UPCOMING EVENTS


Greetings,

Summer is the season of bar conventions. Next week, we'll share the names of alumni with 50 years of membership in the Arizona bar.
 
This week, we are excited to bring Arizona Law to Houston, Texas, where we will meet with local alumni and friends and host a reception during the Texas Bar Convention -- a first for us. Texans, we hope to see you at the Marriott Marquis (Biggio's Sports Bar) from 5:30-7 p.m. tomorrow evening, June 21 (register here).

Houston - Arizona Law has landed! 
This picture is from the Houston Airport -- 
this afternoon, as we hit 'send'

There are over 13,000 University of Arizona alums, including 130 Arizona Law alums, currently residing in Texas. 

One of our fantastic law alumni now practicing in Houston is 2016 JD graduate Raisa Ahmad -- profiled in this issue of Letter of the Law. Read on!
 
Until the footnotes,

Marc

Spotlight on Houston Alumna Raisa Ahmad ('16)


Originally from Chandler, Arizona, Raisa Ahmad, JD Class of 2016, is now planting roots in Houston. She works as a litigation associate with Fish & Richardson, with a practice that includes patent litigation, trademark, and trade secret litigation matters.

Before coming to law school, Raisa earned a BS from Arizona State in biomedical engineering. She says she chose the University of Arizona for law school because she was drawn to the small class sizes and the community, which she knew would be incredibly valuable while pursuing a law degree. 

Having previously worked in a wide array of fields, including engineering, research, and banking, she had long considered a career in law. A great scholarship opportunity from the UA allowed her to finally make the leap!

Raisa enjoys many great memories from her time at Arizona Law. For one, she says,

"Having the opportunity to participate in classes that sparked my interest -- like First Amendment with Professor Toni Massaro, cyberlaw with Professor Derek Bambauer, and antitrust with Professor Barak Orbach -- made every day a rich learning experience."

And,

"I received hands-on training too, through courses such as complex litigation with Professor David Marcus, in which my classmates and I wrote a class certification brief for a class action suit involving children's rights for kids in Arizona's foster care system."

She also says that, of course, the best times were spent with classmates.

"I'm notoriously a stress-ball, and I can't count the number of times I relied on my small section with the late Professor Jean Braucher to make me laugh through even the toughest times!"

Raisa remembers Tumamoc Hill as a favorite Tucson locale. She hiked it often to enjoy the unbeatable views of Tucson and the desert surroundings.

Raisa, left, enjoys a family vacation to Alberta, Canada.

Now in Houston, Raisa's work at Fish & Richardson is challenging and rewarding, taking advantage of her scientific and business background along with her legal expertise.

"I have always had an interest in the intersection of law, patents, and innovation. I knew Fish was a firm that dealt with cutting-edge issues facing the tech industry. 

I interned as a summer associate position in the summer following my 1L year and feel privileged feel to be officially part of the team after graduating from UA Law. The Houston team is an incredibly talented and motivated group that operates like a family. It's been a fun learning experience ever since that summer! 

I love that every day I get to learn something new. Clients come to us with unique and interesting challenges, and they rely on us to tackle the issues head on. Every day is an opportunity to learn something new in the fields of computer science, medical devices, and pharmaceutical science."

Through her firm, Raisa has also appreciated the opportunity to give back to the community through her work on pro bono cases. She is currently working on gaining asylum for a woman who has faced incredible challenges in Honduras, including gang violence and domestic violence.

Raisa also enjoys her new home, where she can often be found running along the bayou or exploring Houston's "crazy good food scene."

Thanks for sharing your story, Raisa. We'll be seeing you soon!

Around the College
Law Camp - For High School Students

All high school students interested in exploring the theory and practice of law are invited to attend our law camp this Friday. 

Learn about innovative programs at the College of Law including the only BA in Law program in the country. Sample law classes. Participate in a mock trial. Explore the college. 

No cost to attend. Free lunch provided. 
Friday, June 22, 2018
9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

For more information and to register, contact Mark Blair at mlmb@email.arizona.edu

Constitutional Issues in Higher Education

The Dean of Students Office at the University of Arizona presents the "Constitutional Issues in Higher Education" Symposium on Thursday, June 21. 

This year's symposium theme, "Abiding Freedoms," highlights the important role of colleges and universities to protect and promote free inquiry and expression as well as develop individuals, who are intellectually and socially prepared for meaningful civic engagement and respectful dialogue. 

There will be workshops on topics such as guns, free expression of student athletes and using speech to justify prejudice. To learn more about the event and to register, please visit:  http://cihe.arizona.edu.

Seeking Albuquerque Alumni and Employers!

Arizona Law's Career Development Office invites you to participate in the Albuquerque Interview Program on Wednesday, August 8 at the Embassy Suites Hotel & Spa. 

Employers will have the opportunity to meet current students and recent graduates who have a particular interest in practicing in New Mexico. This year, the interviews will be followed by a hosted networking luncheon. The luncheon will provide alumni the chance to reconnect with fellow Wildcats and interact with Arizona Law candidates in a casual setting.

To register for the Interview Program click here. To register for the networking lunch only, please email Adam Cirzan at acirzan@email.arizona.edu.


In addition to the Texas convention this week, we look forward to seeing many of you at next week's State Bar of Arizona Convention. Don't miss our reception on the evening of Thursday, June 28, at the Sheraton Grand at Wildhorse Pass, from 6:30-8 p.m. (register here).

Warmly,

 

 

 
   Like us on Facebook   Follow us on Twitter   View our profile on LinkedIn   View our videos on YouTube


Copyright © 2018. All Rights Reserved.

Join Our Mailing List button

University of Arizona James E Rogers College of Law, 1201 E. Speedway, Tucson, AZ 85721-0176
Sent by alumni@law.arizona.edu in collaboration with
Constant Contact