Will Wiltschko
2L; Admissions Ambassador
Hometown:
Monterey, California
Professional Interests:
Civil Rights; Public Interest; Environmental Law; Employment and Labor Law; Intellectual Property; Criminal Law; Data/Privacy
Student Organizations and Extracurricular Activities:
Public Interest Law Fund, Labor & Work Law Society, Consumer Law Organization, Environmental Law Society
Clinic:
Environmental Law; Workers & Tenants Law and Organizing; Criminal Justice
Housing:
On Campus
Pro Bono:
ACLU of Southern California - First Amendment and Democracy, Workers’ Rights Clinic Orange County, Saturday Academy of Law
Meet Will:
I’m excited to serve as an Admissions Ambassador because conversations with previous Admissions Ambassadors played a major role in my decision to attend UC Irvine Law. I hope to pay that forward by being a resource for prospective students navigating the same process.
Before law school, I spent several years working in nonprofit advocacy, community organizing, and education. I worked as a field organizer during the 2016 presidential election, taught political science courses, and served as the director of the California Trade Justice Coalition (a nonprofit coalition of labor unions, environmental groups and human rights organizations), where I led statewide campaigns around international trade policy, global public health, and access to medicine.
I decided to pursue law school because I came to see law as a powerful tool to continue and strengthen my advocacy work. I wanted to better understand how legal institutions shape outcomes and develop the skills necessary to turn advocacy into lasting change for the communities I care about. Much of my path to law school was shaped by mentors in organizing and public service, which is part of why I value being available to prospective students as they navigate their own decisions.
UC Irvine Law stood out to me for its strong public interest mission, collaborative student culture, and emphasis on practical legal training. As a Public Service Scholar, I’ve found a community that genuinely supports students committed to public interest careers and encourages us to connect our prior experiences with our legal education.
I came to law school after several years in the workforce and am married, so I’m always happy to talk with prospective students who are considering law school later in their careers or while balancing relationships and other commitments. Outside of law school, I enjoy mentoring upcoming community organizers, checking out new food experiences with my wife, and spending time with friends.
There are many different paths to law school, and I’m happy to talk with prospective students about my UC Irvine Law experience. Please feel free to reach out.