BYU Law shifts academies to fall
- BYU Law is moving its signature Academies Program from spring to fall starting October 2026. - The change gives first-year students real-world exposure before chaotic Biglaw recruiting ramps up. - School will run an expanded spring 2026 session and fully fund participation to better prepare students (abovethelaw.com).
Brigham Young University’s law school is moving its signature Academies Program to the fall, starting in October 2026. (law.byu.edu) BYU Law said the shift will put first-year students into simulation-based training before large law firms begin making early recruiting decisions. The school announced the change on April 21, 2026. (prnewswire.com) The Academies are short, intensive programs run with BYU faculty and practicing lawyers at host firms in major legal markets. BYU’s website says they have traditionally served students who had just finished their first year of law school. (law.byu.edu) That timing no longer matches the hiring calendar at many big firms. The American Bar Association Journal reported this week that recruiting for first- and second-year summer jobs has been moving earlier, often before students have any hands-on legal experience. (abajournal.com) To bridge the gap, BYU Law will still run a larger spring session in 2026 before the permanent move takes effect. The school said those academies will run from April 24 to May 2 and include 10 programs, the biggest lineup in the program’s history. (prnewswire.com) The 2026 slate spans New York, Dallas, Palo Alto, Washington, Wilmington, Salt Lake City, and Geneva, with host organizations including Kirkland & Ellis, Wilson Sonsini, Fragomen, and Potter Anderson & Corroon. BYU and Above the Law both said the list also includes a new Artificial Intelligence Law and Policy Academy. (abovethelaw.com) BYU says it covers nearly all program costs for selected students, including training, travel, and lodging. The application page says the school pays “nearly the entire cost” of participation. (law.byu.edu) The school has described the program as a way to expose students to practice areas, law firms, and legal markets before they commit to a summer path. In October, that exposure will arrive months earlier than it used to. (law.byu.edu)
