, excitement about learning, and a willingness to be vulnerable with one another to the Residential Institute,” said Miriam Ingber ’04, associate dean of Admissions & Financial Aid at the Law School. “By the end of the week, this cohort had built connections we expect will last well beyond their time in the program. They are well on their way to success as law school applicants and law students.”