The 200 Attorney Chapter Milestone: From Vision to Worldwide Community

With the creation of the Guatemala Huehuetenango Chapter on April 11, 2026, the J. Reuben Clark Law Society reached a historic milestone—its 200th attorney chapter. This achievement reflects nearly four decades of steady development, from a handful of attorney chapters in the United States to an organization of 244 attorney and student chapters in nearly 50 countries worldwide.

The concept for the Law Society began with attorney Ralph Hardy in 1975, who envisioned a professional association where lawyers belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the “Church”) could support one another and strengthen their practice. More than a decade later, in 1987, Hardy met with Bruce C. Hafen, dean of the BYU Law School, to discuss the idea. Under their direction, 17 attorneys formally established the J. Reuben Clark Law Society in 1988. The Society was an affiliated organization of Brigham Young University but was open to graduates from various law schools seeking to combine their faith and legal training to help others.

In its early years, JRCLS focused on building a network of attorneys and establishing local chapters. With support from BYU Law School leadership, systems were created to connect members, including directories, leadership meetings, and communication through the Clark Memorandum magazine.

Local chapters quickly became central to the organization’s growth. Starting with four initial chapters—Washington, D.C.; Phoenix, Arizona; San Francisco, California; and Los Angeles/Orange County, California—an additional eleven chapters were created within the first five years. These chapters provided opportunities for attorneys to gather, collaborate, and address the challenges of practicing law while maintaining shared religious and professional commitments and responsibilities.

The Society continued to expand beyond the United States, creating a global network of legal professionals. This international expansion included the creation of chapters in Canada, New Zealand, and Mexico, then Peru and other South American countries. The Society further expanded into Brazil, Europe, West Africa, and beyond. This growth was supported in part by the Office of General Counsel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose area legal counsel continue to help organize chapters and connect attorneys of faith across regions.

Around 2002, student chapters were formally added to the Law Society and soon outnumbered the attorney chapters. The addition of the Student Chapter Board in the mid-2000s was another milestone as student members took on an important leadership role within the larger organizational structure. As the Society grew, regional chairs were also selected to oversee chapters grouped into seven geographic regions.​

Due to the tremendous growth of JRCLS worldwide, a significant structural change was implemented in 2023 when 24 geographic areas were created, each led by a volunteer area chair. This development was designed to improve communication, strengthen regional coordination, and provide expanded opportunities for member involvement. By creating area-based leadership, the Law Society has been able to better serve its chapters while also increasing opportunities for volunteers to contribute at both the chapter and area levels.

Today, local chapters remain the foundation of the Law Society. It is within chapters that members gather, relationships are built, and the mission and vision are most fully realized. Chapters also provide the setting where attorneys and students engage in professional development, mentorship, service, and meaningful discussion.

From the first four chapters in 1988 to its present network of 245 chapters in 2026, the J. Reuben Clark Law Society continues to grow through the sustained effort and dedicated leadership of its volunteer members. The creation of the 200th attorney chapter reflects this ongoing development, underscoring the Society’s expansion as a global organization and the positive influence of its members worldwide.

The historical information referenced above is largely based on Scott W. Cameron’s article, "A Pattern of Timeless Moments: The J. Reuben Clark Law Society at 30”, published in the Spring 2018 edition of the Clark Memorandum. Cameron served as the Law Society’s Executive Director from 1989 - 2013. 

To view a video about the early history of the Law Society, click this link: J. Reuben Clark Law Society 30th Anniversary Video