Why Brigham Young University?

Brigham Young University's J. Reuben Clark Law School offers a values-based legal education, integrating faith with rigorous academics and a strong emphasis on service and innovation.

Brigham Young University is a very selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 31.4%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.95 GPA and 168 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.82–3.98 GPA and 165–171 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 121 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Utah, California, and Texas — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, Brigham Young University admitted 1 transfer student into the 2L class.

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Specialty strengths

Religious FreedomTransactional Design and Business LawLegal Innovation and TechnologyPeace and Conflict ResolutionIntellectual Property Law

Class profile

US News rank: #24
Median GPA: 3.95; 25th–75th: 3.82–3.98
Median LSAT: 168; 25th–75th: 165–171
Acceptance rate: 31.4%
Class size (FT 1L): 121
Transfers admitted (2025): 1; ABA 2025 reporting cycle

2025 transfer admit profile

Actual GPAs of students Brigham Young University admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.

25th percentile: —; Suppressed (small cohort)
Median: —; 50th percentile
75th percentile: —; Suppressed (small cohort)

Top employment markets

1Utah
2California
3Texas

Where the most recent graduating class concentrated employment, per the school's ABA 509 employment summary. Use this as a signal of where the alumni network and OCI recruiting pipeline are strongest.

Signature clinics

Clinical programs that define Brigham Young University's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why Brigham Young University" essay where they align with your interests.

Community Legal Clinic
Provides free legal services in areas like immigration, contracts, and housing to those in need.
Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic
Offers legal services to startups, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit organizations.
Government and Legislation Clinical Alliance
Places students with legal service providers and includes a classroom component for additional training.
Legal Design Clinic (LawX)
Uses design thinking to address legal issues and improve access to legal services through innovative projects.
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Clinic
Provides practical experience in dispute resolution, often associated with the Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution.

Notable journals

Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.

BYU Law Review— Preeminent legal publication of the J. Reuben Clark Law School, publishing six issues annually.
Brigham Young University Journal of Public Law— Publishes scholarly articles on topics related to public law and the relationship between governments and citizens.
Brigham Young University Education and Law Journal— Focuses on legal and policy research to contribute to equity, fairness, justice, and the improvement of education.
Brigham Young University International Law & Management Review
The Clark Memorandum— Connects law students, lawyers, and others committed to public service and professional excellence.

Faculty highlights

Well-known faculty grouped by primary specialty. If a professor's scholarship aligns with your interests, name them in your essay and reference a specific paper or course.

Shima Baradaran Baughman
Criminal Law, Sentencing, Empirical Legal Studies
Brook Gotberg
Bankruptcy, Contracts, Secured Transactions
Eric T. Jensen
National Security Law, International Law
Lisa Grow
Constitutional Law, Federal Courts
Clark Asay
Intellectual Property Law, Technology, Innovation
Matthew Jennejohn
Corporate Law, Contract Design, Innovation
Cree Jones
Contract Theory, Empirical Legal Methods, International Investment
Carl Hernandez
Clinical Legal Education, Immigration Law
Gladriel Shobe
Tax Law, Corporate Finance
David H. Moore
International Law, Human Rights, Foreign Relations Law

What makes Brigham Young University distinctive

Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.

·Affiliation with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, integrating religious, ethical, and moral values into the curriculum.
·Offers several joint degree programs, including JD/MBA, JD/MAcc, JD/MEd, and JD/MPA.
·The 1L Academies program provides intensive, simulation-based skills training at top-tier law firms across various practice areas.
·LawX, the legal design lab, focuses on increasing access to justice through innovative legal tech solutions.
·Houses the International Center for Law and Religion Studies, dedicated to promoting religious liberty worldwide.

Using this for your "Why Brigham Young University" essay

Strong "Why X Law School" essays are concrete and specific to the school — not interchangeable templates. Use these facts to anchor your essay, then layer on what you've found from the school's own faculty pages, clinical program descriptions, and journal listings.

Important note: admissions committees actively reject AI-written personal statements and "Why X" essays. Use this page as research material to write your own essay — never as a template to copy. Authentic, specific, personally-grounded reasoning is the only thing that wins these essays.

Frequently asked about Brigham Young University

What is the median GPA and LSAT at Brigham Young University?▾

Brigham Young University's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.95 and a median LSAT of 168. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.82–3.98 GPA and 165–171 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.

What is Brigham Young University's acceptance rate?▾

Brigham Young University's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 31.4%, per ABA 509 disclosures.

What clinics does Brigham Young University offer?▾

Brigham Young University's notable clinical programs include: Community Legal Clinic, Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic, Government and Legislation Clinical Alliance, Legal Design Clinic (LawX), Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.

What journals does Brigham Young University publish?▾

Brigham Young University's notable student-edited journals include: BYU Law Review, Brigham Young University Journal of Public Law, Brigham Young University Education and Law Journal, Brigham Young University International Law & Management Review, The Clark Memorandum.

Where do Brigham Young University graduates work?▾

Brigham Young University graduates concentrate employment in Utah, California, Texas, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.

How many transfer students does Brigham Young University admit?▾

Brigham Young University admitted 1 transfer student into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle.

Schools similar to Brigham Young University

Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.

George Washington University

University of Georgia

GPA 3.92 · LSAT 168

#22

University of Minnesota

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Sources (3) — verify any fact above

Generated from public sources via search-grounded AI on 4/27/2026. If any fact looks wrong, click through to verify and let us know.