When 2L Bre Hickerson attended a student event at Utah Law before committing to a law school, a tour guide showed her the building’s yoga and meditation study room, a gym with an assortment of yoga mats, and a food pantry. Reflecting on that time two years later, Hickerson recalls that the wellness centers helped to make her law school decision clear.
“Those offerings signaled to me that there was something special about Utah Law,” she says. “The faculty seemed to put immense emphasis on holistically caring for our student community, and I felt like we were more than just numbers and statistics. They viewed us as real people with real needs. A lot of students I talk to feel the same way.”
This focus on care appealed to Hickerson. She now leads Yoga for Stressed-Out Law Students (YOSOLS), which was founded by one of her “3L role models,” Sophie Lasswell, in 2024. The group initially met for yoga once a week during the lunch hour.
“We are now moving towards larger monthly classes, which will take place in rooms with a nice view on campus or at local yoga studios in the community,” she explains. “We usually have around 15-20 students per class, but it is always a new mix of the nearly 100 YOSOLS members that participate in our offerings.”
Hickerson notes that it’s important to have clubs on campus that expand students’ horizons beyond the legal world.
“Remembering to find ways to prioritize wellness is critical for everyone, especially legal professionals. We really maintain YOSOLS as an organization to remind law students of that and to create a safe space to explore who they are outside of the classroom (plus get some physical movement in),” she says. “The law school and YOSOLS’s commitment to student well-being help instill that value.”
YOSOLS is also an opportunity to build relationships, Hickerson says.
“The students that regularly attend YOSOLS events are some of my closest friends, and I don’t think that is an accident. People definitely view YOSOLS as a good way to connect with likeminded individuals,” she says.
And the community Hickerson has built extends beyond the yoga mat. She is active with the Pro Bono Initiative (PBI) and has completed nearly 100 hours of pro bono service in her 1.5 years of law school.
“I believe that serving others is a critical way to find meaning and purpose during the most challenging parts of our lives, and volunteering with PBI has motivated me and inspired me so much,” she says. “I’ve had the opportunity to do incredibly meaningful work, and I’ve also been able to develop my communication skills when interacting with diverse client populations.”
PBI Director Caisa Royer also taught Hickerson a surprising lesson, which she says is one of the most valuable things she’s learned in law school.
“Sometimes telling a client they don’t have a case or that the practical outcome isn’t worth their time is one of the kindest things that you can do for someone. We are able to help them get some closure and work through their unfair experiences so that they can heal and move on with their lives, in addition to providing actual legal assistance for clients who can benefit from it,” Hickerson explains. “Last semester, I helped a pro se client write a complaint for an employment discrimination case with the help of my employment law professor, and it was one of the most rewarding things I’ve done so far.”
Everyone at Utah Law is committed to seeing every student succeed, Hickerson says, and will do anything to help each other.
“I could go on for hours about the critical people that hold our law school together, but I want to highlight our professors. I have never met kinder individuals than the ones who have taught me during my law school career,” she says. “These are some of the most brilliant legal scholars in the world, but they’re also so down-to-earth and really value fostering genuine connection with students (even the non-brilliant students, like me). Without question, our community is the best part of Utah Law.”
Attending law school has helped Hickerson realize achievements look different for everyone.
“The Utah Law community seems to understand that success isn’t about having a showy job or being in the top 10. Success is about finding what drives you, cultivating happiness, prioritizing wellness, and being confident and comfortable in who you are personally and professionally,” she says.
For Hickerson, that success lies in continuing to work with the Pro Bono Initiative.
“My goal is to hit 200 hours of pro bono service before I graduate,” she explains. “I’m most proud that I always make time to serve others.”
Learn more about Yoga for Stressed-Out Law Students and other student organizations.