The year 2025 has proven to be a year of firsts. In March 2025, the J. Reuben Clark Law Society (JRCLS) held its annual conference in Mexico City, Mexico. This was the first time the conference was held outside of the United States. On April 4, 2025, the JRCLS Student Board hosted another first: the inaugural Global Student Summit. The theme of the event was “Separation of Church and State” Does Not Mean “Separation of Church and Business” and 28 law students from various law schools participated.
Starting a new endeavor does not come easy. Luckily for the Law Society, the JRCLS Student Board contains dedicated and inspired members such as Mr. Warren Wood, Ms. Jenna Crowther, and Ms. Rigel Belleza. Mr. Wood, 2026 J.D. candidate, University of Wyoming College of Law, is the Board’s immediate past chair. Ms. Crowther, 2026 J.D. candidate, J. Reuben Clark Law School, serves as the Board’s incoming chair. Ms. Belleza, 2025 J.D. candidate, Mindanao State University College of Law, serves as the Board’s International Liaison.
The Board imagined the Global Student Summit as a means to fulfil the Law Society’s mission and promote its vision “to seek social connection among our members and collaboration with other organizations and good people of faith.” In Ms. Crowther’s words, the Board wanted to “bring together the JRCLS student chapters to connect with the Student Board and other chapters, receive training, and be inspired to serve through inspirational and educational messages.” The Board hoped the event would leave students feeling “empowered and part of the worldwide effort to preserve religious freedom and uphold the rule of law.”
To do so, the Board decided that a virtual format would best accommodate the worldwide student chapters and their global members. One such group included students from the Philippines. Because the Summit occurred online, students such as Ms. Belleza could more easily attend and become more involved in the Law Society. Ms. Belleza describes what the event meant to students from the Philippines: “The Philippine student membership felt seen and included. We have a wide reach and growing interest in the country, and activities like these inspire more students to engage, knowing they’re part of something global and impactful.”
Thanks in large part to Mr. Wood, the Board was able to secure a fantastic speaker. Indeed, Brian Grim, Ph.D., the event’s keynote speaker, left a palpable impact on attendees to the inaugural Summit. Dr. Grim is the founding president of the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation. He is recognized as the world’s leading expert on the relationship between religious freedom and the economy.
During his presentation, Dr. Grim explained the different approaches businesses take in regard to religious groups. After his thought-provoking discussion, he answered questions about the current political climate and what students can do to promote freedom of belief.
Students such as Ms. Belleza absorbed Dr. Grim’s remarks on the separation of church and state in the workplace. As a bonus, the law students received practical insights and guidance on a vital topic: “how faith and professional life can co-exist while respecting legal boundaries.”
Ms. Crowther and the Board expresses its gratitude to Brian for his engaging and thoughtful remarks in the inaugural Summit.
The Global Student Summit will be an annual virtual event occurring on the first Friday in April. The hope is that as the Law Society expands, even more students from around the world will follow the example of those from the Philippines and join in the Law Society’s mission to “strive through public service and professional excellence to promote fairness and virtue founded upon the rule of law.”
