Samantha Wauls, a University of New Mexico School of Law alumna (‘22) will spend the second half of her year-long entertainment law and policy fellowship at the Motion Picture Association and Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program (MPA-EICOP) working with the legal counsel at NBCUniversal in Los Angeles.
“We are incredibly proud of Samantha. We know that she will continue to do a wonderful job as an MPA-EICOP Entertainment Law & Policy Fellow," said Camille Carey, dean of the UNM School of Law. "Her legal career is off to such a bright start.”
Wauls, a first-generation college graduate and descendent of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, spent the first half of the prestigious and highly competitive fellowship in Washington D.C. at the MPA headquarters and has now received her placement with one of its six member studios.
The MPA-EICOP fellowship creates opportunities in the entertainment industry for high-achieving recent law school and master of public policy graduates with a demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity in the entertainment industry.
“This fellowship program opens up pathways to broaden opportunities for representation across the NBCUniversal portfolio, and we look forward to growing our partnerships with the MPA and EICOP,” said Christopher Miller, General Counsel, NBCUniversal Studio Group. “As a fellow at Universal, Samantha will have unparalleled experiences in entertainment law and policy and I’m excited for our teams to work with her as she advances in her career.”
During her time at the UNM School of Law, Wauls served as president of the Intellectual Property Society, where she led the organization to lobby for more course offerings in intellectual property to help support the state’s film industry.
"Sam Wauls has already been such a great ambassador for UNM Law! Her work with Universal will allow her to bring so many insights to New Mexico," said Sonia Gipson Rankin, professor of law and and faculty advisor to the UNM Intellectual Property Society.
Wauls’ ultimate goal is to be in-house counsel for a media and entertainment company. She hopes to someday further connect her interests and identity by supporting indigenous voices in the development of New Mexico’s film industry.
The year-long program allows fellows to gain experience alongside some of the industry’s leading senior-level legal and government affairs executives. In addition to the program’s in-depth, hands-on exposure to various sectors of entertainment law and policy, fellows visit studio lots and top entertainment law firms. They also interact with other industry professionals and peers at networking and industry-related functions to round out their experience.
The Fellowship is open to people from all backgrounds and the MPA encourages any qualified graduates to apply. To learn more about the MPA-EICOP Entertainment Law and Policy Fellowship, and apply for the 2024-25 program, visit the MPA website.