Utah-Law-Viewbook-2023

THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH | S.J. QUINNEY COLLEGE OF LAW

The perfect environment for a law school.

The right environment produces the best lawyers.

Salt Lake City is a dynamic, growing hub for legal practice, tech, health care and other industries.

Love getting outside? Utah’s outdoor recreation is legendary—and easily accessible from campus.

The S.J. Quinney College of Law is located in Salt Lake City, a progressive state capital and regional economic epicenter, which serves as a focal point of growth for a diverse metropolitan area. Resting in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains, the College of Law serves as a gateway to campus. The University of Utah is a Tier-1 Research Institution, member of the elite Association of American Universities, and home to top-tier athletics. It’s a dynamic campus that features leading genetics and medical research, biotechnology, business, and all the diversity in academic excellence you’d expect from a flagship university.

But it’s not just about schoolwork. Utah is home to world-class outdoor recreation and spectacular landscapes. The University of Utah’s Student Life Center is a state-of-the-art health, fitness, and lifestyle complex featuring intramural sports, exercise and weight rooms, and equipment rental programs that help students enjoy these amazing outdoor activities.

SALT LAKE CITY IS HOME TO A SIGNIFICANT AND GROWING NUMBER OF LAW FIRMS—RANGING FROM BIG LAW TO SMALL LOCAL FIRMS

A WALKABLE, BIKEFRIENDLY CITY— RANKED #5 AMONG THE HEALTHIEST CITIES IN THE COUNTRY (WALLETHUB 2023)

A BURGEONING RESTAURANT SCENE, PLUS YEAR-ROUND FARMERS’ MARKETS

MINUTES FROM THE WORLD-RENOWNED SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVALS, OKTOBERFEST, AND OTHER SEASONAL EVENTS YEAR-ROUND

HOME OF THE UTAH JAZZ NBA TEAM AND THE REAL SALT LAKE MLS TEAM

S.J. Quinney College of Law

FINE ARTS MUSEUMS, DANCE, THEATER, AND THE UTAH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

AWARD-WINNING LIGHT RAIL AND REGIONAL COMMUTER RAIL SYSTEMS

An Environment of Familiar Faculty

With one of the lowest student-to-faculty ratios in the country, you’ll get to know your professors and classmates. student-to-faculty ratio

4.7: 1

S.J. Quinney College of Law

A Climate of Experienced Professors

The expertise of our faculty is vast, and the course topics they teach are varied. Our faculty have argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, testified before Congress, and served as high-ranking government officials. They have written leading law textbooks, served as U.S. Supreme Court clerks, and drafted regulation and policy. As practicing lawyers, our faculty have worked in nationally recognized law firms. They serve in public interest organizations and actively engage in pro bono services. As recognized experts, they regularly discuss law and policy in major media outlets like MSNBC, CNN, the BBC and Fox News, and author op-eds in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and others.

38 full-time faculty

26% full-time faculty of color

53% full-time female faculty

69 adjunct faculty

Our faculty have rich and varied real-world law experience. They embrace differences of opinion and encourage thoughtful discourse.

SCAN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR FACULTY

A Curriculum Built for Your Future

FIRST-YEAR CURRICULUM

Our students learn in intimate settings throughout their time in the College of Law. Our Legal Methods program also gives students intensive writing experience and one-on-one meetings with faculty. First-year classes teach students the basics of the law and legal system, while giving them early practical training they will need to be effective lawyers.

UPPER DIVISION CURRICULUM

A longstanding strength of the College of Law is our careful balance between doctrine, theory, and practice. Students have extensive courses they can choose from in their second and third years. These include specialty courses ranging from trademark to family law, numerous skills courses such as appellate practice and real estate drafting, and field placements in virtually every area of the law. Students can also cross-train through our experiential opportunities from international law to new ventures, our six dual degree programs, and our research centers. The depth in curriculum supports seven specialized proficiency programs, where students can earn a certificate of specialized legal study.

FALL FIRST-YEAR COURSES

Civil Procedure

Contracts

Torts

Legal Methods

Legal Research

SPRING FIRST-YEAR COURSES

Constitutional Law

Property

Criminal Law

Legal Methods

UPPER DIVISION AREAS OF FOCUS INCLUDE

Business, Real Estate, and Tax

Criminal Law

Entrepreneurship

Environmental, Energy, and Natural Resources

Family Law

Gender/Sexuality and LGBTQ Law

Health Law

International Law

Intellectual Property

Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution

Public Interest Law

Experiential Education (Clinics, Field Placements, Practicums, and Simulations)

SEE GENERAL COURSE LISTINGS

SEE A DETAILED LIST OF COURSE OFFERINGS IN LEGAL SPECIALTIES

Degree Programs

J.D.

To earn a J.D., students must complete a minimum of 88 semester hours and graduate with a GPA of at least 2.5. J.D. graduates are eligible to sit for a bar exam in any U.S. jurisdiction.

J.D. CERTIFICATES IN SPECIALIZED STUDY

Business Law

Criminal Law

Environmental and Natural Resources Law

Intellectual Property Law

International Law

Litigation and Dispute Resolution

Public Interest Law and Policy

DUAL DEGREE PROGRAMS

The College of Law offers a number of unique interdisciplinary educational opportunities. Dual degree programs with other graduate schools at the university include:

J.D./Master of Business Administration

J.D./Master of City & Metropolitan Planning

J.D./Master of Public Administration

J.D./Master of Public Policy

J.D./Master of Real Estate Development

J.D./Master of Social Work

For more information on dual degree and other program requirements, visit sjquinney.utah.edu/jd-program

LL.M. IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES LAW

The College of Law offers a specialized Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in environmental and natural resources law. The LL.M. is a one-year full-time program requiring 24 credits. Upon request, you may petition for a part-time option.

M.L.S.

The College of Law offers a Master of Legal Studies degree. This one-year, 30-credit program requires an undergraduate degree but no prior legal training or entrance exam. The M.L.S. program is offered in two formats: fully online, and in person at the University of Utah campus. The MLS program meets the educational requirement for graduates to sit for the Licensed Paralegal Practitioner examination in the state of Utah. To learn more, visit sjquinney.utah.edu/mls.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR DEGREE PROGRAMS

S.J. Quinney College of Law

Research Centers and Programs

Our centers and programs offer opportunities for students and faculty to collaborate on specialized research and community engagement, and to study in niche areas of expertise and interest. The Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environment boasts one of the top environmental law programs in the nation. The Center for Law and Biomedical Sciences brings together law, intellectual property, ethics, sciences and medicine across the University of Utah’s Tier-1 research programs. Our programs in criminal law and intellectual property boast nationally renowned faculty and provide further opportunities for specialized study and research.

For students, these centers offer scholarships, fellowships, summer clerkships, service project involvement, field placements, and participation in events that draw experts from around the globe. Students can gain related hands-on experience by participating in pro bono opportunities and moot court competitions, like the prestigious Jeffrey G. Miller National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition or the Giles S. Rich IP Moot Court Competition. Students also gain invaluable insight into specialized areas of legal practice, helping them network and plan for their future legal careers.

Learning Through Practice

MOOT COURT AND PRACTICE-ORIENTED COMPETITIONS

Our award-winning moot court and competition programs allow students to work closely with faculty to develop legal skills in real-world situations. Our teams consistently earn acclaim at the national level.

We offer a wide array of competition opportunities, including in:

Appellate advocacy

Trial advocacy

Environmental law

International law

Corporate law

Bankruptcy

Negotiation

Intellectual property

The Honorable Ketanji Brown Jackson (center), now a justice on the Supreme Court of the United States, was Utah Law’s jurist in residence in 2019.

Moot court competitions give students the opportunity to practice the written and oral skills they learn in class. These skills are highly prized by potential employers.

An Environment of Preparation

EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION

Experiential education is a critical component of every student’s training at Utah Law. In experiential courses—including in-house clinics, field placements, and simulations—students get hands-on experience and individualized training that bridges the gap between the classroom and real-world lawyering. Visit sjquinney.utah.edu/ experiential-education for more information.

IN-HOUSE CLINICS

Environmental Justice Clinic

The Environmental Justice Clinic partners with low-income communities and communities of color to challenge the inequitable distribution of environmental burdens and benefits and ensure meaningful participation in environmental decision-making. Students use a range of tools and an interdisciplinary approach to advance environmental justice.

Environmental Policy Accelerator (EPA)

The EPA develops legal and policy analysis to assist policymakers confronting pressing environmental challenges, such as water conservation and the shrinking Great Salt Lake.

Post-Conviction Clinic

Students in the Post-Conviction Clinic work on cases where the client has been convicted of a crime, completed their direct appeals, and exhausted all processes constitutionally guaranteed to someone accused of a crime. Students assist with investigating and litigating cases where the client claims either that they are innocent, or that their constitutional rights have been violated.

Refugee Law Clinic

In the Refugee Law Clinic, students represent refugees and other immigrants who are seeking protection from persecution in their country of origin. Students assist clients with accessing resettlement benefits, applications for asylum and other humanitarian forms of protection, and other legal projects and policy initiatives to advocate on behalf of the immigrant and refugee community.

FIELD PLACEMENTS

In field placements, students earn academic credit while gaining practical skills and training under licensed attorneys in the field. Utah Law has a wide variety of field placements in over 100 different settings across more than a dozen different areas of law, and new placements are developed every semester.

SIMULATIONS

Simulation courses engage students in dynamic, real-world lawyering tasks based on hypothetical scenarios. From the annual simulation in Global Perspectives on Counterterrorism to closing arguments in Trial Advocacy, from conceptualizing large-scale projects in Real Estate Development to drafting divorce settlement agreements in Family Law Practice Lab, students build concrete skills to be ready for practice.

PRO BONO INITIATIVE

Beginning their first year, students are eligible to volunteer with the Pro Bono Initiative (PBI), which provides students with opportunities to engage and serve the community while building lawyering skills. Students who graduate with 50 or more hours of pro bono service receive a certificate of service and wear honors cords during commencement. PBI also offers paid student director and fellowship opportunities for students dedicated to pro bono service. Visit sjquinney.utah.edu/pro-bono-initiative for more information on pro bono opportunities.

Hands-on experience lets you identify which areas of law interest you, helping you hit the ground running in your new legal career.

Our Top Priority: Your Success

Beginning in their first year at Utah Law, students benefit from a wide range of support and advising to help them reach their academic and career goals.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

The College of Law’s Career Development Office (CDO) provides students with the tools and resources they need to launch a rewarding career. Through a full slate of seminars, programs, and individual counseling, the CDO helps students navigate the job search process, prepare winning résumés, and hone interviewing skills.

The CDO hosts on-campus recruiting sessions with legal employers, mentoring programs, lunchtime information sessions, seasonal job fairs, opportunities to compete for jobs across the country, and the popular “firm crawl,” where students visit downtown Salt Lake City law firms. Visit sjquinney.utah.edu/cdo for more information.

The CDO is also engaged with the Judicial Clerkship Committee, which is composed of faculty members who have had prominent clerkships—including with members of the U.S. Supreme Court. The committee’s goal is to support students in the competitive process of pursuing clerkships.

STUDENT SUPPORT

Through student-centered programs and services, the Office of Student Affairs works to create an inclusive community that fosters a sense of wellness and belonging for Utah Law students. The Student Affairs team offers J.D. academic advising, registration and graduation-related support, counseling services, ADA support, and student activities that build community and focus on wellness.

A Best Value Law School, 2012-2023

ACADEMIC SUCCESS PROGRAM

Success in law school requires students to develop the analytical skills necessary to solve specific legal problems through the application of general legal principles.

The Academic Success Program (ASP) offers students an opportunity to practice these skills in a collaborative environment with guidance and feedback. ASP conducts a series of skills-based workshops open to all incoming students during the first semester of law school. ASP also presents a series of first-semester seminars regarding studying and exam taking, conducts a practice midterm, and holds a final exam session during fall semester.

For 3L students, the college provides a bar exam preparation program that guides and mentors students as they prepare to take the bar exam.

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Involvement in student organizations allows students to broaden their law school experience by sharing ideas and experiences with faculty, alumni, and fellow students. The College of Law supports a wide array of student organizations. This includes a range of judicial philosophies and practice areas, as well as student associations focused on various affinity groups. For a full list of opportunities, visit sjquinney.utah.edu/student-orgs

SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS

Utah Law offers one of the best value programs in the country. In fact, PreLaw magazine has rated us as a “Best Value” law school for the past 11 years.

We make every effort to keep tuition low and provide generous financial assistance. All admitted candidates are considered for merit-on-entrance scholarships based on the contents of their application for admission. Fellowships and scholarships are also available for second- and third-year students. For more information, visit sjquinney.utah.edu/financial-aid

96.2% Ultimate bar passage rate

%

89.5 of students received scholarship or fellowship awards in 2022-2023

Metropolis Meets the Mountains

Not only is the Intermountain West one of the hottest areas in the nation for legal jobs, but U.S. News & World Report rates Utah the best state in the nation (2023) and calls Salt Lake City one of the best places to live. Utah is a mecca for students and young professionals, as well as outdoor recreation enthusiasts.

2.7 M population in Wasatch Front area

46 state parks

Seven ski resorts within 30 minutes of campus

World-class hiking, skiing, biking, fishing, and endless opportunities for other outdoor recreation

Home to the 2002 Winter Olympics and current home of Olympic training facilities

5 National parks within a five-hour drive of campus.

Arches, 232 miles, 3.5 hours

Canyonlands, 244 miles, 4 hours

Capitol Reef, 220 miles, 3.5 hours

Bryce Canyon, 270 miles, 4 hours

Zion, 310 miles, 4.5 hours

LIBRARY EXTENDING THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING

Sustainable design. Built for student success.

Additional building features include:

• 24/7 building access

• Student activity center

• Recreational support spaces for students, including cardio room, showers, secure bike storage, and outdoor basketball court

• Accessible design incorporated throughout building

• Lockers for every student

• Student kitchenettes on many floors

• Meditation room

• Dedicated offices for law review editorial staff

• Locally owned café in building

#

LEED Platinum Designation

ROOFTOP TERRACE SHADED BY SOLAR PANELS

J.D. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Let’s Get Started

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES

September 1 J.D. applications available

EARLY DECISION PROCESS*

October 27 Early decision application deadline

November 17 Early decision admission notification

REGULAR APPLICATION PROCESS

January 15 Priority consideration deadline

March 10** Final deadline

*The early decision application is binding; thus, if you apply, and you are subsequently admitted, you commit to enroll at and attend the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law. If you submit your completed early decision application by October 27, you will be notified of your application status by November 17.

**Application files received after the final deadline will be reviewed if seats remain available.

SEE DETAILED ADMISSIONS INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

Completed application form

Non-refundable $60 application fee

Personal statement Résumé

Official Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Report

• Official transcripts sent directly to the Credential Assembly Service (CAS)

• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (or foreign equivalent)

• LSAT score(s)*

• LSAT writing sample*

• Letter(s) of recommendation (one required, but you may submit a maximum of three)

Applicants educated outside of the United States may be required to submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an International English Testing System (IETS) score report

*Files will be processed if a valid LSAT score and LSAT writing sample are on file unless the candidate requests a hold on review.

OPTIONAL MATERIALS MAY INCLUDE:

(See application instructions)

Addendum Life perspectives statement Leadership statement

S.J. Quinney College of Law

Admissions Factors

When we assess applicants for admission, academic aptitude is not the only factor considered. Below is a list of factors to keep in mind:

ACADEMIC

LSAT score(s)

Undergraduate GPA

Advanced work, other degrees

Major

Difficulty of college coursework

Grade trends

Dominant language or other language skills

Quality of high school and prior academic experience

Family education history

Other test scores

Hours worked and other responsibilities during school

DEMOGRAPHIC

Age (life experience)

Gender

Sexual orientation

Geographic residence

Socioeconomic status, family size

Multicultural experiences

Growing up in a low-income community

Law-related experience or knowledge

Military status

Work experience

Position

Level of responsibility achieved

Full time, part time

Number of years worked

Type of industry or business

Follow-through ability

LEADERSHIP AND EXTRACURRICULAR

Undergraduate or graduate leadership activities

Community leadership/accomplishments

Volunteer activities

Academic leadership and organizations

Civic engagement

Athletic activities

Travel, foreign living Service activities

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Special skills and talents

Music, drama, writing, art

NOTICE: The information in this bulletin is current as of the time of publication but is subject to change without notice. The University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law Bulletin is not a contract between the University of Utah and any person or entity.

The S.J. Quinney College of Law is approved by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar of the American Bar Association. The address and telephone number for the Council are: American Bar Association, 321 N. Clark Street, 21st Floor, Chicago, IL 60654. (312) 988-6738.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act guarantees to University of Utah students certain rights regarding their official records maintained in the Office of the University Registrar, 250 Student Services Building. Additional records are maintained at the S.J. Quinney College of Law. The act requires that the University forbid the release of personally identifiable student educational records or files, or of personal information contained in those files, without the written consent of the student, except in certain specified situations. The S.J. Quinney College of Law also extends this policy to applicants and applicant records. For additional information regarding the privacy rights of students and applicants or access to student and applicant records, consult the dean’s office at the S.J. Quinney College of Law.

The University of Utah strongly endorses the Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act. On the University of Utah campus, state laws are enforced at all times and adjudicated in a court of law. Infractions of the University of Utah Student Standards of Academic Performance and Standards of Behavior should be referred to the Office of the Dean of Students.

The University of Utah is committed to providing a supportive learning environment and fostering safe, healthy relationships among our students. To do so, the University will immediately and appropriately respond to reports of sexual misconduct, including the offenses of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender are the most egregious forms of sex discrimination. University policy also prohibits discrimination based upon sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. These offenses are subject to the same accountability standards as offenses against individuals in any protected class and the same kinds of support are available.

When OEO receives a report of sexual misconduct, the university will respond by providing information about support and resources on campus and will also explain options for addressing the behavior including filing a Formal Complaint with the OEO under university policy and/or reporting to law enforcement. Supportive Measures are available to those who experience Sexual Misconduct, whether or not you choose to file a Formal Complaint or report to law enforcement.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, we encourage you to report it to the Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action: Sherrie Hayashi

Title IX Coordinator/Director

Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (OEO/AA) 383 South University Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84112 801-581-8365

oeo@utah.edu

Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu

More information about the University policies can be found at our website at oeo.utah.edu Relevant University of Utah’s policies can be found at: regulations.utah.edu/general/1-012.php regulations.utah.edu/general/1-011.php

We acknowledge that this land, which is named for the Ute Tribe, is the traditional and ancestral homeland of the Shoshone, Paiute, Goshute, and Ute Tribes. The University of Utah recognizes and respects the enduring relationship that exists between many Indigenous peoples and their traditional homelands. We respect the sovereign relationship between tribes, states, and the federal government, and we affirm the University of Utah’s commitment to a partnership with Native Nations and Urban Indian communities through research, education, and community outreach activities.

sjquinney.utah.edu/admissions