UCLI’s Tracking Progress Committee works with the Utah State Bar and other partners to gather and present reliable data reflecting the current makeup of Utah’s legal profession and to track the progress of UCLI and other initiatives over time.

The purpose of this effort is to hold the institutions and individuals making up Utah’s legal profession to more thorough accountability as they work to make the profession more representative of the community it serves. The data collected and analyzed should provide a baseline that legal employers and others involved with the profession can use to gauge their success in attracting, retaining, and promoting talent going forward. UCLI intends to gather data in future years to compare to this baseline.

In the heart of Utah’s legal community, where difference meets opportunity, inclusivity challenges stereotypes, and top talent from outside the state is sought and welcomed with open arms, UCLI’s mission is to steadfastly promote the retention of legal talent within the state while also attracting the brightest minds from across the nation to work here. We understand that nurturing a legal ecosystem with people from all backgrounds is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic advantage. This not only counters stereotypical reasons that might lead individuals to leave Utah but also elevates our legal landscape by bringing in fresh perspectives, expertise, and exceptional legal talent.

 By tracking the demographics of the Utah State Bar membership and promoting the retention of individuals who attend law school within our borders as they embark on their careers, we aim to achieve the following:

1. Celebrating All: We embrace and celebrate the rich tapestry of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives that legal professionals bring to Utah. By actively promoting people of all backgrounds within our legal community, we challenge stereotypes and create a more inclusive environment where all are welcomed and valued.
2. Nurturing Local and Imported Talent: We are invested in nurturing both Utah’s own legal talent and talented lawyers who choose to come here to practice. By fostering a collaborative environment where locally educated and imported talent complement each other, we create a dynamic and vibrant legal ecosystem.
3. Educational Excellence: Our mission also extends to supporting the development of high-quality legal education within our state. By tracking the success and retention of Utah law school graduates, we promote excellence in our law schools and attract future legal scholars and students.
4. Breaking Stereotypes: We recognize that stereotypes about Utah, such as perceived lack of diversity or limited opportunities, can deter legal talent from coming and staying. We are dedicated to breaking down these misconceptions by showcasing the dynamic legal career opportunities available within our state.
5. Strengthening Local Legal Expertise: We seek to fortify the depth and breadth of legal expertise within our state. Retaining law school graduates ensures a robust pool of professionals who intimately understand the nuances of our local legal landscape, allowing for more effective legal representation for our citizens.
6. Economic Growth: Retaining legal talent means fostering a vibrant legal services market, attracting businesses, and driving economic growth. It contributes to job creation and supports the growth of law firms and corporations, enhancing our state’s economic vitality.

  We envision a future where our state is recognized not only for its legal talent but also for its commitment to nurturing and retaining that talent. By working together with state legal institutions, law schools, law firms, and corporations, we can ensure that the legal professionals who begin their journey within our borders continue to shape the future of our state, leading to a brighter and more just tomorrow.

Thank you to the Utah State Bar for providing demographic information about the Bar, current as of July 2023. As we collect year-on-year data, we will be able to better provide longitudinal data about demographic changes to the Bar in Utah. While gender and racial/ethnic identity are not the only two categories of import, they are currently the only ones for which data is routinely collected. We are interested in the many other axes of identity that make legal professionals unique, and hope to expand our data collection efforts to capture and present data on those at a future time.

Every year, UCLI collects data from the UCLI Certification Program Survey to better understand the state of Utah’s legal profession as a whole. In 2021, UCLI analyzed the aggregate, anonymized data Utah’s law firms provided in 2020 to publish a report, “Looking In & Leading Out.” This was published in collaboration with the SJ Quinney College of Law Justice Lab. To access this report, you may email .