in the L I G H TL A WB R I G H A M Y O U N G U N I V E R S I T Y

IN 1971, BYU’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES announced that the J. Reuben Clark Law

School would be established at Brigham Young Uni versity as an insti tution at which stu dents could “obtain a knowledge of the laws of man in the light of the laws of God.” On the first day of classes, Dallin H. Oaks, then president of BYU, shared his belief in the divine wisdom of the Law School’s found ing and charged those who would participate in this “great venture”

to “build in quality and flinch at no sacrifice toward that end.” Throughout the past four decades, faculty, staff, students, and alumni have answered their call to the law by committing their time, energy, and talent to this extraordinary institution. Since the graduation of its char-ter class in 1976, J. Reuben Clark Law School has produced 14 Unit ed States Supreme Court clerks; numerous judges in state and federal courts; elected lead ers serving in a variety of capacities, from city councils to the United States Congress; well-re spected professors and educators; highly recog nized business professionals; and distinguished lawyers in firms, corporations, and public inter est organizations throughout the United States and abroad. An education at BYU Law School means studying with an accomplished faculty who are superb teachers and exemplary men-tors who invest in the lives of students: taking small groups of first-year students to lunch, joining students at our weekly “Fridays” receptions, including students in their research, counseling in their offices with stu-dents about important life choices, and even risking embarrassment at the annual talent show or our Stump the Professor contest. Besides your benefiting from the faculty, much of your learning will come from your classmates. Every year the Law School assembles an extraordinary group of students. It is energizing to study law alongside so many bright and interesting men and women. The friendships you gain here will be among the most satisfying and enduring of your lives. Make no mistake—a law degree requires hard work and sacrifice, but I assure you it is worth it. The law, when practiced with integrity, is truly a noble profession. My colleagues and I are excited to have you join us in the ennobling adventure of learning the law.

Dean James R. Rasband

CALLED

LAWto the

Byu law school is affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and seeks to promote ideals, principles, and commitments that are consistent with its teachings. The Law School’s reliance on these common ideals, principles, and commitments makes it

superbly effective in strengthening the moral, ethical, and professional foundations that compose the finest heritage of the legal profession. The unique atmosphere of faith at BYU Law School is consistent with its intellectually and spiritually invigorating community. The manner of instruction approaches the law from a scholarly and objective point of view, exposing students to a diversity of perspectives on every question worthy of study. This training prepares students to balance the critical-thinking skills necessary to succeed in the profession with a moral perspective that motivates them to use their legal expertise as a force for good in the world.

ATMOSPHEREFAITHof

an

FACULTYour

Byu law students are taught by internationally renowned faculty members who are fully engaged in the legal community. In addition to publishing in top journals and presenting regularly at academic conferences, they consistently demonstrate a passion

for teaching. Faculty and students interact outside of the classroom at events such as “Fridays,” student-faculty receptions, the Barrister’s Ball, the annual Stump the Professor fundraiser, and a variety of other formal and informal events. Professors also regularly work one-on-one with students through directed research or to give guidance on a student’s substantial writing assignment. Most professors hire students to work with them on researching current legal issues. Many students work closely with faculty to coauthor and publish papers on important legal topics. Additionally, a clerkship faculty com-mittee, Career Services personnel, and the annual visiting jurist program, in which students meet with judges, help students secure judicial clerkships.

I was drawn to BYU Law because of its focus on religious freedom through the International Center for Law and Religion Studies. I want to increase my knowledge and skills to meet these needs and get involved.

STUDENTSour

D uring the opening ceremony of the Law School in 1973, then President Dallin H. Oaks spoke of the continuing influence of BYU Law School’s namesake on successive generations of BYU law students:

J. Reuben Clark was a widely acclaimed authority in international and constitutional law, a distinguished public servant, an eminent author, a wise counselor, and a servant of the Lord. His coherent philosophy of law and government was born of brilliance and nurtured by superior education, experience, love of country, and devotion to God. . . .

The life of J. Reuben Clark exemplifies the excellence of mind and character we seek to foster in the law school that now bears his name. Every person—and especially every young student of the law—can identify with the life of this great man and appropriately aspire to the greatness he attained.

Our incoming students have academic qualifications that place them among the top law school applicants in the nation. These students come from a variety of academic, professional, and life backgrounds. In addition to their impressive academic credentials, BYU Law students possess a commitment to leadership and service that sets them apart. As students at BYU Law School continue to emulate J. Reuben Clark and the many other outstanding attorneys who have taught and studied here, the Law School’s special mission will continue to unfold.

COMMITMENT

STUDENT

ato each

MENTORING

Mentoring is an important part of the BYU Law School experience. Each first-year student is assigned a second- or third-year student mentor through the Academic Success Program, which is dedicated to helping all law students achieve academic

excellence and life balance while in law school. Student mentors teach effective law school strategies through review sessions and workshops on such topics as case briefing, outlining, and taking exams. Our Alumni Mentoring Program pairs students with alumni mentors based on practice area, geography, or other factors. The focus of the program is employment—helping students figure out how to optimize their law degrees, assessing their résumés, coaching them on their job search, and sharing contacts.

providing individual

writing and research

BYU Law’s nationally recognized legal writing and research program features instruction from attorney experts. Students on moot court and trial advocacy teams gain courtroom experience in national and international competitions.

externships

Each year more than 300 BYU Law students participate in national and international externships, gaining experience in law firms, in courthouses, and with the government. They are supervised by BYU faculty and on-site attorneys.

clinics and clinical alliances

BYU Law School has several clinics and clinical alliances—such as the Law and Entrepreneur-ship Clinic, the Family Law Clinic, the Mediation Clinic, and the Government and Legislative Clinical Alliance—that provide additional training and place students with high-quality legal service providers.

skills labs

Skills labs are a unique feature of practical training at BYU Law School. Modeled after labs widely used in the sciences, skills labs are add-ons to doctrinal classes, giving students opportunities to develop practice-relevant skills to complement their study. Labs are offered in immigration law, labor law, intellectual property, and business associations.

LAWYERINGSKILLS

strengthening

Our writing and research program promotes the skills exemplified by the program’s namesake, Rex E. Lee, whom then Supreme Court Justice David Souter described as “the best solicitor general this nation has ever had.”

Not only have I benefited from the name recognition of a great school, but the low tuition has enabled me to make career decisions based on a variety of factors, such as pursuing a career that I love, having time to give back, and doing what is best for me and my family.

COST-TO-VALUEbest

ratio

B ecause of the sponsorship of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the support of Brigham Young University, every BYU Law School student benefits from a substantial subsidy. No comparably ranked private law school in the country even

approaches BYU’s low tuition cost. Because our students leave law school with relatively low debt loads, they can more easily choose careers in a variety of sectors, including in small firms and in government, business, and nonprofit organizations. Because of the significant financial contribution to BYU Law School’s operation from tithes paid by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, tuition is distinguished by Church membership, not state residency.

UNIQUE PURPOSEa

and SPECIAL MISSION

In one of his most beloved talks, “To Them of the Last Wagon,” President J. Reuben Clark spoke of those at the end of the pioneer wagon trains who were disadvantaged because of poorly equipped wagons, weak teams, or sickness. BYU Law encourages student preparation

for a lifetime of service to those who are the most disadvantaged and broken through pro bono opportunities.

• Timpanogos Legal Clinic • Law Help • Tuesday Night Bar • Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) • Elder Law • Volunteer income-tax assistance • Fifth-grade mentoring programs

COMMITMENTSERVICEto

encouraging a lifelong

The international center for law and religion studies at BYU is a recognized world leader for promoting religious liberty. There are many opportunities for BYU Law students to work with the Center.

annual law and religion symposium

Each October student volunteers help host this international conference for scholars, gov-ernment officials, and religious leaders.

summer fellow program

A dozen BYU Law students spend half the summer of their first year as externs in more than 10 cities around the world and the other half working on scholarly projects for the Center.

student management board

BYU Law students serving on the board work 5 to 10 hours a week on research and editorial projects for the Center as well as on academic and Supreme Court advocacy projects.

law and religion curriculum

Students may participate in classes and seminars on topics relating to religion and the rule of law and human rights.

RELIGIOUSFREEDOM

promotingdedicated to

Byu law school has an excellent record of graduates who secure judicial clerkships at the state and federal levels as well as students who participate in judicial externships. The Law School assists students and alumni seeking judicial clerkships and externships in

many ways—namely by providing a clerkship faculty committee, several trained Career Services personnel who can help navigate the application process, and an annual visiting jurist program in which students meet with judges to explore clerkship opportunities.

JUDICIALCLERKSHIPS

expanding experience through

ENLIGHTENINGENVIRONMENT

an

There are so many student organizations that provide opportunities for leadership, relationship building, practical training, and service. I would encourage every student to get involved. Law school is definitely challenging, but it can also be a lot of fun.

The student bar association (SBA) is committed to providing student representation in the Law School community. Student representatives are elected each fall and spend the school year providing a variety of activities that unite and support students. The SBA hosts weekly

“Fridays” receptions in which students and faculty mingle and enjoy refreshments, an annual Halloween costume party, an annual talent show, and many other student activities. In addition to the Student Bar Association, BYU law students have the opportunity to be involved with a variety of student clubs and organizations, including the Alternative Dispute Resolution Society, the Family Law Society, the International Law Students Association, the Minority Law Students Association, Spirit in the Law, the Student Intellectual Property Law Association, and Women in the Law. There is also a club—Law Partners—that provides a com-munity and support group for spouses and families of law students.

STUDENT LIFE

sundance arches national park zion national park

BEAUTIFUL and

STIMULATINGa

The howard w. hunter law library, housed within the 175,000-square-foot J. Reuben Clark Law School Building, is one of the finest law libraries in the nation. Most law schools in the country have first-come, first-serve carrels and lockers; every student at

BYU Law School has an assigned carrel for study and storage. BYU Law School is located in the Rocky Mountains, only minutes from the mouth of Provo Canyon and Sundance Mountain Resort and within an hour’s drive of a half dozen other resorts. Utah’s famous Color Country, with Canyonlands, Arches, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Parks, is just a few hours south. The setting is uniquely beautiful and perfectly complements the rigors of a BYU Law education.

SETTING

CURRICULUMFIRST-YEAR REQUIRED COURSES

Civil Procedure ContractsCriminal LawIntroduction to AdvocacyIntroduction to Legal Research and WritingLegislation and RegulationPropertyStructures of the ConstitutionTorts

First-Year Elective CoursesProfessional Development Lecture SeriesProfessional Development Skills TrainingProfessional Seminar

SECOND-YEAR AND THIRD-YEAR COURSES

Alternative Dispute ResolutionAlternative Dispute ResolutionBasic MediationCommunity LawyeringDomestic MediationInternational Arbitration CompetitionMediation ExternshipNegotiationYouth in MediationYouth in Mediation Externship

Business and Commercial LawAdvanced ContractsAccounting for LawyersAntitrustBanking LawBusiness AssociationsBusiness Reorganization under the Bankruptcy CodeCommercial PaperCorporate FinanceDebtors and CreditorsEntertainment LawInsurance LawInternational Business TransactionsLaw and EntrepreneurshipMergers and AcquisitionsSecured TransactionsSecurities RegulationSports Law

Tax-Exempt Organizations Transactional Lawyering

Constitutional LawAdministrative LawCivil RightsComparative Constitutional LawCurrent Issues in Constitutional LitigationFreedom of ReligionOrigins of the ConstitutionPresidential PowerThe First AmendmentThe Fourteenth AmendmentU.S. Church and StateU.S. Foreign Relations Law

Criminal Law and ProcedureCriminal ProcedureCriminal Trial PracticeSentencingWhite Collar Crime

EducationCocurricular: Education and Law JournalLaw and Public EducationLaw of Higher Education

Environmental Law and Natural ResourcesDisaster LawEnvironmental LawEnvironmental Litigation SeminarInternational Environmental LawOil and GasPublic Lands and Natural ResourcesWater Law

Estates and TrustsAdvanced Estate PlanningBasic Estate PlanningTrustsWills and Estates

Family LawChild AdvocacyDomestic MediationDomestic RelationsDomestic Violence InterventionFamily Law

GovernmentAdministrative LawLegislationState and Local GovernmentThe Law of Armed Conflict

Indian LawFederal Indian Law

Intellectual Property and TechnologyAdvanced Computer-Based Practice SystemsAdvanced Patent Drafting and ProsecutionBiotechnology Law and EthicsComputer-Based Practice SystemsCopyright and TrademarkCyberlawIntellectual Property/AntitrustIntellectual Property Moot CourtPatent Law 1: Conditions for PatentabilityPatent Law 2: Infringement and RemediesTechnology Licensing

International and Comparative LawAdvanced Comparative LawCocurricular: International Law and Management ReviewEuropean Union LawImmigration LawInternational Arbitration Competition International Business TransactionsInternational Moot CourtInternational Protection of Religious FreedomPublic International LawThe Law of Armed ConflictU.S. Foreign Relations Law

Labor and Employment Employment DiscriminationWork Law

Law Librarianship ManagementIntroduction to Law Librarianship

Law Practice and Professional DevelopmentAdvanced Computer-Based Practice SystemsComputer-Based Practice SystemsLaw Practice Management

Legal HistoryAncient Near Eastern Law in the Old Testament and the Book of MormonHistory of Mormon LawyersJoseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and 19th-Century American Law

Legal Interviewing and CounselingAdvanced CounselingLegal Interviewing and Counseling

Legal Research and WritingAdvanced Appellate Brief WritingAdvanced Legal Research

Cocurricular: Education and Law JournalCocurricular: International Law and Management ReviewCocurricular: Journal of Public LawCocurricular: BYU Law ReviewCocurricular: Moot CourtCommunity-Based Legal ResearchFederal Tax ResearchInternational Legal ResearchLegal DraftingPublic Speaking for Lawyers

Legal StudiesLaw and LiteratureLaw and LogicSocial Policy and Feminist Legal Thought

LitigationAdvanced Appellate Brief WritingCivil DiscoveryCivil Trial Practice 1Civil Trial Practice 2Cocurricular: Moot CourtCocurricular: Trial AdvocacyConflicts of LawCurrent Issues in Constitutional LitigationEvidenceFederal CourtsInternational Moot CourtJudicial ProcessNegotiationPrinciples of Trial AdvocacyProfessional ResponsibilityRemedies

Public-Interest Law and Pro BonoChild AdvocacyCommunity LawyeringCommunity-Based Legal ResearchDomestic RelationsDomestic Violence InterventionElder LawHispanic Street LawMediation ExternshipYouth in MediationYouth in Mediation Externship

Real PropertyLand-Use PlanningReal Estate DevelopmentReal Estate Finance

TaxationFederal Income Taxation 1Federal Income Taxation 2Federal Tax ResearchInternational TaxationU.S. Taxation of Religious Organizations

As a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and as a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS),

J. Reuben Clark Law School provides equal opportunity in legal education for all persons, including faculty and employees, with

respect to hiring, continuation, promotion and continuing faculty status, applicants for admission, enrolled students, and graduates,

without discrimination or segregation on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability.

Because of the Law School’s religious affiliation and purpose, ABA standards and AALS regulations as applied to the Law School require

equal opportunity on the basis of sexual orientation but not on the basis of conduct. All members of the Law School community are

required to comply with the Brigham Young University Honor Code. The Law School, as is permitted by ABA standards and AALS

regulations, also prefers faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in employment. For questions about ABA

accreditation, contact American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar, 321 N. Clark Street,

21st Floor, Chicago, IL 60654; phone: 312.988.6738; fax: 312.988.5681; legaled@americanbar.org.

P H O T O B Y M A R K P H I L B R I C K

B R I G H A M Y O U N G U N I V E R S I T Y

J. REUBEN CLARK

Portrait by Arnold Friberg