For as long as he can remember, Kyle Lowe (JD class of 2026) has understood the power of being a lawyer. When he was young he read the book “To Kill A Mockingbird,” and he credits its legendary character Atticus Finch, in part, for laying out a moral vision of the profession that resonated with him.
“I always loved the idea of representing somebody else in court and being the voice for those who can’t speak for themselves,” says Lowe.
But Lowe comes from a family of engineers—and initially he set out on the same path. He earned an undergraduate degree in biological systems engineering at Virginia Tech, driven by his deep interest in wildlife and environmental conservation.
Lowe ultimately decided that engineering wasn’t the right career for him. But he still held onto his early dreams of becoming a lawyer, and he saw environmental law as another way to address the conservation issues he cared so much about.
“I saw that the world’s biggest environmental problems are more law- and policy-related,” says Lowe. “In the science and engineering realm, we already have a lot figured out.”
He knew that Utah Law had one of the best environmental law programs in the country, and he’d always liked the idea of living in the western U.S. He’d also read about the declining Great Salt Lake, and in it he saw a unique opportunity to work on a complex environmental issue.
“The Great Salt Lake is an interesting microcosm of climate change, and I wanted to experience that first-hand,” he says.
So he applied to Utah Law. And when he was accepted and came out to visit, he knew he’d found the right law school. He packed his bags and headed west.
Embracing the new
With his engineering background, Lowe found that many aspects of law school were new to him. But he also realized that his previous degree had more in common with law than he expected.
“They’re both very analytical, in terms of thought process,” he says. “In law school, you attack the problems and issues in similar ways that you attack engineering problems.”
He also found Utah Law a warm and welcoming place.
“I love the community and the small class sizes—you really get to know all your peers, and I feel like I know all of my professors,” he says.
And Salt Lake City was the perfect mix of urban fabric and rolling wilderness, right next to each other.
“It’s a great lifestyle. Especially when you’re working so hard for school, it’s awesome to be able to easily escape to the Wasatch Mountains. You don’t get that in any other city of the same size. I can’t imagine a better place to be,” he says.
Finding a home in environmental law
Utah Law’s environmental law program was every bit as engaging as Lowe had hoped. For two semesters he’s been part of the Policy Accelerator, an in-house clinic taught by professors Brigham Daniels and Beth Parker that provides policy recommendations to state and local leaders, helping them pass reforms to save the Great Salt Lake.
This past spring semester, students in the class developed recommendations to help cities and towns direct more of their water towards the lake.
“We focused on getting municipalities to pass better water use legislation—mostly relating to outdoor water use, because that’s what really hurts the lake,” says Lowe.
The students developed policy briefs explaining ordinances that cities could implement, and state programs available to help. As a clinic, says Lowe, the Policy Accelerator “is different from other law school classes because you’re working with people in the real world.”
The Accelerator is multi-faceted and flexible by design, pivoting as needed to focus on the most effective ways to address environmental challenges. That means it’s not just about addressing policymakers—it’s also about talking to the public.
Lowe wrote two op-ed articles together with Daniels and Parker, both of which were published in local newspapers. One argued in favor of a change in water usage rates in Provo, pointing out that it was fiscally responsible and ecologically good for the lake. The other (which Lowe was the primary author of) suggested that saving the Great Salt Lake is a moral responsibility we have to future generations.
“It’s a call to action,” he says. “We have to do this for our children and for the people we care about. [These op-eds] are little seeds being planted—one additional piece that people might read and think about. You need change from every part of society.”
Facing the future
For his final summer of law school, Lowe has a job placement at an environmental law firm in Washington, D.C., and he’s already looking ahead to his final year of classes.
“I want to just enjoy it—I’m really going to miss being a student,” he says. “I’ve learned so much, but you always feel like there’s more to learn.”
Ultimately, Lowe is now doing exactly what he always dreamed of. He’s serving as a voice for those who can’t speak for themselves: the lake, its wildlife, and the future generations who will live in Utah.
“That’s definitely what drives me at the end of the day, and especially right now,” he says. “Attorneys have a strong role to play in the world.”