As director of compliance at Zions Bancorporation, Mikey Reynolds, who focuses on regulatory compliance and risk management, wanted a structured legal foundation. He chose Utah Law’s Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program and began classes in August 2025.
“In my compliance and banking role, legal and regulatory issues are constant. Having a formal legal education helps me understand statutes, interpret regulation, and engage more confidently with legal counsels,” Reynolds says. “The MLS program gives me that blend: legal insight tailored for professionals, instead of pursuing the full JD track.”
Having already earned a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in business administration from Western Governors University, Reynolds enrolled in the online MLS program, liking it for its flexibility with his work schedule and other responsibilities. Simultaneously, he is enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania’s banking program, which he will complete in June 2026.
Though life is busy with two separate degree programs, Reynolds is already pleased with his MLS coursework.
“I’ve enjoyed gaining confidence in reading and interpreting the legal texts and cases. It’s interesting to see how the law intersects with business, policy and ethics. And I enjoy the cohort discussions—to hear the perspectives of my classmates who are professionals in different fields,” Reynolds says.
There are many things that Reynolds appreciates about the S.J. Quinney College of Law, including its reputation, its commitment to public service, having faculty who are invested in their students’ goals, and the ability its programs have to bridge the law with other fields.
“It’s a law school that balances excellence with mission, which matches what I wanted for my legal education,” he says.
Reynolds was also excited to be named one of two recipients of the inaugural MLS Path to Legal Impact scholarship, a partial-tuition scholarship awarded to MLS students who exhibit an outstanding record of academic and professional achievements.
“The MLS Path to Legal Impact scholarship is not just financial support. It’s validation that this educational path is valuable, and that there’s a belief in professionals, like me, who want to bridge the law and other domains,” Reynolds says. “It also ties me deeper into the law school’s mission of impact, which resonates with my goals in finance, compliance, and public policy.”
Stephanie Peterson, a 2022 MLS program alum and director of non-JD programs at the College of Law, is one of the scholarship donors and hopes it will benefit many students as the program continues to grow.
“This scholarship is designed to support and recognize outstanding students pursuing a Master of Legal Studies who have demonstrated exceptional academic merit, leadership potential, and a strong commitment to advancing justice and equity within the legal system,” Peterson says. “What stood out about our recipients this year was their passionate advocacy and service to their communities, which led the committee to decide they were the perfect examples for the inaugural awarding of this scholarship.”
Peterson hopes fellow alums and others that see the value of supporting MLS students will support the scholarship to help ensure it can impact more students in the future.
Reynolds will finish the MLS program in August 2026. Upon graduation, he hopes to pursue positions that will deepen his role in compliance, such as a chief compliance officer or in a regulatory oversight capacity. He’s also considered the possibility of consulting or working in policy development where finance and regulation converge.
“I look forward to bringing legal literacy to decisions, helping my organization stay ahead of regulation, and advocating policies that are both sound and compliant,” he says.
Donate to the MLS Path to Legal Impact scholarship.