Graduates from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law class of 2021 have set the highest employment rates in school history.  

At graduation, 77 percent of the class of 2021 were employed in full-time, long-term jobs that either require a law license or for which having a JD offers an advantage, 15 percentage points higher than the class of 2020. 

An additional school milestone was set ten months after graduation with 88.1 percent of graduates employed in long-term jobs that required bar passage or JD-advantage positions, an increase from the previous year and five percent higher than the national average. In addition, four JD graduates, 3.2 percent of the class, were seeking further advanced degrees. Only 5.6 percent (seven graduates) remained unemployed and were seeking employment ten months after graduation. 

The percentage of students who entered private practice represented almost half of the graduating class with 43.4 percent of graduates securing such positions. Judicial clerkships remained notably high with 27.4 percent of graduates entering this field, compared to 9.6 percent nationally. Graduates entering the work field in public interest positions other than judicial clerkships were on par with the national average with 8 percent, compared to 7.7 percent nationally.  

“One difference in the Class of 2021 employment outcomes is that we saw more students secure employment sooner than in previous years,” said Career Development Office (CDO) Senior Director Shannon Walker. 

See here for the full story.

The University of Arizona’s Wildcat Mentor Society is looking for new alumni mentors to join our 2022–23 program. The last day to apply to be a mentor is this Friday, September 2.

Students from around the University and alumni are paired according to career goals and interests. Mentors will meet remotely with a group of up to five mentees monthly throughout the school year, on a schedule determined by the mentor and mentees. Participants also are able to join networking and professional development events, culminating in an end-of-year celebration.

A number of law school alumni already have registered to mentor this fall, including Patty Stevens (’91), Habib Pierce-Byrd (’02), and Don Powell (BA ’69, JD ’72).

Join Judge Maria Elena Cruz (BA ’98, JD ’01), Justice Ann Timmer (BA ’82) and Aaron Nash, Director of the Arizona Administrative Office of the Courts’ (AOC) Certification and Licensing Division for LawCats Live September 12 at 12:15PM (AZ).

Panelists will discuss the Legal Paraprofessional (LP) Program and how it addresses the justice gap in Arizona. This discussion will be moderated by Arizona Law’s Keith Swisher, Director of the BA in Law and Master of Legal Studies Programs.

Celebrate University of Arizona Night at the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers game! Wednesday, September 14, 2022, 6:30 pm, is UArizona Night at Chase Field. 

Join special guests Wilbur T. Wildcat and members of Arizona Cheer to fill the stands with Wildcats and show that Phoenix is Wildcat Country! 

Get a co-branded D-backs/University of Arizona cap. You must purchase this special event ticket package to receive the giveaway item. Tickets may not be resold.

If you have any questions, contact Marc Acuña at Marc.Acuna@al.arizona.edu.

Articles by a number of alumni of the Arizona Law Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program (IPLP) appeared in the July/August issue of the State Bar of Arizona’s “Arizona Attorney” magazine.

The Special Focus on Indian Law issue included articles on:

• “Indigenous Erasure in Public Schools” by Arizona Law alumni Mia Montoya Hammersley (MS ’14, JD ’18) and Wouter Zwart (’19), as well as Adrianna Orman;
• “ICWA - the Gold Standard” by Arizona Law alumni Tara Hubbard (’12) and Fred Urbina (’08); and
• “Oral History on Trial” by IPLP Professor Emeritus and Arizona Law alumnus Robert Alan Hershey (’72).

Well done to our IPLP alumni!

Congratulations!

University of Arizona Law alumni Christian Boettcher (’21) and Carly Boettcher (’21) recently shared that they are expecting their first child, in an announcement complete with Arizona Law gear. Congratulations and best wishes to Carly and Christian and the new member of the LawCat Community!