Are you thinking about a career in law? Do you want to learn more about how you can pursue a law career with a humanities and/or social sciences major?
Come join us to learn from various experts in the field how you can leverage your skills and transfer them into any law career. You will hear from alumni about their career trajectories and how you can maximize your undergraduate education to prepare for a legal career after graduation.
To register, go to: Careers in Law
Meet our panelists:
Lorna Wilson
Lorna Wilson is a partner in Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s Los Angeles office and a member of the firm’s Tax Practice Group. Ms. Wilson’s practice focuses on federal income tax matters, including corporate, limited liability company and partnership tax matters in both the U.S. and international contexts. She has worked on a variety of transactions, including taxable and tax-free mergers, acquisitions, dispositions and reorganizations, joint ventures, investment funds, public and private offerings of stock, debt and derivatives and financing transactions. Ms. Wilson additionally has extensive experience in tax planning for real estate transactions, including advising on investments in real estate by U.S. and non-U.S. investors, including foreign governments, dispositions of real estate, real estate investment trust (REIT) matters and California state and local real estate tax issues, including property and transfer taxes issues.
Ms. Wilson was recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ in Tax Law in 2022 and 2023.
Ms. Wilson received a law degree in 2007 from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif. She graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. degree in English from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2004.
Na’Shaun Neal
Na’Shaun Neal is an attorney at PLC Law Group, where he focuses primarily on civil rights litigation, specializing in police misconduct and employment discrimination. Mr. Neal has extensive experience in both federal and state courts.
Throughout his career, he has successfully resolved numerous cases on behalf of his clients, particularly in the areas of personal injury, police misconduct, and employment discrimination. He is also an integral member of the appellate team, having successfully argued cases before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the California Court of Appeals.
As a result of his dedication and hard work, the firm has several published opinions that enhance civil rights protections against police misconduct, including:
· Kenneth Simmons v. The Superior Court of San Diego, et al. (No. D070734)
· Foster v. City of Indio (No. 17-55167)
Before entering private practice, Mr. Neal clerked for the Honorable Raner C. Collins of the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona from 2008 to 2010 and for the Honorable Arenda L. Wright Allen of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia from 2011 to 2013. During his clerkships, he worked on a wide range of civil and criminal matters, navigating complex procedural issues and intricate legal questions. Following his clerkships, Mr. Neal served as a Deputy Attorney General in the Appeals, Writs, and Trials section of the Criminal Division for the California Attorney General’s Office, representing the state in felony appeals and habeas corpus proceedings.
A proud “Double Bruin,” Mr. Neal earned both his undergraduate degree in Political Science (2004) and his Juris Doctorate (2008) from UCLA. He is licensed to practice law in California, Arizona, and various federal courts.
In addition to his legal work, Mr. Neal is actively engaged in his local community. Mr. Neal founded two non-profits: Black Men Hike, Inc., which promotes health and wellness among African American men through outdoor activities, and the Alpha West Empowerment Foundation, dedicated to empowering underserved communities through educational initiatives and resources. Furthermore, he is also the President of the UCLA Black Alumni Association and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Elina Avakian
Elina is an Associate General Counsel on the Platform & Technology Commercial team at Snap Inc. (the company that owns Snapchat, Bitmoji, and Spectacles) and has been with the company for over eight years. During her time at Snap, Elina has supported a variety of innovative projects across a broad range of different focus areas, including augmented reality, AI, ecommerce, hardware, software, partnerships, licensing, advertising, tokens, and many others.
Prior to joining Snap, Elina spent several years practicing law in Europe (in Dublin and Amsterdam), as a commercial attorney both in-house and in private practice. She graduated UCLA Law in 2010 with a Business Law specialization and UCLA in 2007 with a B.A. in Political Science.
Elina is passionate about supporting women and increasing diversity in the legal profession and serves on the Boards of UCLA Law Women LEAD and the Armenian Women’s Bar Association.
Tony Tolbert (moderator), Adjunct Professor, UCLA School of Law
Tony Tolbert directs the Street Law Clinic. Students in the clinic teach law-related topics in local high schools and participate in weekly seminars at the Law School. He is currently the Assistant Director of Admissions, serving as a member of the Admissions team, counseling prospective law students on the application process, and participating in various recruiting activities. Previously, he served as the Director of Learning Environment & Academic Affairs, and Associate Director of Outreach, co-directing the Law Fellows Program diversity pipeline initiative. Tony received his B.A. from U.C. Santa Barbara and his J.D. from Harvard Law School. Prior to joining UCLA Law, he practiced law in the music and sports industries, primarily in a variety of in-house counsel positions.