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Greetings,
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Phoenix alumni reception
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This week the College of Law has been busy in Phoenix connecting with our alumni and bar-takers.
There is still time to register for the Rehnquist Center's Immigration Federalism conference set for this Friday, February 24.
And, one week from Friday, on March 3, we look forward to honoring this year's award-winners at the LCA Award Ceremony. The evening will begin with cocktails and appetizers from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony from 6 to 8 p.m. Don't miss it!
Until the footnotes,
Marc
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The alumni and development team were excited to host a reception with Phoenix alumni at Copper Blues on Tuesday evening.
We enjoyed speaking with all of our alums in attendance, hearing news of new jobs and the exciting directions life is taking our grads in the Phoenix area.
Thank you to everyone who joined us.
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Arizona Law Brings Lunch and a Smile to Bar Takers
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For five years and counting, our alumni and development team has caravanned up the road to Phoenix to host a luncheon for Arizona Law 3Ls and recent graduates in the midst of taking the Arizona State Bar Exam.
Alumni and development staff
Marissa White, alumni coordinator, and Chris Gast ('13), assistant director, are there now spreading the love, and the mayo, with our brave bar-takers.
Philanthropic support, including the annual class gift program, helps make it possible for us to support our bar takers with
gratis lunch both days during the bar.
We are also very thankful to
Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie, who have once again allowed us to use their space -- perfectly situated near the convention center -- to welcome the bar-takers. For several years, our friends at Lewis Roca and
Steptoe Johnson have alternated as our hosts.
We have every confidence in our bar takers and look forward to the results.
To our bar-takers:
"We believe in you, and wish you great success! Bear Down!"
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The Arizona Law alumni and development team
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Barry Davis National Trial Team Headed to Nationals
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Our Trial Advocacy program
continues to see great success from its student teams.
Our mock trial teams, collectively known as the Barry Davis National Trial Team, tested their mettle at this year's regional mock trial competition, held February 16-19 at the University of Montana. They had a standout performance, with one team finishing in the top eight and one finishing in the top two and qualifying for nationals.
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The team headed to nationals consists of Jean Paul Barnard, Elizabeth Smiley (3L), and Matt Ashton (2L) (l-r).
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Brian Chase ('11) who, along with Joel Feinman ('07), coached this year's teams reports:
"The Barry Davis National Trial Teams have just returned from the regional competition in Missoula, Montana. One team was Matt Ashton (2L), Elizabeth Smiley (3L), Jean Paul Barnard (2L), and Alonzo Corral (2L) as the alternate. The second team was Mario Gonzales (3L), Sara Levine (3L), Jon Leitenberger (3L), and Levon Kantzabedian (3L) as the alternate.
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The full Barry Davis National Trial Team
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There were 22 teams from 11 schools at the competition this year. Both Arizona teams advanced into the semi-final round, consisting of the top eight schools at the competition based on three preliminary rounds. There, the second team of Mario, Sara, and Jon lost by a narrow margin to BYU, the team that would ultimately go on to win the region.
Across the hall, in another courtroom, Matt, Elizabeth and Jean Paul won their semi-final round to advance to the finals. In the final round, they faced Denver and won. One judge gave them a nearly perfect score of 99 out of 100 possible points -- the highest I have ever seen as a coach. Matt, Elizabeth, and Jean Paul went undefeated through the entire competition.
Arizona, along with BYU, will travel to Fort Worth in March to represent our region. We will compete against the top 28 teams in the country, out of the nearly 300 teams that competed at regional level competitions across the country. This puts Arizona, for a second year in a row, in the top 10% of team in the country.
Matt and Elizabeth will be the first ever competitors from Arizona Law to compete at the National competition twice."
Congratulations to our students, and thank you to Brian and Joel for their continued leadership in coaching our trial teams.
About the Fund
 In 2016, the College of Law created an endowment fund in honor of Barry Davis. Barry worked as a trial lawyer for nearly four decades. During that time, he forged a stellar track record as an extraordinary advocate. Barry's passion for "lawyering" and championing for his clients was matched only by his impeccable ethics, quality reputation amongst his peers and deep respect for his profession. Barry was a member of ACTL and part of the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.
Funds from the new endowment supported the Barry Davis National Trial Teams' attendance at the ACTL regional competition
for the first time this year and will support them at nationals.
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 Congratulations
Ronda Fisk ('00), who is a partner at Osborn Maledon, was recently named to the Maricopa County Superior Court bench by Arizona Governor Ducey.
"Ronda is highly-regarded in the legal community for her intellect and integrity," said Governor Ducey. "Ronda's legal background is impressive - from her service as a law clerk to Chief Justice Jones, to her law practice where she routinely handles highly complex commercial legal matters. I am pleased to appoint Ronda Fisk to the Maricopa County Superior Court."
Read the full news release
here.
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Students Take Part in ABA Judicial Clerkship Program
 Two Arizona Law students participated in ABA Judicial Clerkship Program at mid-year meeting in Miami, Florida.
Joab A Maestas (2L) and Lisa Wrazidlo (3L) are pictured here with the Honorable Margarita Bernal (retired, '79), who writes:
"This was the first year that University of Arizona law students have participated in the Judicial Clerkship Program of the ABA and it was great to have my alma mater represented at the this annual conference.
Now in its 16th year, this annual program, brings judges and law students together for three days of intensive writing and working together to bring
the experience of a judicial clerking job.
The ABA has brought nearly 500 law students from across the country to work with judges to talk about careers, job experiences and job opportunities. The ABA, through this program and others, has encouraged attorneys and law students of color to consider judicial clerking options and continues to provide opportunities for networking and mentor of young lawyers.
It was a great experience and we hope it helped the law students across the country."
--Judge Margarita Bernal, past chair, National Conference of Special Court Judges ABA
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Attend Launch of the Arizona Public Patent Program
When:
Thursday, March 23, 2017,
4 p.m. Pre-launch Info and Networking Sessions,
5-7 p.m. Launch and Reception
Where:
UA
James E. Rogers College of Law,
1201 E. Speedway Blvd.,
Tucson, AZ 85721
The Arizona Public Patent Program is a statewide program offered by the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law
IP & Entrepreneurship Clinic, with the assistance of the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO).
The program is designed to help financially under-resourced independent inventors, small businesses and startup companies obtain free legal counsel from local patent attorneys in filing patent applications and protecting their innovations. Local innovation strengthens our local economy, and this program helps to ensure that Arizona's inventors have the legal protections they need to thrive.
Invited, but not yet confirmed, are representatives from our state and federal government, representatives from the USPTO, investors, inventors, and leaders from the legal and startup communities.
The launch is especially geared toward inventors, patent attorneys, and students of IP law.
This event is open to the public, and there is no cost to attend.
Questions? Email Bernadette Wilkinson or phone her at 520-626-1629.
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The 2017 Law College Association Awards Ceremony will be held Mar. 3 at the College of Law. Appetizers and cocktails begin at 5 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony from 6 to 8 p.m.
Plan to attend, and celebrate this year's awardees:
The Florence Project (Law College Association Award)
Judge Bobby Baldock ('60) (UA Alumni Association Public Service Award)
John Lacy ('67) (UA Alumni Association Professional Achievement Award)
Gabriel S. Galanda ('00) (UA Alumni Association Professional Achievement Award)
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In good weeks it feels like there is so much to announce that keeping the
Wildcat Wednesday -- Letter of the Law short, pithy, and easy to read becomes quite a challenge.
But what a great problem to have: students and alumni and faculty and friends who do the hard work of learning, advising and competing -- as appropriate -- every day, and across careers and lifetimes. It is an honor each week to share and celebrate their work with all of you.
Shaping the next century of legal education
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