Rising 3L Nick Mortenson had always planned on serving in the military after finishing high school, hoping to enroll in the U.S. Naval Academy and pursue a career as a Navy SEAL. Shortly after graduation, however, an unexpected health concern changed his trajectory.
“I was diagnosed with cancer and received treatment at the University of Utah. Going through that experience forced me to reevaluate my plans and gave me a different perspective on the kind of career I wanted to pursue,” Mortenson recalls. “During my undergraduate studies, I became increasingly interested in the law as I discovered how much I enjoyed research, problem-solving, and helping people work through complex challenges.”
After finishing his bachelor’s degree in political science with an emphasis in legal studies at Brigham Young University, he began to evaluate law schools. Utah Law students often talked about the sense of community they felt.
“When I spoke with students at other schools, many of their comments focused on how competitive the environment was. At Utah Law, people consistently talked about the relationships they had built with their classmates and professors,” Mortenson says. “As I got to know the school better, I found those descriptions matched my own experience. That helped confirm that Utah Law was the right fit for me. In many ways, attending Utah Law feels like coming full circle.”
Law school is already challenging, Mortenson says, and there’s no reason to make it more difficult. He appreciates that Utah Law has a supportive environment.
“Throughout my time here, I have felt comfortable reaching out to professors, classmates, and staff whenever I needed guidance or support. That willingness to invest in students has made a tremendous difference in my law school experience,” he explains.
He has also found community in Utah Law’s J. Reuben Clark Law Society, which brings together students who share an interest in religious liberty and its importance in society.
“Through the J. Reuben Clark Society, I have had opportunities to learn from students, practitioners, scholars, and advocates who care deeply about these issues,” Mortenson says. “Those interactions have broadened my understanding of religious liberty and the many ways people work to protect it.”
Mortenson was selected as a 2026 Religious Liberty Fellow through the J. Reuben Clark Society and traveled to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, June 1-5 to participate in a training program on religious liberty issues.
“What I found most rewarding was gaining a deeper understanding of religious liberty and the many ways people are working to protect it through law, education, policy, and advocacy. I also enjoyed meeting students, attorneys, and religious liberty advocates from around the world and learning from their different experiences and perspectives,” he says. “Spending time near Philadelphia and Valley Forge made the experience especially meaningful as we reflected on the history and continuing importance of many of the freedoms we enjoy today.”
Since January, Mortenson has been working at MacArthur, Heder & Metler in Provo, first as a part-time intern and now full-time during the summer.
“I’ve been able to work on a variety of matters involving transactional law and estate planning, while also sitting in on client meetings and seeing how attorneys help clients navigate important decisions,” he says. “It has been an invaluable learning experience and has confirmed my interest in these areas of practice.”
When he graduates in 2027, Mortenson will join MacArthur, Heder & Metler and is excited to build a career focused on estate planning and transactional business matters.
“My goal is to become a trusted advisor who helps clients make informed decisions, plan for the future, and navigate important personal and business matters with confidence. Whether working through a business issue, helping a family plan for the future, or addressing a complex legal question, I enjoy breaking down complicated issues and finding practical solutions,” he says. “That opportunity to combine analytical thinking with meaningful service is what drew me to the legal profession and continues to motivate me today.”