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Greetings,
It's a great time of year at Arizona Law. On Monday we welcomed our students and faculty back from Spring Break. The busy legal skills competition season continues, and we are enjoying lots of visits from potential new students.
In this edition, we feature our Native American Law Student Association (NALSA) students, who recently hosted the 2019 National NALSA Moot Court Competition at the college.
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University of Arizona NALSA chapter members.
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The National NALSA competition is another example of the many opportunities for honing legal skills, and for great networking, at Arizona Law. In this case, the effort is led and executed by the students, with faculty in an active supporting role. This year, organization of the competition was spearheaded by third-year JD student Kayla Wrolson. Meet Kayla and see photos from the competition below.
Until the footnotes,
Marc
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Third-year Arizona Law JD student Kayla Wrolson is a member of the Puyallup Tribe and the 2018-2019 vice president of the National Native American Law Student Association (NNALSA). In this capacity, she takes a leadership role in advancing the interests of Native law students around the country.
In addition, Kayla was the conference organizer for this year's NNALSA Moot Court Competition, hosted by the Arizona Law chapter here at the College of Law the first weekend in March. Kayla originally hails from Michigan but grew up near Atlanta, Georgia. She earned a Bachelor's degree in business from Auburn University. With a developing interest in law, she attended the 2016 Pre-Law Summer Institute (PLSI) for American Indian and Alaska Natives, sponsored by the American Indian Law Center. Kayla began law school closer to home, but a visit to Tucson as she was finishing up her first year changed all that. "During my visit, I met many current law students. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. This visit made me want to be part of the community here at Arizona Law. Transferring to Arizona Law was the best decision I ever made."
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In her free time, Kayla likes to take road trips and play with her dog.
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Kayla has enjoyed honing her interests in Indigenous Peoples law and environmental law at the UA, and is a candidate for the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Certificate. She says that she enjoys attending a law school where she is constantly challenged by her professors and classmates. "Professors and fellow students do not shy away from asking the difficult questions and discussing difficult topics. This has greatly enhanced my law school experience. I have learned as much from my classmates as I have learned from my casebooks." In the summer of 2017 Kayla returned as a PLSI alumna to serve as an advocacy teaching assistant for other new Native American law students. Last summer, she interned with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, focusing on endangered species. After graduation this spring, Kayla aspires to work on Indigenous human rights issues and will sit for the bar in the State of Washington. She shares: "Even four years ago, law school wasn't on my radar. I never imagined that I would be where I am now -- a couple of months from law school graduation. I am so thankful to the Arizona Law community for welcoming me into the community and giving me the confidence to make it through law school."
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Arizona Law NALSA Chapter Hosts National Moot Court
The competition is the only student-focused opportunity for Native law students and legal professionals across the country to come together. "Both students and legal professionals find value through participation in the competition," said 2018-2019 National NALSA Vice President Kayla Wrolson.
This year's moot court problem raised contemporary issues in Indian country, encouraging dialogue about the Violence Against Women Act and violence against Native American women.
Forty-five teams participated in the competition, from law schools including Columbia University, the University of Kansas, the University of Montana, and the University of Tennessee, with awards given for the best written, oral, and overall advocacy. (As this year's hosts, Arizona Law students were not allowed to compete.) The University of Arizona NALSA chapter is consistently one of the most active NALSA chapters in the country. Student volunteers involved in the event included UA NALSA President Alexis Zendejas (3L), UA NALSA Secretary Summer Aubrey Blaze (2L), National NALSA Area 5 Representative and UA chapter Social Director Adelina Gomez (3L), Logan Cooper (3L), Matt Caylor (3L), Joy Parker (1L), Softie Pearce (1L), DaNikka Huss (1L), Chad Abeyta (visiting 3L) and Paulene Abeyta (1L). David Rice and Maria Burrell were also local volunteers. Julia Giffin, National NALSA Area 6 Representative from Cornell Law, and MacArthur Stant of the University Of New Mexico's NALSA chapter also helped with the event. Finally, the effort included over 50 volunteer judges who helped to score oral argument rounds during the competition.
Each year, the last round of competition is judged by a panel of well-known scholars and practitioners. This year, this final panel included Judge Jay Bybee from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, Arizona Law Professor Melissa Tatum, Arizona Law Professor Rebecca Tsosie, Professor Angelique Eaglewoman of Mitchell Hamline School of Law (and, previously, the first Indigenous dean of a law school in Canada), and Judge Gregory Bigler from the Kansas Kickapoo, Quapaw, and Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma.
Arizona Law's Don Kangas provided expert IT support for the event and worked closely with the students and participants. The organizers thank the numerous student volunteers, volunteer judges and bailiffs, and all of the competitors for making this year's competition a success.
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(Law) Cats at the Capitol
On Monday, Arizona Law (aka Law Cats) participated in "Cats at the Capitol," a University of Arizona Alumni Association event held on the House Lawn at the Arizona State Capitol.
We were well-represented by Assistant Dean for Employer Outreach Leah Won ('05) and Corrina Eklund from our Alumni and Development office, who were pleased to meet, greet, and share news about Arizona Law's impact.
Leah and Corrina spoke with numerous legislators (including Professor Kirsten Engel) and legislative staff members, UA President Robert C. Robbins (below center), undergraduates and potential law students, and several Arizona Law alumni, including Mike King ('79, above with Wilbur), Jim Lundy ('74), Nicole Ong ('08), Benjamin Taylor ('04), and Barry Wong ('84).
They report that it was wonderful to see so many of you, and to see so much red and blue at the Capitol!
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Open to Practicing Attorneys: "Taking and Defending Depositions" Short Course in April
A short course designed by Professor and Director of Advocacy Barbara Bergman, "Taking and Defending Depositions" will take place April 12-14 and April 19-21, 2019, at the College of Law. It is open to all alumni and practicing attorneys.
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Professor and Director of Advocacy Barbara Bergman.
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This dynamic course was first offered last year and was very well-received. Whether you are new to depositions or want to refresh your skills, this two-weekend "learn-by-doing" course will give you the tools you need to succeed. In it, you will learn how to: Effectively prepare your witnesses Defend the deposition Deal with obstreperous counsel Get the answers within time constraints Optimize information from expert witnesses Test theories Close off avenues of escape The class is limited to seven practicing attorneys and 25 law students, and may be eligible for CLE credit.* The cost for the class is $1,000, and you will find the syllabus here. A payment plan is available. Course sessions take place at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. *The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement. This course may qualify for up to 31 hours toward your annual CLE requirement for the State Bar of Arizona, including 4.5 hours of professional responsibility.
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Washington Examiner, quoting professor Andrew Coan
TIME Magazine, quoting professor Barak Orbach
Lompoc Record, opinion by professor Robert Glennon Bloomberg BNA, authored by professor Andrew Coan UA News, The College of Law jumps two spots to No. 39.
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It takes a huge amount of planning, and a good dose of luck, to host a major national moot court competition.
Congratulations and thanks go to our University of Arizona NALSA members and National NALSA board members for a job well done.
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