From Twitch to Taiwan: How One BYU Law Student is Uplifting Communities Through Education

November 2025

When Haisley Burbidge began her career as a software engineer at Twitch, she didn’t expect it would eventually lead her to law school—or to creating a scholarship fund for future legal professionals. But for Haisley, the through line has always been impact.

"Working at Twitch was a great experience, but I realized I wanted to do something beyond helping people find their next favorite streamer," she said with a smile. "I was looking for a way to make a broader impact."

That search for purpose brought Haisley into conversation with a Draper-based patent attorney who had also started in engineering. “We had really similar backgrounds,” she said. “He told me about his journey to law and it just clicked. I applied, got in, and started what’s been the most transformative experience of my life.”

Now a rising third-year student at BYU Law and a summer associate at Foley & Lardner LLP, Haisley balances academic rigor with motherhood and leadership. She gave birth to her son during her 1L year, a feat she describes as both intense and affirming. “Being pregnant during 1L was definitely not easy,” she said, “but I figured it out. What really helped was the incredible support from the faculty, staff, and my classmates. It’s a competitive program, sure—but people always choose to be kind. That’s something really special about BYU Law.”

Next semester, Haisley will return to her roots. Born in Taiwan and raised in China before moving to Utah as a teen, she will complete an international externship working with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). BYU Law’s unique international internship program allows students to gain global legal experience while earning credit. Haisley’s husband and their one-year-old son will join her in Taiwan, where they’ll be immersed in Mandarin and the culture she grew up with.

“It’s such a rare opportunity—not just for me, but for my whole family,” she said. “Thanks to BYU Law and its donors, I can share this part of my heritage with my son while contributing to the legal field in a global setting.”

That spirit of giving back is core to Haisley’s identity. As the president of the Flowers-Burbidge Sports and Academic Achievement Foundation, a nonprofit started by her father-in-law in honor of his grandmother, Haisley led the creation of a new scholarship specifically for BYU Law students.

“This foundation exists to support our community—especially those who may not have the same opportunities,” she explained. “My first thought when I became president was: let’s give back to the law school. BYU Law has given so much to me, and I want to pay it forward.”

In their first year of operation, the foundation gave $30,000 to the law school—half to fund a student’s immediate tuition, and half to build a future endowment. The goal is to raise $75,000 to establish a perpetual scholarship fund that will support students for generations.

The cause is personal. “I didn’t come from a very supportive family. I knew from a young age that if I didn’t earn scholarships, I wouldn’t be able to get an education,” she said. “Graduating undergrad with no debt because of donors changed my life. I want to give that gift to others.”

For Haisley, financial aid isn’t just about tuition. “So many students come from out of state. They’re trying to pay for food, rent, childcare. The small expenses add up and can be the difference between staying in school or not.”

She’s seen firsthand how access to legal education can uplift entire families and communities. “I have classmates who were working in hotels or cleaning jobs before law school. Now they’re attorneys supporting their families and showing their siblings or kids what’s possible. One scholarship can change the trajectory of a life—and a community.”

Her journey has taught her that giving creates a ripple effect. “The more you give, the more you get back,” she said. “It sounds simple, but I believe it's God's way of recognizing good.”

As a mother, student, and leader, Haisley has found her voice and purpose at BYU Law. “Choosing to become a mom while in law school was daunting,” she admitted. “But the support I received—friends helping me with the baby, faculty rooting for me—it shaped how I see the world.”

That’s why she believes so strongly in the mission of BYU Law. “Whether you want to go into big law or public interest, they want you to succeed. It's an empowering place, and I’m so grateful to be part of it.”