By Jenifer Tomchak and Nick Stiles
*Excerpt from the Nov/Dec issue of the Utah Bar Journal

The Utah State Bar Leadership Academy is a prestigious program aimed at nurturing the next generation of legal leaders within Utah. Long before COVID, the Utah State Bar Commission recognized that fewer young attorneys were applying for and participating in its committees, sections, divisions, and on the commission itself. As a result, those positions were largely filled by attorneys in the later stages of their careers, mostly located in Salt Lake County. The commission was concerned that there would be a lack of leadership as those individuals aged and retired, and that the committees and various legal groups were missing important perspectives of lawyers from different backgrounds and parts of the state.

To address this concern, and at the request of then-Bar President, Angelina Tsu, the Bar Commission established the Utah State Bar Leadership Academy. This program, now in its eighth year, aims to teach leadership skills to attorneys from all over the state in exchange for their promise to serve on a Bar Committee for one year after graduating the program.

Each year, up to 12 participants are selected from a competitive nomination process to participate in the program. The Leadership Academy Board strives to select nominees from every judicial district and with varying backgrounds and practice areas. A preference is given to nominees who have been practicing for less than 10 years.

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If you are interested in applying for the 2025 Leadership Academy, click here or the button below. The time commitment to participate in the Leadership Academy is one 1.5-day retreat, and one meeting a month for the year. If you have questions about the Academy, you’re welcome to contact any member of the Board. The deadline to apply is December 20, 2025.

The Utah Supreme Court is considering a new rule that would create an alternative pathway to licensure for individuals seeking to practice law in Utah. This proposed rule aims to provide additional flexibility in how aspiring attorneys can demonstrate the competency necessary to be admitted to the Utah State Bar.

The rule comes after years of work by a Task Force, created shortly after the Court allowed a one-time path to licensure through diploma privilege in 2020 as a result of the COVID pandemic, who looked at the feasibility of assessing law graduates without a bar exam.

The proposed rule, Rule 4-703A, would allow candidates to pursue a “skills-based” route to licensure, providing an option outside of the traditional bar exam pathway. Under this approach, candidates could qualify for licensure by completing a combination of supervised practice, specific law school courses, and a performance evaluation—requirements designed to ensure that applicants have the competency and skills to practice law effectively. The rule requires the candidate to complete a set number of hours of supervised practice, some of which must be client-facing. Pro bono hours and a well-being component round out the proposal.

While the proposal is still under consideration, we encourage all members to review the full rule and provide feedback during the public comment period, which will be open until December 19, 2024. Your input will be valuable as we continue to shape the future of legal licensure in Utah.

The Utah Minority Bar Association (UMBA) hosted its annual Scholarship & Awards Banquet on Thursday, November 14, at Little America Hotel. This special event celebrated individuals, law firms, legal organizations, and community members who exemplify UMBA’s mission of advancing diversity and inclusion within the legal profession. It is also an opportunity to award scholarships to law students from the S.J. Quinney College of Law and the J. Reuben Clark Law School who have made significant contributions to promoting diversity in Utah.

These scholarships are made possible through generous donations from UMBA members, the legal and business community, and individual donors. Last year, UMBA awarded more than $60,000 in scholarships, including matching funds from the students’ law schools. This year, UMBA aimed to build on that success and provide even greater support to the next generation of legal professionals.

“At this year’s annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet, we honored several outstanding members of the legal community who are dedicated to promoting diversity in the law, including UMBA’s Distinguished Lawyer of the Year, Judge Dianna Gibson,” said UMBA President Jessica Ramirez. “Thanks to a record number of attendees this year, we were able to award over $65,000 in scholarships to deserving students from the U and BYU.”

She continued, “The event was a testament to how incredible Utah’s legal community is. I am moved every year by the support UMBA receives from Utah’s judges, attorneys, and others in the community. UMBA has grown so much since its founding in 1991, and it is all thanks to the support we receive from the legal community.”

Anyone interested in contributing to UMBA’s scholarship program may make a donation online or mail a check to:

Utah Minority Bar Association
Attn: Jessica Ramirez
95 S. State Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

The Utah State Bar supports regional and affinity bars in their efforts to promote fairness and inclusion within the legal profession. UMBA and other similar organizations play a vital role in fostering a sense of belonging and providing opportunities for underrepresented groups in Utah’s legal community. By collaborating with affinity bars, the Bar reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that the profession reflects the rich diversity of our state and continues to champion justice and equal opportunity for all.