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Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School, Provo, UT [By Mary Waldron] Stellar reputation, well-known faculty, small class sizes, and affordable tuition? It’s no wonder Brigham Young University (BYU) J. Reuben Clark Law School can be spotted in most top-fifty U.S. law school rankings. Thanks to BYU Law School’s impeccable program structure based on educational and professional goals, as well as the university’s prestigious Honor Code, graduates from this program are going places fast. Nestled in the lush and serene surroundings of Provo, UT, BYU not only provides a strong scholastic foundation but also a pleasant environment in which to focus and study; it’s also easy to find stressfree places to hike, ski, or simply relax when work is done.
Students planning to apply to BYU Law
and other evidence of probable success as a
With extensive credits in the areas of
School should be aware of a few important
law student and as a lawyer.” As a member
environmental law, tax law, and alternative
qualifications. Each applicant must have
of The Association of American Law Schools
dispute resolution, these top-notch law
completed a bachelor’s degree at an
(AALS), BYU Law School provides equal
professors find time to work collectively with
accredited college or university, in any field
opportunity for all people, regardless of race,
students on significant research, publishing,
of study (not necessarily one that is law-
color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual
and advocacy.
related). Upon entering the law school,
orientation, age, handicap, or disability.
students should be prepared “to analyze,
Although there is no official minimum
Though the student body is small, it is still
reason, read carefully, think in abstract
GPA requirement, over the past two years,
quite diverse and maximizes opportunities
terms, and express thoughts clearly and
accepted students’ median undergraduate
for students to gain social experience and
precisely,” according to the admission
grade point average (UGPA) has been 3.72,
exposure. Many students at the school
requirements. Applicants also must have
and the median LSAT score for accepted
have studied abroad, and 80 percent of the
taken the Law School Admission Test (LSAT),
students has been 164. The law school
school’s population is fluent in languages
which determines their preparedness
admissions committee bases acceptance
other than English; two-thirds of bilingual
to learn at the law school, as well as
decisions on students’ UGPA and LSAT
and multilingual students come from outside
their proficiency in the English language.
scores, as well as any non-academic factors
of Utah.
Candidates who have not received scores
that may have affected the candidates’
of at least 145 on the LSAT may be required
previous performances.
to take the TOEFL test, as well. It is also expected that each applicant be prepared
Typically, between 860 and 1,000 students
to follow the university’s Honor Code, which
apply to BYU Law School per year, and only
entails “honesty, morality, and abstinence
220 students are admitted. Of those 220, it is
from tobacco, tea, coffee, alcohol, and
expected that 150 students will enroll. Also,
harmful drugs by students, faculty, and staff,
first-year law students are only accepted for
either on or off campus.” The university
the fall semester. Once acceptance letters
requires that each potential student obtain
are sent out, usually a month and a half after
a recommendation from a religious leader
the deadline date, each admitted law student
or a judge of a court of general jurisdiction
who decides to enroll must mail a $200
who can certify that the individual’s behavior
deposit to the law school, which will later be
adheres to the standards of the Code.
credited toward his or her tuition fees.
Once BYU receives an application, the
BYU Law School limits its population to only
law school admissions committee, which
a select, concentrated group-450 students,
consists of five law faculty members,
to be precise-opening the door for students
evaluates the potential student based on his
to benefit from one-on-one relationships
or her “college grades, scores on the LSAT,
with its internationally recognized faculty.
PAGE
BYU Law School offers a wide variety of resources to encourage the success of its students. For instance, over 450,000 volumes or volume equivalents can be found throughout its 175,000-squarefoot library, along with state-of-the-art technology, numerous study rooms, and computer training facilities. Each student has a spacious computer cubicle, complete with a 100MB connection to the law school, university, and national legal databases, as well as the Internet. A series of year-long, international externships are also made available to law students, in order to enrich their understanding and broaden their knowledge of the worlds of national and international law. These programs provide training in the areas of legal analysis, writing, and research, incorporated with simulated courtroom experience.
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One of the most appealing advantages of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is $8,200;
attending BYU Law School is its affordable
non-members pay $16,400 in annual tuition.
ON THE NET Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark
tuition, which makes the school one of the best values in its league. BYU Law
BYU Law School prides itself on having a
Law School
School’s tuition is only a fraction of that of
“quality student body.” With its policies
www.law.byu.edu/
other distinguished law schools, such as
requiring that students achieve and maintain
the University of Notre Dame Law School,
exceptional scholastic and personal
the William & Mary Marshall-Wythe School
standards, this rigorous law program is
of Law, and the University of California,
designed to amplify the student body’s
Los Angeles, School of Law. Since BYU is
“diversity, vigor, and academic ability.”
a private, religious university, the annual tuition fee for members of the Church of
PAGE
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints www.lds.org/ William & Mary Marshall-Wythe School of Law www.wm.edu/law/