Law JD
Program Purpose
The Juris Doctor (JD) program seeks to provide a rigorous and intellectually challenging legal education that prepares students to function in the wide range of activities that occupy a lawyer's professional life. It serves highly qualified students who have a strong undergraduate preparation. Consistent with the Aims of a BYU Education, it strives to be spiritually strengthening, intellectually enlarging, and character building, leading to lifelong learning and service.
Mission and Goals of the J. Reuben Clark Law School
BYU Law Mission Statement
Founded, supported, and guided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the J. Reuben Clark Law School is an integral part of Brigham Young University and embraces the university's global mission and aims.
BYU Law recognizes the inherent dignity and equality of each individual and welcomes people from the full range of human experience. We are committed to the teachings of Jesus Christ and honor His many roles, including healer, peacemaker, mediator, counselor, advocate, lawgiver, and judge. In striving to emulate His example, we seek to be and develop people of integrity who combine faith and intellect in lifelong service to God and neighbor.
As a community, we aim to advance justice, mercy, liberty, opportunity, peace, and the rule of law. To these ends, BYU Law prioritizes inspiring teaching, rigorous study, and influential scholarship in an environment that values diversity, fosters unity, motivates excellence, nurtures leadership, promotes innovation, engenders empathy, and cultivates compassion.
BYU Law Educational Objectives
1) Prepare students for meaningful careers and contributions in the diverse settings of a global legal market by focusing on the key competencies of a legal education grounded in legal theory, enhanced by experiential learning, and enlightened by the laws of God. A BYU legal education will:
- Afford students opportunities to develop leadership, transactional, and litigation skills.
- Equip students with cross-cultural competence, preparing them to engage and communicate effectively across difference.
- Inspire students to acquire and maintain the highest levels of professionalism, civility, and ethics.
- Embrace a whole-building approach, engaging every member of the BYU Law community in developing the professional competencies, character, and diversity of our students' gifts.
2) Develop and facilitate world-class, innovative scholarship, and engage in respectful, civil dialogue that welcomes a diversity of voices and beliefs in an environment of intellectual honesty, academic freedom, and abiding faith.
3) Invite all members of our community to develop a service-oriented mindset and provide opportunities to use legal skills to aid those in need.
4) Instill respect for the U.S. Constitution, human rights, and the rule of law.
Curricular Structure
The Juris Doctor (JD) program is a six-semester course of study and requires 90 credit hours for graduation. The first-year curriculum emphasizes legal analysis and reasoning, legal research and writing, and subjects that are generally regarded in legal education as foundational for further law study. The first-year required courses are Civil Procedure, Contracts, Criminal Law, Property, Torts, Structures of the Constitution, Perspectives on Law, Introduction to Legal Research and Writing, and Introduction to Advocacy. First-year students may also take elective Professional Development Lectures, Professional Development Skills Training, and Professional Seminar. In the second and third years, Professional Responsibility is required, and the other courses are elective. In addition, each student must produce a substantial paper in the second or third year. The Law School offers the JD portion of the following joint degrees: JD/MBA, JD/MPA, JD/MAcc, JD/MEd, and JD/MPP. Law credit awarded for the non-law portion of these programs ranges from six to twelve credits. The Law School has six student-managed co-curricular programs through which students can earn credit outside the classroom: Brigham Young University Law Review (students edit and write publications relating to the law); BYU Journal of Public Law (students edit and write publications relating to public law); Brigham Young University Education and Law Journal (students edit and write publications relating to education and law); BYU International Law and Management Review (students edit and write publications relating to international law and management); Moot Court/Board of Advocates (students receive experience in appellate advocacy); and Trial Advocacy (students receive experience in trial advocacy).
Learning Outcomes
Competency in Explaining and Applying Fundamental Principles
Students will demonstrate competency in explaining and applying the fundamental principles of Civil Procedure, Contracts, Criminal Law, Property, Structures of the Constitution, Torts, Legislation and Regulation, and Professional Responsibility.
Students will be able to engage in legal analysis, reasoning, and problem solving.
Students will be able to perform legal research, legal writing, and legal advocacy.
Students will be able to recognize and resolve ethical issues in light of ethical, moral, and religious principles.
Students will have the ability and desire to engage in lifelong learning and service.
Evidence of Learning
Assessment Tools
The following tools are used for program assessment:
Learning Outcome 1. Students will demonstrate competency in the fundamental principles of Civil Procedure, Contracts, Criminal Law, Property, Structures of the Constitution, Torts, and Professional Responsibility.
Direct measures:
a. Bar examination pass rates.
Indirect measures:
a. Student course evaluations of "amount learned"
b. Placement of graduates
Learning Outcome 2. Students will be able to engage in legal analysis, reasoning, and problem solving.
Direct measures:
a. Bar examination pass rates.
b. Student completion of the Law School's substantial-paper requirement.
Indirect measures:
a. Alumni Questionnaire.
b. Law School Survey of Student Engagement.
c. Placement of graduates.
Learning Outcome 3. Students will be able to perform legal research, legal writing, and legal advocacy.
Direct measures:
a. Student completion of the Law School's substantial-paper requirement.
Indirect measures:
a. Student participation on boards of journals or in moot court competitions outside of the law school.
b. Alumni Questionnaire.
c. Law School Survey of Student Engagement.
d. LibQual Survey regarding the law library.
e. Placement of graduates.
f. Student course evaluations of "amount learned"
Learning Outcome 4. Students will be able to recognize and resolve ethical issues in light of ethical, moral, and religious principles.
Direct measures:
a. Bar examination pass rates.
Indirect measures:
a. Alumni Questionnaire.
b. Law School Survey of Student Engagement.
c. Student course evaluations of "amount learned".
d. Enrollment in the first-year Professional Seminar
Learning Outcome 5. Students will have the ability and desire to engage in lifelong learning and service.
Direct measures:
a. Student participation in Law School sponsored service activities.
Indirect measures:
a. Alumni Questionnaire.
b. Law School Survey of Student Engagement.
Learning and Teaching Assessment and Improvement
The deans review assessment data as they are reported, and share data with the appropriate Law School committees. The deans and other faculty members refer curricular issues to the Curriculum Committee. In addition, the Curriculum Committee conducts periodic reviews of the curriculum to ensure that it accomplishes the Law School's objectives. Teaching assessment and improvement are addressed in annual interviews and five-year post continuing faculty status reviews of faculty. The Law School prepares extensive self-studies in connection with periodic accreditation reviews by the American Bar Association, membership reviews by the Association of American Law Schools, and academic unit reviews by the University, and the Law School implements recommendations that emerge through those processes. The Law School has more than twenty committees on which faculty members serve, and students serve on some committees. Committees address issues and present proposals to the faculty for consideration and action. The faculty also has annual retreats which address improving learning and teaching.