The regulation of lawyers in Utah has always been closely tied to the Utah Supreme Court. As early as 1851, during the territorial era, attorneys petitioned the Court directly for admission to practice law. Successful applicants were granted the right to appear before all territorial courts, often after passing examinations overseen by committees appointed by the Court or local district judges. Matters of discipline, including suspension or disbarment, also rested in the hands of the courts, making the judiciary central to both the admission and oversight of attorneys.

By the 1890s, regulation was still firmly in the hands of the judiciary but was increasingly supported by gatherings of attorneys who began forming coordinated professional associations. A significant step came in January 1894, when prominent territorial attorneys met in Salt Lake City to draft an “organization, constitution and bylaws” for the legal profession. The following year, Utah delegates adopted a state constitution that enshrined the separation of powers and entrusted the Utah Supreme Court with authority over the admission, conduct, and discipline of attorneys. This constitutional framework affirmed the judiciary’s independent role in regulating the legal profession as part of its responsibility for administering justice.

In 1931, the Utah State Bar was formally established as an administrative arm of the Utah Supreme Court, preserving independence from political influence while remaining accountable under the separation of powers framework.