UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

JAMES E. ROGERS COLLEGE OF LAW

APRIL 23, 2025

Greetings,

Our alumni enrich the LawCat community in so many ways, through financial support, volunteering, recruiting and more. Today, we feature the David A. Paige Foundation, created to honor the memory of one of those alumni by supporting current students.

Onward!

Jason

FEATURE

The Legal Legacy of David A. Paige (’75)

David A. Paige (’75) was a long-time fixture in the Tucson legal community. After his death in 2017, the David A. Paige Foundation was created to honor his legacy and give back to the law school where he not only studied, but also met his wife, Jeanne Ronan (’77). We recently connected with his son, Foundation President Charlie Paige, to speak about his father’s legacy and the organization’s work.

How did the David A. Paige Foundation come about?

My dad was private and humble about his work as an attorney. After he died, I reached out to about a dozen attorneys that he had worked closely with to learn more about him as an attorney. Everyone I met touched on the same themes: he was fair, extremely demanding and supportive. Equally as important, he wanted them to understand that it was a privilege to practice law. He felt a certain responsibility to teach young attorneys to always be ethical and use their law degree to help others. Creating the David A. Paige Foundation felt like the best way to honor his legal legacy.

Tell us about the Foundation’s support for Arizona Law students.

My dad’s impact on Tucson’s legal community was eclectic and broad:

He did pro bono work to help Haitian refugees and served on Southern Arizona Legal Aid’s (SALA) Advisory Board. We will support our fifth clerkship at SALA this summer.

My dad’s first two years of law school were paid for by the G.I. Bill for his service in the Marine Corps. We provide scholarships to support law students who have made financial sacrifices to pursue their law degree.

My dad mentored several attorneys who became Pima County Superior Court Judges. This summer we will support our fourth judicial clerkship under the supervision of a Pima County Superior Court Judge.

In the 1980s and 1990s, my dad did pro bono work for eight years to help a family friend gain custody of their niece. We support research fellowships in the U of A’s Child and Family Law Clinic to improve Arizona’s legal system’s support of youth in the foster care system.

Did your parents talk to you about their experience as law students?

Yes, and often. My parents (pictured on graduation day) only spoke positively about their experiences as law students. They greatly appreciated their professors’ impact on their legal education. They also felt fortunate about the lasting relationships they developed with their fellow law students. My parents practiced law in Tucson for twenty years after they graduated and worked with many of their classmates. My mom is still in touch with several of her classmates. They also met in law school so that was a special experience, as well.

Why is it important to support Arizona Law students?

Arizona Law students have made a commitment to earn a law degree. The David A. Paige Foundation believes that this commitment deserves their community’s support. We benefit from law students who work to not only learn the law but also have learning opportunities that enhance their legal education.

Meet Paige Scholar Diana Vega German

Law student Diana Vega German (’26) learned about the Paige Foundation from the Arizona Law Career Development Office during her first year. That summer, the foundation funded her clerkship with Judge Greg Sakall (’01) at the Pima County Superior Court.

Diana is a first-generation law student who moved to Tucson from Mexico as a child. She came to Arizona Law to study immigration law and became interested in criminal law and family and juvenile law as well.

During her clerkship with Judge Sakall, Diana noted, “I was able to develop into a more seasoned writer and critical thinker and learned to analyze the law from all points of view. Though it seemed intimidating or challenging at times, receiving questions from Judge Sakall after trials or court hearings made me a more confident advocate and law student.”

“I felt an immediate connection to Mr. David A. Paige and the work he did throughout his legal career,” said Diana. “Mr. Paige was and will continue to be such a valuable part of many attorneys’ lives. His mentorship and dedication to the legal community speak loudly to me because I know first-hand the impact mentorship can have when trying to achieve success or any goal.”

FROM THE COLLEGE

National Conference of Constitutional Law Scholars Continues to Thrive in Tumultuous Legal Landscape

Constitutional scholars from across the country convened in Tucson this February for the annual National Conference of Constitutional Law Scholars, hosted by the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law’s William H. Rehnquist Center on the Constitutional Structures of Government. The event reaffirmed its place as a premier national forum for constitutional scholarship and collaboration.

The conference brought together more than 70 scholars to share cutting-edge research and engage in rich discussions about some of the most pressing legal questions of our time. Now in its seventh year, the conference continues to generate conversations that shape the field.

“It is a rare opportunity for a large cross-section of leading experts to gather in one place, hone their current projects and generate new ideas,” said Andrew Coan, director of the Rehnquist Center and lead organizer of the event. “If you look at the most influential constitutional scholarship of the past eight years, a substantial fraction was presented at the conference—and several major pieces grew out of conversations at the conference.”

Prof. Coan noted a growing trend in the scholarship presented this year: historical inquiries that suddenly feel newly urgent. “It was striking how many seemingly obscure historical projects have taken on acute contemporary relevance,” he observed.

For the full story, see here.

Calling Future Lawyers! High School Summer Law Camp Registration Now Open

Do you know a high school student interested in a career in law?

This summer, the College of Law will invite talented high school students to explore the theory and practice of law. Over the three-day summer program (May 27–29), students will learn about the impact of law and justice from professors and attorneys, participate in a mock trial and (optionally) visit the Pima County Superior Court to observe trials and meet with judges.

The Summer Law Camp is free. Enrollment is limited to 30 high school students. Students must be currently enrolled in either 9th, 10th or 11th grade. To apply, visit the law camp webpage here.

Applications preferred by May 2.

Learn More and Register

IN THE NEWS

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Native America Calling Podcast, featuring Heather Whiteman Runs Him

Immigrant children and labor exploitation (segment begins at 3:44)

Marketplace, featuring Shefali Milczarek-Desai

Child labor concerns over migrant children

KGUN, featuring Shefali Milczarek-Desai

Do You Have News?

Your success is the college’s success and we want to celebrate with you! If you have landed a new job, received an award or recognition, stepped into a leadership role or have good news in general, let us know.

Share Your News Here

Instagram, @uarizonalaw

Times change. Fashions change. The legal profession changes. But whether it’s 1975 or 2025, the Arizona Law community remains strong.

Warmly,