Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Jason Owen joined Utah Law in fall 2024, following Associate Dean of Admissions Reyes Aguilar’s retirement. A 2007 graduate of Capital University Law School, Owen practiced bankruptcy and child welfare in his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania, for seven years. One day, he noticed that his alma mater was hiring an associate director of admissions.
“I talked to my old boss, whom I had worked with as a seasonal recruiter for a few months after graduation, and said, ‘You would just pay me to travel around the country and talk about my great experience in law school?'” he recalls. “She said, ‘Yes, and you’ve got to read applications, too.’ I went back to Columbus, Ohio, and I’ve been working in admissions ever since.”
After seven years at Capital University Law School, Owen served as assistant dean of admissions at the University of Idaho College of Law before accepting his new position in Utah.
“Dean Elizabeth Kronk Warner was instrumental in me seriously considering the opportunity here and accepting the offer. Her leadership, vision for the law school, the opportunities available here for our students, the affordable cost of tuition, and the outcomes for our graduates made this job too good to pass up,” Owen says.
With 10 years of experience in admissions behind him, Owen continues to enjoy his career and look forward to new opportunities in Salt Lake City.
“Every day, I get to fulfill hopes and dreams for those who are trying to make the world a better place,” he says. “It is a privilege to find fantastic students who want to help us move Utah Law forward, serve as excellent ambassadors and eventually legal professionals.”
Sharing tips for law school applicants
Owen recommends students build relationships early with the admissions teams at the institutions they’d like to pursue.
“Learn more about the application process at those schools and have conversations with admissions staff about the programs they offer,” he says. “However, do some research first. Look at the institution’s website and make sure you understand what they’re known for. You’re trying to leave a positive impression, and this could backfire on you if you sound uninformed.”
One thing students should pay close attention to? The full name of the law school.
“We are the S.J. Quinney College of Law. Most folks get that, but if they say the ‘Utah School of Law,’ it’s pretty obvious that person wasn’t looking at our website or doing their research,” Owen says. “If you mention the name of the school in your personal statement, double-check that you’re submitting the right document to the right school.”
Applicants should also proofread their essays multiple times and then ask someone else to proofread it as well. However, admissions teams consider not only the essay and grades but the student’s interest in certain programs.
“We’re looking for folks who are passionate about different areas of the law. We also have received more applications this year (as have law schools around the country) and left the form open later this year to help folks who are looking for new opportunities,” he says.
Connecting with potential Utah Law students
Though he hasn’t practiced law in more than a decade, Owen continues to maintain his licensure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania—which he says he is most proud of achieving in his career.
“There are some great law school admissions professionals out there who don’t have a JD or haven’t been licensed. When people see esquire in the title, applicants can appreciate that I’ve already gone through the process and have a better understanding and appreciation of what they’re going through,” he says. “I think it gives prospective students a level of comfort and confidence.”
When Owen isn’t at work, he enjoys biking, camping and traveling—and his interests extend beyond the outdoors.
“In three words, bourbon, cigars, and Broadway,” Owen says. “I also love watching my Columbus Crew play around the country.”