Cayla K.
5.0
(5)
Studied at University of Pennsylvania Law School
Worked at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Available Sunday at 3:00 PM UTC
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About Cayla
I am a third-year Penn Carey Law student. Prior to law school, I worked at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as an External Affairs Specialist, and led on the COVID-19 vaccination program, the launch of 988, and reproductive health post Dobbs. In law school, I worked with the ACLU Delaware, led the Pardon Project pro bono program, and worked as a Voter Protection Fellow for the PA Democrats in the 2024 general election. I received my undergraduate degree from Brown University, majoring in political science with honors.
Why do I coach?
When I was applying to law school, I wasn’t a natural test taker. I scored a 164 on the LSAT after months of balancing an incredibly demanding job at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. My schedule was relentless—I often worked from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., then woke up at 5:30 a.m. to study for two hours before heading back to the office. I started my LSAT prep with a diagnostic score of 148, so I made significant progress, but I was frustrated with how heavily law schools emphasized the LSAT. The truth was, I couldn’t devote the same time to studying as many of my peers because I was advising the Secretary of HHS, coordinating events with White House officials, and navigating the healthcare landscape with external partners during some of the most critical moments in recent history—the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, the launch of 988, and the fallout of the Dobbs decision. As a result, I was waitlisted at nearly every school I applied to. While my LSAT score was below the median, my strong undergraduate record and unique professional experiences made me a compelling candidate. I learned how to frame my background strategically, presenting myself as someone who brought value beyond test scores. I also treated the waitlist not as a setback, but as an opportunity—a signal that my application was strong enough to earn serious consideration. By remaining persistent, proactive, and intentional, I was able to secure spots off multiple waitlists at top programs. This process taught me that admissions is not simply about numbers; it’s about positioning, persistence, and knowing how to communicate your story. Since then, I’ve used these insights to coach four students through the entire admissions process, helping each of them earn admission off the waitlists at T14 law schools. On a broader note, mentorship has always been central to who I am. I mentored throughout college and continue to do so in law school, supporting individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. For me, mentoring isn’t just about improving applications—it’s about building confidence, helping people recognize their strengths, and guiding them toward opportunities they might not have thought possible. It’s this passion for mentorship, combined with my own admissions journey, that drives me to help others succeed.
Work Experience
Summer Associate
WilmerHale
May 2025 - July 2025
Conducted legal research and drafted memoranda on issues involving securities regulation, DOJ investigations, and federal litigation; attended depositions and client meetings to gain exposure to litigation strategy and case management; assisted attorneys with fact development and review of investigative documents; and collaborated with partners and associates on ongoing matters.
Research Assistant
University of Pennsylvania
February 2025 - May 2025
Research Assistant for Professor Amanda Shanor; Conducted constitutional law and historical research on both federalism and First Amendment arguments that could be made by states and municipalities in the context of conditional federal funding.
Law Clerk
United States Senate
January 2025 - May 2025
Office of Senator Richard Blumenthal; Conducted legal research and drafting memoranda on legislative and oversight matters, including judicial nominations, regulatory enforcement, and rule of law issues; analyzed proposed legislation and making recommendations; and, monitored ongoing congressional investigations and nominations within the Judiciary.
Voter Protection Fellow
Pennsylvania Democratic Party
October 2024 - November 2024
As a voter protection fellow, collaborated with legal teams to ensure compliance with election laws and protect voter rights during the Harris-Walz campaign; monitored polling locations for potential issues, coordinated rapid responses to voter access challenges, and supported efforts to address election-day disruptions.
Summer Law clerk
ACLU of Delaware
May 2024 - August 2024
Researched and wrote memoranda to ACLU-DE staff, cooperating attorneys, and pro-bono law firm partners on legal questions arising out of ongoing litigation; identified viable intake; communicated with prospective plaintiffs, including conducting intake interviews that memorialize prospective clients’ experiences; and, assisted the policy and advocacy department with research into the potential impact of legislation on Delawareans’ rights.
Research Assistant
University of Pennsylvania
May 2024 - August 2024
Research Assistant for Professor Dorothy Roberts, University Professor of Law & Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania; Conducted research on the meaning and persistence of eugenics, polygenic embryo testing, and the government’s use of prediction as a surveillance tool for an essay entitled “Prediction, Inequality, and Eugenics” published by the Los Angeles Review of Books in 2025.
External Affairs
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
March 2021 - July 2023
Led the reproductive health, children’s mental and behavioral health, and sickle cell disease portfolios out of the Secretary’s Office; executed Secretarial events, roundtables, and meetings for Secretary Becerra with external partners; prepped the Secretary for all external engagements including writing all talking points and memos; and, coordinated press, logistics, and operations.
Field Organizer
Pennsylvania Democratic Party
June 2020 - November 2020
As a field organizer, recruited, trained, and managed 180 volunteers and 14 volunteer leaders who completed over 2,700 action shifts, and founded three coalition groups, one featured on CNN.
Education
University of Pennsylvania Law School
Doctor of Law - JD
2023 - 2026
JD Candidate, May 2026 Honors: Wharton Certificate in Management, Leader of the Year Award for Pro Bono Work, Wharton McNulty Nonprofit Board Fellowship with Jounce Partners, University of Pennsylvania Law Review Summer Fellowship Activities: The University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law (Development Editor), Pardon Project (Co-President), Democracy Law Project (Manager), Student Public Interest Network (Board Member), Penn Law Soccer Club (Captain)
Brown University
Bachelor's degree, Political Science, Magna Cum Laude and Department Honors
2016 - 2020
B.A., magma cum laude, Political Science with honors, May 2020 Honors: Pi Sigma Alpha, Bonner Community Fellow, Philo Sherman Bennet Thesis Prize Activities: Senior Research Assistant for Professor Wendy Schiller, Brown Political Review, Brown Elementary Afterschool Mentoring (Site Leader), Brown Women’s Club Soccer
Cornell University
Study Abroad, Urban Planning
2019 - 2019
Published the following study: Cornell University College of Architecture, Art and Planning: Bravetta Pisana: Strengthening Informal Practices (2019)
Cayla was also personally admitted to
Georgetown University Law Center
UCLA School of Law
Cardozo School of Law
George Washington University
USC Gould School of Law
American University Washington College of Law
Northeastern University School of Law
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