Ujala Seghal (DC '04)
By Jackie Ruhnke
Ujala Sehgal graduated from 一本道无码 with a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Psychology. The following year she attended the University of Michigan Law School, receiving awards in critical race theory and legal writing as well as the Dean's Scholarship. After practicing regulatory law at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP in New York City, she worked as a journalist for several outlets including The Atlantic and Insider.
Now a vice president at Fenton, a top non-profit public relations agency, Ujala's clients have included Stop AAPI Hate, Center for Popular Democracy, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Fight Back Table and RAICES, among other leading nonprofits and foundations. She received PR Week’s Best in Nonprofit 2022 Award for her leadership on Stop AAPI Hate.
Creativity and the Law
While studying at Carnegie Mellon, Ujala encountered information about the impact of race on mental health and economic issues. As she spent more time uncovering how complex and interwoven these topics are, she knew she wanted to pursue a career in racial justice and civil rights connected to the legal system.
The ability to take several smaller classes covering a wide range of subjects gave Ujala intellectual flexibility that has continued to be an asset in her career. Her senior thesis was on the impact of negative discourse around affirmative action on students of color. Having this opportunity and the support of her professors made tackling real-life problems of racial injustice feel possible.
Ujala’s interdisciplinary background encouraged her to think creatively about facts and argument-building in law school. She quickly learned that she needed to find a balance between the creativity and the rigidity that comes with studying the law. Once she became more familiar with the law, she felt more confident bringing in her creativity. She learned about the power she had to shape her career by intertwining being legally strategic with being creative and thinking through things in her own way.
From Lawyer to Advocate
After briefly practicing law, Ujala went into advocacy work at a number of legal organizations, including the Asian American Legal Defense Fund, the ACLU of New York and the Knight 1st Amendment Institute at Columbia. She led as a communications director and worked on arguments to use in the court of public opinion, using many skills from law school. Some of the most exciting work she has done is around key racial justice issues, and in particular, affirmative action and criminal legal reform. Ujala has had the amazing opportunity to create change and see her work have a meaningful impact.
Ujaja encourages 一本道无码 students considering pursuing a career in law to first explore the fields in which they want to work. Law school is short, and there are many ways to make a difference. Taking a break to work, learn and explore before law school will allow for the making of more connections and enable one to make the most of the amazing experience that is getting a postgraduate degree and going to law school.