1L Academies
BYU Law continued its innovative Academies program, involving all interested 1L students in intensive, week-long experiential learning opportunities. This year 87 students participated in seven (7) Academies across the country, each of which were led by BYU Law Faculty and hosted by local law firms.
2024 BYU Law Academies
- Chancery — Potter Anderson in Wilmington, DE
- Corporate Compliance — Mayer Brown in Los Angeles, CA
- Deals — Kirkland & Ellis in New York City, NY
- Immigration — Fragomen in Salt Lake City, UT
- Restructuring — Greenburg Traurig in Chicago, IL
- Startups — Wilson Sonsini in Palo Alto, CA
- Trial — Kirkland & Ellis in Dallas, TX
Along with the experiential learning by all participants, as a direct result of the Academies, BYU Law Students, including those in the lower half of their class, have received offers from prominent law firms in markets beyond the Intermountain West, expanding the influence and impact of BYU Law.
This program is currently offered free of charge to all 1Ls students. Alumni are invited to donate directly to the Academies program, the benefits of which include:
- Recruitment: This program is unique among law schools and helps attract the best and brightest students to BYU.
- Experience: Learning firsthand as instructed by the hosting law firms gives BYU Law Students invaluable insight into what a lawyer’s daily life is like and an advantage over peers at other law schools. They are also able to more quickly decide on specializations and areas of interest, informing the classes they take in their 2L and 3L years.
- Job Placement: Firms can and do hire students who have impressed them. The familiarity with the personalities of specific students and with the overall competence of BYU Law students has led to more offers and better jobs for our students.
- Inclusivity: Properly funded, every interested 1L student is shaped by this program. Regardless of their grades (which impact job placement) or their entry credentials (which determine scholarships), every BYU Law student is invited to participate.
- Global Leadership: Living in cities that are new to our students exponentially increases their confidence about considering and accepting future employment in locations where the Church needs influential and capable members.