For the third consecutive year, the BYU Law School has been named a finalist in Bloomberg Law’s Law School Innovation Program, this time for its Milestones program.
The Law School Innovation Program highlights forward-thinking law school programs in three categories: career pathing, well-being and legal technology. BYU Law’s Milestones Program, which focuses on professional development and career readiness for first-year students, was among the top four programs in career pathing this year.
According to the Bloomberg Law School Innovation Program website, finalists are selected by a team of industry experts. These evaluators include practicing attorneys, legal tech and operations professionals, in-house counsel and Bloomberg Law experts.
“The recognition is something to celebrate,” Shannon Grandy Larsen, BYU Law’s Assistant Dean for Career Development, said. “The real satisfaction comes from the value this program brings to students, helping them navigate one of the most pivotal times in their careers. But to see Bloomberg recognize that value is incredibly gratifying.”
Launched in 2018, the Milestones Program provides first-year law students with structured guidance on professional identity formation, networking and career decision-making. The program includes assessments like the StrengthsFinder exercise, networking training and practical frameworks to help students identify career paths based on geographic preference, employer type and practice area.
“What makes BYU Law stand out is the personal attention we provide our students,” Larsen said. “Each student has an advisor who is an attorney with real-world experience, and those relationships continue throughout their time at BYU Law and beyond.”
This is not the first time BYU Law has gained recognition from Bloomberg Law. The Academies Program was named a finalist in both the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years. Designed for students who have completed their first year, the Academies program provides immersive, hands-on legal training in various practice areas and geographic markets.
Mariah Jackson-Christensen, BYU Law’s Academies Program Coordinator, emphasized the program’s unique role in bridging the gap between theory and practice.
“Our goal is to give students early exposure to real-world legal work,” Jackson-Christensen said. “Through these academies, students engage in simulated trials, transactional law exercises and mentorship experiences that help them make informed career decisions without committing an entire summer.”
The Academies Program has expanded significantly since its inception. Originally focused on trial advocacy, it now includes nine academies across the country, covering various legal markets and practice areas. BYU Law fully funds student participation, ensuring opportunities are available to all students, not just those at the top of their class.
“There isn’t anything else like this,” Jackson-Christensen said. “Other schools are starting to recognize the value of experiential learning, but the combination of real-world application, geographic exposure and law firm relationships makes this program unique.”
Both the Milestones and Academies Programs reflect BYU Law’s commitment to student success. Faculty members voluntarily dedicate time and resources to these initiatives, often traveling with students and providing mentorship without additional compensation.
“The whole-building approach at BYU Law is what makes these programs possible,” Larsen said. “Faculty and administrators work together to support students in ways many other law schools simply cannot replicate.”
With continued recognition from Bloomberg Law and a growing reputation for innovative legal education, BYU Law focuses on preparing students for successful careers in the legal profession.