In a season of continuing pandemic, divisiveness, and social unrest, BYU Law is seeking to address problems of social injustice and systemic racism close to home. We are committed to respect and value people of all races, ethnicities, and classes and to ensure that these differences are not just tolerated but actively welcomed in our communities. In collaboration with law firms and companies with offices in Utah, we are making a tangible investment to the diversity of Utah’s law student population by establishing Achievement Fellowships to attract, recognize, and support students who have qualified themselves for admission to BYU Law in the face of significant challenges or hardships.

The Achievement Fellowship ensures that students who have overcome significant challenges or hardships in preparing for law school will have every opportunity to maximize their potential. Recipients of the BYU Law Achievement Fellowship will receive full tuition for each of three academic years, provided they remain students in good standing. In addition, Achievement Fellows will have access to mentorship activities with local law firms and companies.

The reviewing committee will consider a broad spectrum of life challenges, including, but not limited to, socioeconomic disadvantage, disability, being the first in their family to attend college, attending under-resourced schools, and status as an immigrant or former refugee. Hardships such as homelessness, living in foster care, working multiple jobs or long hours in high school or college, and living in a family struggling with poverty, incarceration, abandonment, physical or mental health issues, domestic abuse, and/or substance abuse are examples of the types of disadvantages that may be considered when selecting recipients of these awards. In all cases, the reviewing committee will be looking for evidence of personal growth, initiative, perseverance, and character development.

All applicants wanting to be considered for the BYU Law Achievement Fellowship for Fall 2024, must

• Complete a BYU Law application (available through lsac.org), including a two-level new applicant ecclesiastical endorsement (see the instructions at: https://honorcode.byu.edu/ecclesiastical-endorsements), by December 31, 2023, and
• Demonstrate in your personal statement or a one-page addendum why you should be selected to receive a BYU Law Achievement Fellowship.

Late applicants will still be considered for admission, but not for the Achievement Fellowship. (Please note that it takes several weeks for LSAC to process an applicant’s transcripts; plan accordingly.)

The Achievement Fellowship program is considered an early admissions decision program, and the applicants selected for the Achievement Fellowship must withdraw their applications from all other law schools by March 1, 2024, to accept the Achievement Fellowship.

Applicants may, if they choose, discuss how race has affected their lives (e.g., through discrimination, inspiration, etc.); however, decisions regarding the awarding of the Achievement Fellowship will not be based on an applicant’s race, but rather on the broad spectrum of life challenges outlined above.

The Burns/Rawlinson Scholarship will be awarded to the top 2-3 (based on available funding) applicants in the entering class who have the highest entering credentials in their class. Burns/Rawlinson Scholars receive the following benefits:

• Full tuition for three years of law school
• $15,000 per year stipend for three years of law school
• Retention of scholarship is conditioned only upon remaining in good standing
• Retention of stipend is conditioned upon maintaining at least a 3.5 GPA during law school (if a student drops below a 3.5, provided that a stipend was previously offered, the student will receive the previously offered stipend in lieu of the Burns/Rawlinson stipend)
• Recognition at the Burns Foundation Dinner
• Invitation to Clark Scholars dinners/events (provided that the student completed their application by the Clark Scholarship deadline)
• Funding to attend the annual BYU Law travel study tour 3L year

All eligible applicants will be considered for the Burns/Rawlinson Scholarship upon receipt of their completed BYU Law application.

The Clark Scholars program is a vibrant community of scholars, both students and faculty, who seek to advance BYU Law’s mission and purpose through scholarship, fellowship, and service. Each year, BYU Law invites select applicants to join this program.

The Clark Scholars Program is considered an early admissions decision program and Clark Scholars receive the following benefits:

• Full tuition for three years of law school
• $10,000 per year stipend for three years of law school
• Retention of scholarship and stipend are conditioned only upon remaining in good standing
• Invitation to Clark Scholar dinners/events with faculty and deans each year

Applicants who would like to be considered for the Clark Scholars Program for Fall 2024 must have scored at least 168 on the LSAT and must submit a complete BYU Law application (including ecclesiastical endorsement) by December 31, 2023. All eligible applicants who meet the December 31, 2023 deadline will automatically be considered for the Clark Scholars Program and no separate application is required.

After January 1, 2024, the Admissions Committee will nominate select applicants to participate in the Clark Scholars Program recruiting events to be held at BYU Law on February 1-2, 2024. All nominated applicants will be required to:

• Submit a one-page essay (further instructions will be provided to nominees), and
• Attend all the Clark Scholars Program recruiting events (a travel stipend will be provided to out-of-state nominees)

Clark Scholar recipients will be announced on February 9, 2024.

The Dean’s Scholarship is the highest academic scholarship offered outside of the early admission programs. Recipients of the Dean’s Scholarship receive the following benefits:

• Full tuition for three years of law school
• $5,000 per year stipend
• Retention of scholarship and stipend are conditioned only upon remaining in good standing
• Annual luncheon with the Dean

Dean’s Scholarship recipients will be announced on or about March 4, 2024.

• $1,000 up to full tuition for for three years
• Retention of scholarship is conditioned only upon remaining in good standing

The Woolley Loan Program is BYU Law’s private loan fund from which students can receive private low-cost loans to help them complete externships and prepare for the bar exam.  Some students may also receive a Woolley Loan award to help pay their cost of attendance.