J. Reuben Clark Law School

The J. Reuben Clark Law School (BYU Law or JRCLS) is the graduate law school of Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah. Founded in 1973, the school is named after J. Reuben Clark, a former U.S. Ambassador, Undersecretary of State, and general authority of the institution's sponsoring organization, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). BYU Law is fully accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), and a member of the Association of American Law Schools. History On March 9, 1971, the BYU Board of Trustees announced that a law school would be established at the Just two-and-one-half years later the opening ceremonies were held on Classes were initially held several blocks south in an old Catholic school building (St. Francis of Assisi, affectionately referred to as "St. Reuben's" by the students. The law school's inaugural dean was American lawyer Rex E. Lee, who later served as U.S. Solicitor General during the administration of President Ronald Reagan. The JRCLS Building was completed and dedicated in 1975, and the law school graduated its first class in 1976. The law school has since graduated more than 5,000 students.