Graduation Student Spotlight

November 26, 2018

As the current president of the International Law Students Association and vice president of the Business Law Association, Allison Brown, 3L, has been instrumental in organizing several on-campus lectures and student activities at BYU Law.

Brown will graduate in April and begin her professional career in Utah. “After taking the bar this summer, I plan to start at the Salt Lake City office of Snell & Wilmer. I’m looking forward to joining their real estate group,” Brown said.

Her law school career was punctuated with personal interactions. “So many friends and professors have positively influenced my law school experience, it’s overwhelming to try to name them individually,” she said.

“I’ve been fortunate to take classes from and work with Professor Eric Jensen who is the faculty adviser for ILSA,” Brown said. “Through those interactions, I’ve been repeatedly impressed by his truly endless dedication to students. I’ve felt blessed to have had his personal encouragement and mentorship throughout my law school experience.”

Brown shared a memory depicting the care she felt from BYU Law’s faculty. “I can remember being a first-semester 1L studying on the patio that was adjacent to the old skybridge when Professor Gordon Smith, my then-contracts professor, walked by,” she said. “He asked how I was doing. I answered with the customary ‘Good, thanks,’ but he paused, looked me in the eye, and asked again, ‘Really Allison, how are you doing?’ I was deeply affected by that kind of genuine investment in students and have had similar interactions with professors every semester since.”

As for courses and exposure at BYU Law, Brown’s experiences have been varied. “I really enjoyed Real Estate Development from Kevin R. Murray—the class was incredibly practical, hands-on, and invaluable in helping me determine the area of law I want to pursue. I have also loved being part of the VIS international commercial arbitration team during my second and third year, which has taken me to competitions in San Diego, Hong Kong, and Vienna.”