University of Utah College of Law

University of Utah College of Law
Name	University of Utah College of Law
Established	1913
Type	Public
Parent	University of Utah
Dean	Elizabeth Kronk Warner
City	Salt Lake City
State	Utah
Country	United States
Website	https://law.utah.edu/

University of Utah College of Law. It is the law school of the University of Utah, a public research university located in Salt Lake City. Founded in 1913, it is the only public law school in the state of Utah and is widely recognized for its strengths in environmental law, natural resources law, and intellectual property law. The college is known for its relatively small class sizes, strong placement in Western legal markets, and a faculty engaged in influential legal scholarship.

History

The institution was established by an act of the Utah State Legislature in 1913, initially operating in a building on the university's former campus in downtown Salt Lake City. Its early development was shaped by figures like John A. Widtsoe, then president of the University of Utah. The college moved to its current location on the university's main campus in the 1960s, following the construction of a dedicated law building. A significant milestone occurred in 1973 when the college appointed the first female dean of a fully accredited American law school, Beverly B. Cook. Throughout the late 20th century, it expanded its curriculum and gained national prominence, particularly through the work of professors like Wayne McCormack and the establishment of its first legal clinic.

Academics

The college offers the Juris Doctor degree, as well as dual-degree programs such as the JD-MBA with the David Eccles School of Business and a JD-MPA with the University of Utah. Its academic program is notable for a required first-year curriculum that includes Legal Methods, followed by extensive upper-level electives. Students can pursue concentrations in areas like Environmental and Natural Resources Law, Criminal Law, and International Law. Experiential learning is emphasized through robust clinical education programs, including the Prosecution Clinic with the Salt Lake County District Attorney and the Innocence Clinic, alongside simulation courses and externships with entities like the United States District Court for the District of Utah.

Campus and facilities

The law school is housed primarily in the S.J. Quinney Law Building, a facility named for prominent Utah philanthropist S.J. Quinney. The building contains the S.J. Quinney Law Library, one of the largest legal collections in the Intermountain West, which features extensive resources in water law and American Indian law. Other key facilities include the Moot Courtroom, used for the National Moot Court Competition, and the Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environment. The building is situated on the eastern bench of the Wasatch Range, providing proximity to both the university's main campus and downtown Salt Lake City.

Centers and institutes

The college hosts several research centers that drive its scholarly mission. The flagship Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environment organizes the annual Stegner Symposium and publishes the Journal of Land, Resources & Environmental Law. The Center for Law and Biomedical Sciences focuses on issues at the intersection of health law, ethics, and biotechnology. The International Center for Law and Religion Studies is a globally recognized institute that sponsors conferences and publishes scholarship on religious freedom, engaging with bodies like the United Nations. Additional institutes include the Cyberlaw Center and the Pioneer Justice Clinic.

Notable faculty and alumni

The faculty includes distinguished scholars such as former dean Robert W. Adler, an expert in environmental law, and Paul Cassell, a former United States federal judge and advocate for victims' rights. Alumni have achieved prominence in diverse fields; they include former U.S. Senator Jake Garn, former Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Christine M. Durham, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate and environmental activist Wangari Maathai. Other notable graduates are Larry H. Miller, owner of the Utah Jazz, and John Swallow, a former Attorney General of Utah.

Rankings and reputation

Consistently ranked among the top-tier law schools nationally, it is often placed within the top 50 by U.S. News & World Report. Its Environmental Law program is frequently ranked in the top 15 nationally, and the college is highly regarded for its Legal Writing instruction. The Princeton Review has repeatedly listed it among the best schools for quality of life and professor accessibility. The college boasts a strong bar passage rate in Utah and high employment outcomes, with graduates securing positions at major firms like Parsons Behle & Latimer, clerkships with the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, and roles in public interest organizations.

Category:University of Utah Category:Law schools in Utah Category:Educational institutions established in 1913