Empowering Startup Dreams

May 2024

Eliza Smith-Driggs, a 2L from Salt Lake City, Utah, became interested in attending law school after interning with Senator Romney and a pre-law class she took during her undergrad in Journalism at BYU. After applying to BYU Law, Smith-Driggs reflected, “It was one of those really special moments where everything came together really quickly and I knew that I was following God’s plan for me. I feel really grateful that I was accepted, and I’ve had such an amazing experience thus far.”

Smith-Driggs continues, “Before I got to law school, I interned at a startup business; I loved and cherished the entrepreneurship spirit there. When I came to law school, I thought I had to let go of the startup dream.” As Smith-Driggs completed her first semester of school, she was introduced to startup law and realized she could merge both of her interests into one. She will be working at a firm in Palo Alto, California this summer with the hopes of a return offer after graduation.

One of the most impactful aspects of law school for Smith-Driggs has been the BYU Law Academies Program. It was through this program that she was able to decide not only where, but how she wanted to practice law. “The Academies program single-handedly changed my career,” she states. “It’s the main reason I’ll be at this firm and know what I want to do after graduation; one of the reasons it’s so life changing is because it’s free to students. Many couldn’t attend if it wasn’t. When I donate to BYU Law, I will be earmarking all my donations to the Academies alone, that’s how much I love it.”

Continuing to reflect on the impact donors have had on her experience at BYU Law Smith-Driggs said, “the financial aid we as students receive is absolutely life changing. The fact that I can choose what career path in law I’d like to persue since I’m not weighed down by debt is very empowering. I am so grateful. It was a major factor in choosing to go to law school.”