Mission: MLS Students of Color (MLS SOC) strive to advance leadership, professional development, networking, and pro bono opportunities for all MLS students. We are committed to creating, promoting, and fostering equity, inclusion, and diversity amongst the entire MLS community. In doing so, we aim to fully integrate the MLS community into the UCLA School of Law.

MLS Students of Color (MLS SOC) is the first ever and only UCLA Law student organization designed to specifically support MLS candidates, with a particular focus on law students of color who have historically been marginalized in the legal field.  MLS SOC was founded by Megan Fujimori at UCLA Law in the fall of 2025 to provide a variety of leadership, networking, and pro bono opportunities to MLS law students of color.  Fujimori was determined to strengthen diversity and inclusion at UCLA Law by advocating for representation of all MLS degree formats into the broader UCLA Law community to create an integrated and diverse law school experience for all.

President and Founder: Megan Fujimori (fujimori2025@lawnet.ucla.edu)

Vice President: David Allan-Matheson (allan2025@lawnet.ucla.edu)

Secretary: Chyna Boyd (boyd2025@lawnet.ucla.edu)

Business & Finance Chair: Victor Guerra (guerra2025@lawnet.ucla.edu)

Communications Chair: Manny Gonzalez (gonzaleze2025@lawnet.ucla.edu)

Social Chair: Karen Ip (ip2025@lawnet.ucla.edu)

Professional Development Chair: Damali McDowell (mcdowell2025@lawnet.ucla.edu)

Alumni Chair: Shawn Gatchel-Hernandez (gatchel2025@lawnet.ucla.edu)

Faculty Advisor: Professor Connie Lew-Corbridge (lewcorbridge@law.ucla.edu)

Membership is open to all current UCLA students.  You do not need to be an MLS candidate or UCLA Law student to join.  We are also seeking JD candidates to partner with and join our community— as well as all members of the UCLA community.

To join as a current UCLA student, please email:  mlssoc@lawnet.ucla.edu

To connect as a UCLA alumni or other member of the UCLA community, please email President and Founder Megan Fujimori at:  fujimori2025@lawnet.ucla.edu

We are currently seeking candidates for the following leadership positions:

Communications Co-Chair (1)

MLS Degree Representatives (6)

To express interest in a leadership position with MLS Students of Color as a UCLA student, please email mlssoc@lawnet.ucla.edu.  An Executive Board member will reach out to you with further detailed information on how to apply.