Wellness is a top priority at Utah Law, and our emphasis extends to all aspects of student life—and to our broader community. Read on for several ways our wellness initiatives help students grow personally and professionally.
Embedded mental health therapist
Utah Law’s licensed mental health therapist provides one-on-one therapy services to students at no cost. The college has increased her time this year in response to sustained interest from students.
“Faculty members also approach me to discuss ways they can increase wellness in the classroom,” Cierra Collum says. “Being part of those solutions and collaborations is rewarding.”
Mindful Lawyering class
Taught by Professor Clifford Rosky, our Mindful Lawyering class responds to the crisis in attorney mental health by teaching techniques to enhance mental well-being during law school and after graduation. Each class begins with a guided meditation and ends with small group exercises in which students practice mindful observation, speaking and listening.
“I’ve had my well-being issues in my life,” Professor Rosky notes. “I definitely have turned to and turned back to meditation to support my mental health.”
Learn more about the Mindful Lawyering class.
Alternative path to Bar licensure
Utah’s new alternative path to licensure provides a skills-based route for graduates to become licensed without taking the bar exam. Dean Elizabeth Kronk Warner and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Louisa Heiny sat on the Utah Supreme Court’s Bar Admissions Working Group, which developed the pathway. Among other requirements, students who choose the alternative path complete extensive supervised practice—helping them avoid the cost and stress of preparing for the bar exam.
Read about Utah’s alternative path to licensure.
Clothing, food and infant resources
Our professional attire closet provides a range of professional clothing that students can check out for interviews, meetings, court appearances, and more. And our community food pantry is stocked with free, accessible and nutritious food, and includes essential baby items such as diapers and formula.
Want to contribute to the food pantry? You can donate funds at any time or see a list of needed items to place in donation bins on level 3 in the Utah Law building. Professor Emeritus Jim Holbrook is also matching donations to the baby essentials fund if you’d like to give.
New Mental Health Legal Clinic
Launching in spring 2026, our new Mental Health Legal Clinic will provide legal services to clients receiving care at Salt Lake City’s Mental Health Crisis Care Center, operated by the University of Utah’s Huntsman Mental Health Institute. Students in the clinic will provide legal assistance focused on health-harming legal needs in areas such as housing, public benefits, employment, and family law.
Hear more from Clinical Assistant Professor Sam Heppell, who directs the clinic.
Wellness Week: Life beyond grades
Our annual wellness week, hosted in partnership with Utah Law’s Student Bar Association, corresponds with the release of 1L students’ first semester grades—a time of high anxiety for many. The week’s programming includes a day of service, mindfulness activities, yoga classes, workshops focused on personal success beyond grades, and game nights.