Student Q&A: Preston Taylor, 3L
Preston Taylor is a 3L at UC Irvine Law. Preston is originally from Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a B.A. in Political Science and International Affairs. At UC Irvine Law, Preston serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review, competed in the 2024-2025 Moot Court Competition, and is an advanced student in the International Justice Clinic.
Following his graduation in spring 2026 and sitting for the California bar, Preston will join Irell & Manella LLP in Los Angeles as an associate to practice intellectual property litigation. In his free time, he enjoys watching sports and playing fantasy football.
Q: What motivated you to pursue a law degree and why did you choose UC Irvine Law
More than anything, I wanted to find a career path that would challenge me, and law felt like the right fit. I had taken undergraduate classes in International and Constitutional Law, which sparked my interest in law, and from there I decided to go for it.
I chose UC Irvine primarily because I was drawn to the strong clinical program. I wanted to go to a school that placed an emphasis on building real-world skills, and UC Irvine Law delivered on that. And the beautiful Southern California location did not hurt, either.
Q: What has been your proudest accomplishment at UC Irvine Law?
My proudest achievement has been being elected Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review. The confidence of my classmates means a lot to me, and my work with the Law Review has been challenging yet incredibly rewarding.
I also take a lot of pride in my pro bono work. Throughout my two years thus far I have volunteered with the Clean Slate Expungement Clinic and Bet Tzedek's Employment Rights Project. It has been very rewarding to help provide services to underserved communities, and hopefully make an impact in people's lives.
Q: What has been your favorite class and/or clinic experience at UC Irvine Law?
I think the answer has to be my experience with the International Justice Clinic, with Professor David Kaye and Hinako Sugiyama. I have had an amazing experience learning about and working with cutting-edge digital rights issues, and in particular, advocating against intrusive surveillance practices. Criminal Procedure with Professor Song is a close second!
Q: What advice would you give to prospective students who are thinking about going to law school?
I would encourage students to get involved with pro bono projects in their first year. UCI provides so many great opportunities to get involved. It is no secret that law school is challenging and time-consuming, but if you can find time to do one or two projects, you should. Pro bono work breaks up the monotony of the semester, teaches you new skills, and most importantly gives you an opportunity to apply the new skills you learn in school to make a genuine difference in people's lives.
More practically, buy lots of highlighters. However many you think you need, it's not enough, buy more.
Q: As Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review, what are your goals for this year?
I want to continue the excellent trajectory the Law Review is already on: publishing high-quality scholarship and making the Law Review a positive and rewarding experience for our staff. This upcoming year we are working on Volume 16, where we will be publishing 24 articles and six student notes. We are fortunate to have an excellent team of 96 editors, split between 2Ls and 3Ls, and I am excited to see what we are able to accomplish.