Juan Dawson
Juan Dawson is currently an Associate at Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP. His practice focuses on energy regulation where he represents clients before state and federal regulatory bodies. Juan has experience drafting legislation, policy proposals, and legal advocacy materials in support of legislative and policy efforts, as well as synthesizing legal statutes and federal regulations to help guide clients through high-profile litigation.
Juan is committed to giving back to the community through his pro bono work. He actively volunteers with legal aid organizations and works with veterans to help navigate the complexities of the legal system.
Juan earned his J.D. from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law and his undergraduate bachelor’s degree from American University in Washington, D.C. Prior to law school, Juan worked in the Executive Office of the President at The White House and on Capitol Hill with a current U.S. Senator. He also completed a year of service through the AmeriCorps Illinois Justice Corps program supporting pro-se litigants. While in law school, Juan completed a judicial externship at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and at the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Juan has a passion for serving others and he hopes to better inform the transformational efforts to support pre-law and current law students, as well as law school graduates.
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Jared Gibbs
Jared Gibbs is currently a staff economist serving the Utah State Legislature after earning his Master’s of Economics and Master’s of Philosophy from the University of Montana. Prior to this role, he has held several administrative and research positions including serving as a research assistant, an elections coordinator, and a notary public. Growing up in a military family, he has lived in a diverse array of places from Texas to Germany. When not providing economic analysis to legislators, he enjoys writing and raising bonsai trees.
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Keegan Hudson
Keegan Hudson Keegan Hudson is a JD candidate at the University of Virginia School of Law. He has served in various capacities at UVA, such as: President of the Black Law Students Association, a Student Member of the Law School Curriculum Committee, an Admissions Representative, and as a Fellow for the Center for the Study of Race and Law. Keegan credits his passion for involvement in the law school community to the experiences he received at his undergraduate university, Alcorn State. Specifically, attending an HBCU instilled in him the value of community and mentorship.
Prior to attending law school, Keegan also worked as a Staff Assistant in the Office of Majority Whip James E. Clyburn. Much of the information that he received regarding the law school application process was learned from mentors on Capitol Hill. Keegan hopes that his involvement in the LSAC Student Advisory Group will help bridge the gap in information between current law students, working professionals, and prospective students. Outside of his studies, Keegan enjoys fellowship and community service within Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
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Kristen Juhan
Kristen Juhan is currently in-house corporate counsel at a publicly traded, financial technology company. Her practice consists of bank regulatory, product structuring, privacy, and corporate governance work. Prior to that role, Juhan spent four years at Latham and Watkins, LLP, where she focused on capital markets and merger and acquisition projects for her clients. Juhan graduated from Tulane University Law School and had a career as a certified public accountant before deciding to attend law school. She has two young children and maintains that being a corporate lawyer is the easiest part of her day! Juhan hopes that this group will elevate the voices of aspiring, current, and graduated law students to reduce barriers and access to legal education, provide needed information and support about the law school onboarding process and student experience, and connect law students with practitioners so they have willing mentors to help them gain an understanding of the day jobs of different types of lawyers and various legal journeys. She envisions that these perspectives can translate into ideas and solutions that LSAC can use to design collaborative workshops, panels, materials, and programs that may better the path to legal education and will be valuable to the next generation of lawyers.
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Anas Kassem
Anas Kassem, a Juris Doctorate candidate at the University of North Dakota, will graduate in May 2026. He earned his Advanced Bachelor’s degree in Political Studies, minoring in Business Management from the University of Manitoba. With a rich background working in Parliament, he is deeply engaged in the interplay between policy and law. As a member of Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity, he actively participates in legal discourse. Kassem, who immigrated to Canada and now studies in the U.S., understands the complexities of academic applications. His role in the LSAC Student Advisory Group reflects his commitment to easing this process for others, focusing on a holistic approach to success.
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Bingran Li
Bingran Li recently earned her JD from The Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson Law and began working at a Harrisburg law firm. Li is originally from China and says that applying to law school from outside the U.S. was a complicated process. She became an LSAC Student Advisory Group member to serve international applicants. Li is also an active member of the Asian law student community and devotes herself to helping law students from Asia. Li likes making jewelry and playing with her “fat cat” Pillow in her free time.
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Maryam Oguntola
Maryam Oguntola is a recent graduate from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, earning her Bachelor's degree in Law & Society with a minor in Dispute Resolution. Her journey into Law & Society was ignited by her aspiration to obtain a J.D. and specialize in immigration law. A pivotal moment came during her initial Law and Society class, where she recognized the potential for a unique approach to immigration law, viewing it as a fundamentally social experience. Maryam's commitment to understanding the intricate connection between law and society is driven by her desire to effectively advocate for undocumented youth in the United States.
Motivated by her own immigrant background, Maryam has undertaken internships with the Bronx District Attorney’s office, Bronx Supreme Court (Civil Term), and the Kings County Supreme Court. Currently a law school applicant, Maryam eagerly anticipates embarking on the journey to law school, fueled by her passion to become a formidable advocate for justice.
In recognition of the challenges faced by underrepresented immigrant communities, Maryam joined the LSAC Advisory Group. Her personal experience as an immigrant equips her with a profound understanding of the obstacles minorities may encounter during the law school application process. Maryam is resolute in her commitment to contributing positively to equalizing the law school admissions process for all individuals, and she looks forward to making a meaningful impact in this regard.
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Karla Peredo
Karla Peredo is a community engagement practitioner and public policy worker from Austin and Dallas, Texas. Originally born in Mexico, Karla has lived experience as an undocumented immigrant, first-generation, low-income student pursuing higher education. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin with high honors and majors in Government and International Relations and Global Studies. In 2016, 2019, and 2023 she completed three legislative sessions at the Texas House of Representatives, most recently as a legislative director and political caucus director. She also served as a civilian employee for the City of Austin's Office of Police Oversight to provide independent, impartial oversight over the Austin Police Department. She helped lead multi-modal engagement plans to expand the City's outreach to underserved populations impacted by their interactions with local police. She co-designed citywide surveys covering police use of force, organized Know Your Rights workshops and town halls to connect impacted persons with public safety leaders, and proudly served as the Department's Language Access Program Manager to provide vital public safety information in multiple languages. She is driven by a passion to influence meaningful and equitable policy changes and is committed to serving as a changemaker to make high-stakes testing, like the LSAT, and the offerings from LSAC, a less daunting journey through well-rounded opportunities and resources. She is eager to continue serving as an advocate for the communities she is a part of by pursuing a career as a public interest lawyer.ew Orleans. His personal passions include running, trying new restaurants, and studying and making wine.
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Syed Rizvi
Syed Rizvi is a JD candidate at Harvard Law School, where he sits on the board of the Disabled Law Students Association. As a member of Diversity Lab’s Disability Advisory Group, he participated in the development of the first national set of law firm disability inclusion commitments. Rizvi is the founding Vice President of the Together Achieving Dreams foundation, a nonprofit aimed at building a pipeline of disabled students into large law firms. During his time on the Law School Admission Council’s Student Advisory Group, Rizvi aims to address the barriers that still prevent underrepresented groups from entering the legal profession.
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Elizabeth Rouse
Elizabeth Rouse (she/her) is a non-traditional law student currently on a leave of absence from the University of Minnesota Law School because of inaccessibility faced in the classroom. Rouse, blind since birth, has spent a great deal of her life cultivating the advocacy skills necessary for navigating daily life as a blind person. Her passion for advocacy is what led her to the LSAC Student Advisory Group. Throughout her time as a team member, Rouse hopes to provide unique feedback that helps repave the path toward legal education, and the legal field more generally, for anyone whose passions lead them in a similar direction.
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Taylor Washington
Taylor Washington is a Labor and Employment Associate at Troutman Pepper in Philadelphia, PA. Taylor’s practice focuses on litigating complex employment claims under federal and state statutes. She represents a broad spectrum of employers before state and federal courts and administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC). She also has experience assisting employers with internal investigations of claims of discrimination and harassment.
Taylor received her J.D, from Penn State Law, University Park and her undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. While in law school, Taylor completed a summer externship at the U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit and served as the Chair of the Mid-Atlantic region of the Black Law Student Association. During her time at the University of Tennessee Taylor was awarded the highest student honor conferred by the University of Tennessee for her academic achievement and outstanding commitment to others, the Torchbearer Award.
Taylor hopes her involvement in the LSAC Student Advisory Group can help develop collaborative workshops, panels, resources, and programs that could streamline the path to legal education, proving beneficial for future generations of lawyers. Outside of her professional life, Taylor has a keen interest in music and music history, collecting vintage vinyl records, bowling, and all things related to the University of Tennessee sports.