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That was fast! We are in week two of the semester,
but already the College of Law is in full
swing.
Below, we share news of another dramatic first for
the college -- our dual law degree (LLB/BA) offered
at Ocean University of China. Also, recent alumnus Chase
Velasquez ('15) provides a first-hand account of the
recent climate change talks in Paris.
This week also brings the annual
Board of Visitors meeting to the college. Each year we
discuss the state of legal education and the college,
and receive critical feedback and advice. Board of
Visitors members also meet with and provide advice to
our 1Ls.
Until the footnotes,
Marc |
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Announcing the First Dual
Degree Law Program in China |
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UA and Ocean University
officials gathered at the student orientation
for the first class of the dual degree program
in fall
2015. |
The University of Arizona has received
accreditation and acquiescence from various Chinese and
U.S. authorities to offer a bachelor of arts in law in
Qingdao, China, through a dual degree program at Ocean
University of China (OUC).
The UA-OUC dual degree program is the first
U.S.-China joint offering in law available fully in
residence in China.
The UA-OUC program, which allows Chinese students
to earn undergraduate law degrees from both universities
in four years, entirely in residence in China, launched
in fall 2015 with an inaugural class of 77 students and
is expected to grow to 400 students at full
capacity.
 "This dual degree
partnership responds to the globalization of legal
practice and takes the University of Arizona to students
who would not otherwise have access to a high-quality
U.S. legal education," said Brent White, associate dean for
programs and global initiatives and professor of law at
the UA James E. Rogers College of Law.
Students in the program will earn an LLB (the law
degree commonly offered outside the United States) from
OUC and a bachelor of arts in law from UA. They will
take the same U.S. law courses and receive the same
legal training as UA bachelor's in law students in
Tucson.
In fall 2014, UA became the first U.S. university
to offer a bachelor's in law degree domestically.
That degree program now has 300 students, all of whom
are eligible to spend up to one year studying law at
OUC.
The bachelor's in law has been a dramatic success,
and other universities will soon follow. But the
bachelor's in law also opens the world to new innovative
international partnerships and opportunities, for
individual students and for the College of Law and UA.
The dual degree partnership with Ocean is an ideal
illustration of such opportunities.
All required law courses for the dual degree will
be offered at UA's new location on OUC's campus in
Qingdao, China, although students will have the option
to complete a portion of their studies in residence at
UA's Tucson campus.
Students
will spend the first two years completing coursework for
the Chinese LLB and UA general education requirements,
in addition to English language training under the
supervision of the UA Center for English
as a Second Language (CESL). During the third and
fourth years, students will complete their bachelor's in
law coursework.
"China is the second largest economy in the
world and has become the United States' largest trading
partner," said UA Provost and senior vice president
of academic affairs Andrew Comrie. "Both countries
benefit from a better understanding of our economy and
our laws. The University of Arizona partnership with
Ocean University of China serves a pressing need for
bilingual lawyers competent in both legal
systems."
OUC is a comprehensive research
university with 17 colleges and more than 45,000
students, including those at the undergraduate, masters,
doctoral, and continuing education levels.
For
the web version of this story and additional contact
information, click here.
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Chase Velasquez ('15)
Represents IPLP at Climate Talks in
Paris |
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Chase Velasquez ('15,
at right) with a
dignitary from the Maya
Leaders Alliance of Southern
Belize. | Recent Arizona Law
graduate and Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy
(IPLP) certificate holder Chase Velasquez ('15) is
going places. Chase, who is now a post-graduate fellow
in the IPLP program, attended the United Nations Climate
Change Conference in Paris, held November 30 - December
12, alongside
representatives of the Maya indigenous peoples of
Belize. Professor of practice Seanna Howard also
attended.
As a student, Chase studied under Professors S. James Anaya and Robert Williams, Jr., and served as
President of the law school's Native American Law
Students Association (NALSA) and as Vice-President of
the National NALSA.
He graduated in May of 2015 and was hired by IPLP
as a post-graduate fellow in October. In his first three
months, Chase has assisted IPLP with indigenous
communities on a variety of legal issues, such as
securing land rights and protecting sacred sites. One of
those communities is the Maya.
For over ten years, Professor Anaya and IPLP have
assisted the Maya indigenous peoples in securing legal
victories in domestic and international legal arenas
that recognize their occupancy and customary usage of
their land as a property right under the Constitution of
Belize.
Chase's role in Paris consisted of representing
IPLP at the Climate Change Conference as well as
accompanying the Maya Leaders Alliance of Southern
Belize as they received an important award -- the 2015
Equator Prize.
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| Dignitaries from the
Maya Leaders Alliance of Southern Belize with IPLP
staff Chase Velasquez ('15) and Seanna
Howard. |
Chase describes the experience and explains the
award as follows:
"Recently, IPLP sent
me to the United Nations Climate Change Conference where
nearly 200 hundred governments gathered in Paris,
France, to negotiate a binding international agreement
to address climate change.
During this
conference, more than 1,600 people -- heads-of-states
and ministers, ambassadors, global business leaders,
celebrities, environmental activists, and indigenous
peoples representatives -- came together to celebrate
the 21 recipients of the 2015 Equator Prize.
The Equator Prize,
awarded by the United Nations Development Programme,
recognizes and honors outstanding local and indigenous
communities for remarkable achievements in tackling
climate change using innovative measures to reduce
poverty, protect nature and strengthen
resilience.
From a
record-breaking 1,461 nominations around the world, the
Maya Leaders Alliance of Southern Belize was selected
for their efforts in safeguarding rights to land that
Maya indigenous peoples have lived on since time
immemorial."
About his role, Chase says:
"My duty was
explaining how the international recognition of the Maya
indigenous peoples in securing land rights reflected the
objectives of IPLP -- to tirelessly fight for the human
rights of indigenous peoples to their land, natural
resources, economic development, and cultures and
traditions."
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Enjoying the
excitement of
the awards
ceremony. |
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With actor Alec
Baldwin,
who served as
presenter. |
Clearly moved by his interactions at the climate
talks with the Maya representatives and other indigenous
peoples, Chase connects the experience to his own
people:
"As a member of the
White Mountain Apache Tribe, and witnessing the
prevalent legal, economic, and social issues that my
Apache people have continued to face while growing up on
the reservation, it was remarkable to meet other
indigenous peoples and hear of their efforts and
struggles in protecting their land. What amazed me was
many of these indigenous peoples, like the Maya people,
have limited financial resources and live in rural
areas. Yet, I was inspired by their belief in the cause
of their efforts in protecting their land."
You can read more about the prize here.
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Next
IPLP Speaker on January 29
Speaker:
Joe Bryan, Assistant Professor of
Geography at University of Colorado,
Boulder
Date:
Friday, January 29, 2016
Time:
12 - 1:15 p.m.
Location:
College of Law, Faculty Lounge (Room 237)
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Civil
Justice Speaker and "A Conversation With" Jimmy Rogers
('72)
on
February 3
Alumnus James ("Jimmy") Rogers will participate in
our "Conversation With" series in which he will speak
with students about his career and practice. The
"Conversation With Jimmy Rogers" will take place on
February 3 at noon in Room 272 at the College of
Law.
In the evening, Jimmy will deliver a talk as part
of the Civil Justice Initiative. His talk, titled
"Developing a first-tier personal injury/product
liability practice from the ground up" is open to the
public. CLE credit may be available.*
Date: Wednesday,
February 3, 2015
Time: 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
(Reception to follow)
Location: College of Law
(Room 168)
For more information or to register, contact Chris Gast. *The State Bar of Arizona
does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the
Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement. The
activities offered may qualify for your annual CLE
requirement for the State Bar of Arizona, including the
indicated hours of professional responsibility (ethics),
if applicable. |
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Arizona Law to Host U.S.
Supreme Court Associate Justice Elena Kagan, February
15
United States Supreme Court Associate Justice
Elena Kagan will speak at the University of Arizona for
the 37th McCormick Lecture,
sponsored by the James E. Rogers College of Law and the
J. Byron McCormick Society for Law and Public
Affairs.
Date:
Monday, February 15, 2016
Time:
5:30 - 6:30
p.m.
Location: UA
School of Music, Crowder
Hall
This event has reached capacity, and
attendance is limited to those who have already
registered. Updates and contact information
are available here.
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Congratulations!
The Arizona Corporate Counsel Award for the
In-House Legal Department of the Year was presented to
the 56th Fighter Wing JAG office at Luke Air Force Base.
The top legal advisor is Lt. Col. Joel England, a 2002
graduate of the College of Law. Read more
here.
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Fellowship
Opportunity
The College of Law is hiring a fellow for its Bacon
Immigration Law and Policy Program to begin in the
summer of 2016. The position is open to recent law
graduates with at least two years of practice
experience. The position is for one year, with a
potential one-year extension.
A full description is available here ( PDF).
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Students
Networking in Phoenix
Students attending a recent attorney-law student
mixer with the Phoenix Lawyer's chapter of the
Federalist Society are pictured here with Judge Edith
Jones of the 5th Circuit. The mixer was hosted by alumna
Abby Raddatz ('04).
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Please take the time to join the online alumni directory. We are
creating a shared resource to support our students and
our alumni. If you need us to resend your personalized
invitation, please email or
call (520) 621-8430.
The newest weekly drawing winner from among new
directory members is Anne Luna-Gordinier
('04). Congratulations, Anne, and thanks for
joining! |
Where in the world is the College of
Law?
From Tucson to Phoenix, from Belize to Paris, and
now every day in Qingdao, the College of Law is making a
difference, educating students, conducting research, and
engaging in legal policy.
Warmly,
Dean
& Ralph W. Bilby Professor of Law
Shaping
the next century of legal
education
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