Lauren Howells

About Lauren Howells

I am currently a federal district court clerk for the Honorable Clark Waddoups. I previously clerked for the Honorable Jared C. Bennett and the Honorable Paul M. Warner in the District of Utah. Before my federal clerkships, I began my career by working as associate general counsel at a financial services firm, where I had the pleasure of forging collaborative partnerships to support local and international humanitarian initiatives in addition to fulfilling my associate general counsel responsibilities. And prior to that, in 2015, after observing a critical need for collective action on women’s issues at the Utah state legislature, I co-founded the Utah Women’s Coalition—a statewide, nonpartisan group working to advance the status of Utah women through public policy. Through UWC’s efforts, we introduced and passed legislation that: ensures reasonable accommodations for pregnant and breastfeeding women in the workplace; expands Utah’s anti-discrimination labor protections; requires equally accessible baby changing stations in public buildings; and allows candidates for public office to use campaign funds for childcare expenses. I had the good fortune of stumbling, head over heels, into a career that I truly love, and I\'m grateful to remain that way to this day—still perpetually excited by a new legal question, complexity, or problem to solve, and ready to jump right in—almost to a fault. I thrive when regularly presented with challenging strategic and analytical questions in the law, and I actively seek out those questions, if not readily available. In doing so, I try to routinely carve out dedicated time for academic research—a rewarding practice that, without fail, refuels my passion for the law. If you’re a fellow nerd, nonfiction bookworm, creative entrepreneur, or someone who enjoys critical thinking over a cup of coffee, I invite you to reach out and introduce yourself. Let\'s become friends, book club buddies, social activist allies, colleagues, and partners.

Experience

1. Associate Legal Counsel

   Sentry Financial

   Aug 2024 — Present

Education

• University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law

  Juris Doctor (J.D.)

• University of Utah - David Eccles School of Business

  Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)

• University of Utah

  Political Science and Government