NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 24, 2025: International law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is pleased to announce the 2025-2026 class of its multi-stakeholder public service initiative, the Weil Legal Innovators Program (WLI), now in its sixth year.

The ten fellows selected for this year’s class deferred their first year of study at one of WLI’s thirteen partner law schools to complete one year of public service at a nonprofit partner organization participating in the WLI program. These incoming law students receive a unique opportunity to work on some of the most urgent social and legal challenges through placements at leading nonprofits, including the World Wildlife Fund, Innocence Project and United Way of New York City. The Innovators will focus on a range of issues, principally human rights, criminal justice reform, sustainability and food insecurity, among others.

Fellowships commenced this summer and continue through July 2026.

The Innovators’ WLI positions and law school affiliations are as follows:

• Zaiboon Azhar will join the Clooney Foundation for Justice as a Research Fellow. She will attend Harvard Law School.

• Angelina Johnson will join the National Women’s Law Center in Washington, D.C. as a TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund/Legal Network for Gender Equity Program Associate. She will attend the University of Texas at Austin School of Law.

• Roni Kane will join the Clooney Foundation for Justice as an Advocacy Communications Fellow. She will attend University of Chicago Law School.

• Jack Meiter will join World Wildlife Fund in Washington, D.C. as a Native Nations Program Associate. He will attend University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

• Ranen Miao will join National Women’s Law Center in Washington, D.C. as an Education and Workplace Justice Program Associate. He will attend Harvard Law School.

• JT Mullins will join The Innocence Project, Inc. in New York City as an Exoneration Innovator. He will attend Yale Law School.

• Thomas Musgrave will join Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law in Washington, D.C. as a Movement Partnerships Coordinator. He will attend Harvard Law School.

• Bennett Rosenberg will join World Wildlife Fund in Washington, D.C. as an Impact Investing Policy Associate. He will attend University of California, Berkeley School of Law.

• Krish Sheth will join Upsolve as an AI Legal Research Fellow. He will attend University of Chicago Law School.

• Chelsea Wang will join United Way of New York City as a Policy Associate. She will attend Yale Law School.

Each Innovator will receive a $60,000 salary and full benefits package for the duration of their engagement. Upon starting law school, they will also receive a $10,000 scholarship toward first-year academic tuition. Weil invests in the long-term success of the program by providing robust professional development and mentorship opportunities throughout the entirety of the fellowship. The nonprofit partners also receive a $40,000 charitable contribution to help cover operating expenses and costs associated with onboarding the Innovators.

“As we mark six years of the Weil Legal Innovators Program, we’re honored to welcome another extraordinary class of fellows,” said Weil Executive Partner Barry Wolf. “These future legal leaders bring passion, purpose, and fresh perspective to our nonprofit partners, and we’re proud to support their journeys.”

This year’s fellowship launched at the 2025 WLI Conference on July 14, which brought together incoming, outgoing and alumni Innovators for a memorable gathering. Each member of the 2024–2025 cohort delivered a powerful closing presentation, highlighting the nonprofit they served, the tangible impact of their work and personal reflections on tackling some of the most pressing social and legal challenges in their communities today. The conference also featured a fireside chat with Maya Wiley, CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and a volunteer project with PENCIL, a nonprofit that introduces NYC youth to diverse career pathways.

The WLI initiative is made possible by an annual investment of more than $1 million from Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.

For more information, please visit https://www.weil.com/weil-legal-innovators

About Weil

Founded in 1931, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has been a preeminent provider of legal services for more than 90 years. With approximately 1,200 lawyers in offices on three continents, Weil has been a pioneer in the marketplace and a first-mover in the establishment of many significant practice areas. The Firm’s four departments, Corporate, Litigation, Restructuring, and Tax, Executive Compensation & Benefits, and more than two dozen practice groups are consistently recognized as leaders in their respective fields.