University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law
The information on this page was provided by the law school.
Official Guide to ABA-Approved JD Programs
Utah Law is the perfect fit for your law school experience, from its top-tier professors to its unparalleled setting. Take a closer look:
An Unmatched Location.
No other law school has such easy access to both a booming metro area and the adventure of a lifetime. Utah Law is just 10 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City—a progressive state capital and regional economic epicenter—and 15 minutes from Utah’s world-renowned outdoor recreation.
A Welcoming Environment.
Utah Law stands apart thanks to its small size and tight-knit student body. Our students consistently say the community they find here is unique—and helps them become better lawyers after graduating. There’s a range of resources to help students maximize their time in law school, from our Academic Success Program to a dedicated in-house mental health counselor. On top of this, Utah Law has one of the nation’s best returns on investment in the nation.
A Community of Trailblazers.
Dean Elizabeth Kronk Warner is the first woman and first Native American to serve as dean of Utah Law, and she's in good company: Utah Law’s alumni change the world. Our graduates have broken race and gender barriers in the judiciary, they lead innovative companies improving the world, and they develop initiatives to strengthen communities around the globe.
An Incredible Faculty.
Some law schools have faculty who focus on research. Others are strong in teaching. At Utah Law, you’ll find both in abundance. Our students rave about the professors here, who are talented teachers and accessible mentors—in addition to being among the top scholars in their fields.
The JD Program
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.
In-House Clinics
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Environmental Justice Clinic
Partner with low-income and Indigenous communities to design and implement advocacy strategies that build community power. Students develop and apply skills in fact-finding, community engagement, and grassroots organizing.
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Environmental Policy Accelerator
Develop legal and policy analysis to assist policymakers confronting environmental challenges, such as water conservation and the shrinking Great Salt Lake.
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International Law Clinic
Address issues of foreign, comparative, and international law by providing community partners with research assistance and advocacy tools tailored to meet their needs.
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Mental Health Legal Clinic
Assist in providing legal services to clients at the University of Utah’s Mental Health Crisis Care Center, focusing on health-harming legal needs in areas such as housing, public benefits and family law.
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Post-Conviction Clinic
Assist with investigating and litigating cases in which convicted clients claim that they are innocent or that their constitutional rights have been violated by the criminal justice system.
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Refugee Law Clinic
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.
Research Centers and Programs
Our research 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. Students can gain invaluable insight into specialized areas of legal practice, helping them network and plan for their future legal careers.
The Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environment
The Stegner Center offers students one of the top environmental law programs in the nation. Educational opportunities include a J.D. certificate in environmental and natural resources law, in-house clinics in environmental justice and environmental law policy, and numerous substantive law courses. Other opportunities include an LL.M. degree, a research fellows program, and a variety of public events and speakers.
The Stegner Center boasts a talented and diverse team of faculty who are working to shape environmental law and policy, and who are committed to involving students in their work.
The Center for Law and Biomedical Sciences (LABS)
LABS is an interdisciplinary group of faculty and students engaged in cutting-edge research and teaching on issues at the intersection of law and biomedical sciences. We’re committed to explaining and improving the law in rapidly evolving fields to help overcome the critical health challenges of our times.
Our faculty are experts in bioethics, biotechnology regulation, disability law, evidence, food and drug law, intellectual property, neuroscience, public health law, and many other areas of law.
The Program in Intellectual Property and Technology Law
The Program in Intellectual Property and Technology Law seeks to advance our understanding of IP law, how it affects innovation and markets, and how IP law practices can be improved. The program offers a J.D. certificate in IP law, as well as opportunities to engage in field placements and research in IP law and related fields such as innovation theory and science and technology policy.
The Program in Criminal Law
Our Program in Criminal Law offers a full range of criminal law courses, as well as a J.D. certificate in criminal law. Our faculty are engaged in innovative research, policy work, and community engagement in areas such as prosecution, crime victims’ rights, violent crimes, and more. Students have opportunities to get involved with faculty research and policy projects, and to co-author publications with faculty.
Simulations
Simulation courses engage students in dynamic, real-world lawyering tasks based on hypothetical scenarios. You’ll build concrete skills to be ready for practice through simulation courses such as Trade Secrets, Global Perspectives on Counterterrorism, Negotiation and Mediation, and Leadership and Law.
Field Placements
Earn academic credit while you gain practical skills and training under licensed attorneys in the field. Utah Law has field placements in over 100 different settings across more than a dozen areas of law, and new placements are developed every semester.
Pro Bono Initiative
Beginning their first year, students are eligible to volunteer with the Pro Bono Initiative (PBI)—one of the most extensive in-house pro bono programs in the nation.
PBI provides opportunities to engage and serve the community while building lawyering skills, and 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.
Students can volunteer at a range of legal advice sites, which focus on areas including:
- Expungement and justice law
- Family law
- Immigration law
- Rainbow law
- Street law (including landlord/tenant law, employment, debt and small claims)
- Legal services for veterans
Moot Court & 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 are nationally competitive, and regularly advance or win awards in prestigious competitions such as the Jeffrey G. Miller National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition or the Giles S. Rich IP Moot Court Competition.
We offer a wide array of competition opportunities, including in:
- Appellate advocacy
- Business law
- Trial advocacy
- Federal Indian law
- Environmental law
- Intellectual property law
- International law
Student Life
Student Organizations
The College of Law supports a wide array of student organizations, which empower students to broaden their law school experience. This includes a range of judicial philosophies and practice areas, as well as student associations focused on various affinity groups.
Dynamic Salt Lake City
Utah Law is located in Salt Lake City—a progressive state capital and cultural and economic epicenter of the Mountain West. Salt Lake is a diverse and growing hub for legal practice, tech, health care and government—a city where multinational and local firms stand side-by-side with Fortune 500 offices, the Utah State Capitol, and federal and state courts.
Utah Law is just 10 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City. Light rail and buses link Utah Law to downtown and the greater metro area.
- Home to a significant and growing number of law firms—ranging from Big Law to small local firms
- A burgeoning restaurant scene, plus year-round farmers' markets
- World-class outdoor recreation 15 minutes from campus
- Summer music festivals, Oktoberfest, and other seasonal events year-round
- Home of major league basketball, hockey, and men's and women's soccer teams
- A walkable, bike-friendly city—ranked in the top 10 healthiest cities in the country
- Fine arts museums, dance, theater, and the Utah Symphony Orchestra
- Award-winning light rail and regional commuter rail systems
Outdoor Recreation in Utah
Love getting outside? Utah’s outdoor recreation is legendary—and easily accessible from campus.
Not only is the Mountain 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 (2024) 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.
- 6 national parks within a five-hour drive of campus—including some of the most famous national parks in the world, like Zion and Arches.
- 46 state parks
- Seven ski resorts within 45 minutes of campus
- World-class hiking, skiing, biking, fishing, and endless opportunities for other outdoor recreation
- Home to the 2002 and 2034 Winter Olympics and other prominent international outdoor sports competitions
Career Placement and Bar Passage
Tuition and Aid
Utah Law works 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. Fellowships and scholarships are also available for second- and third-year students.
Admitted Applicant Profile
