UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

JAMES E. ROGERS COLLEGE OF LAW

DECEMBER 11, 2024

UPCOMING EVENTS

January 30–31

Winter Private Sector Interview Program

February 7

Legal Paraprofessional Summit

February 13–14

Sonoran Public Sector Interview Program

Greetings,

This week we feature the new $1.5 million grant awarded by the Department of Justice to the University of Arizona Innocence Project. Not only will the grant enable the U of A Innocence Project to enhance its case investigations, the expanded funding will open up additional opportunities to students for experiential learning.

Valuable student experiences like this develop the legal skills necessary after graduation. If you are interested in recruiting LawCats with practical experience, learn more below about upcoming Career Development Office events.

Until the footnotes,

Marc

FEATURE

U of A Innocence Project Receives $1.5M to Advance DNA Case Review and Exonerate Wrongfully Convicted People

U of Arizona Innocence Project members at the 2024 National Innocence Network Conference

A $1.5 million grant from the Department of Justice will support the University of Arizona Innocence Project’s mission to investigate potential wrongful convictions, specifically through DNA evidence analysis.

The funding, project leaders hope, will be a significant step toward criminal justice reform in Arizona. While advances in DNA testing have contributed to a deluge of exonerations in the 21st century, Arizona has only seen three documented DNA exonerations since 1989.

“This grant means we can push forward, looking deeply into cases where DNA has the potential to prove innocence and pursuing relief for those who have been wrongfully convicted,” said Vanessa Buch, director of the U of A Innocence Project, which is based in the James E. Rogers College of Law.

The funding, from the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance in the Office of Justice Programs, is the largest grant ever received by the university's Innocence Project – three times the size of its previous highest award.

See the full story here.

AROUND THE COLLEGE

Recruit LawCats at Winter/Spring Interview Programs

Around 75% of University of Arizona Law graduates usually have secured jobs by the time of graduation. Our classes are small, and deep. To ensure that your organization successfully recruits new attorneys, please post jobs early or participate in one of our robust and comprehensive employment events throughout the year.

The Career Development Office is gearing up for the 2025 winter/spring recruiting season. See below for information about when, where and how your organization can participate:

Winter Private Sector Interview Program

Dates: Jan. 30 (Tucson), Jan. 31 (virtual)

Employer Registration Deadline: Jan. 2

Sonoran Public Sector Interview Program

Dates: Feb. 13 (Tucson), Feb. 14 (virtual)

Employer Registration Deadline: Jan. 16

Arizona Law Grads Interview Program

Dates: Mar. 27 (Tucson), Mar. 28 (virtual)

Employer Registration Deadline: Feb. 28

If you would like to discuss your unique hiring needs, please contact Assistant Dean Leah Won at 520-621-9156 or leahwon@arizona.edu.

Learn More and Register

Meet the Career Development Office Team

This academic year, the University of Arizona Law Career Development Office welcomed Carletta Sanders-Chavers as a legal career specialist.

Carletta previously worked within labor relations at a Fortune 500 telecommunications company. She is the author of “Becoming Esquire: A Law School Survival Guide Series” and has helped many first-generation law students apply to law school and secure summer and permanent positions globally.

Carletta earned a JD/MBA at Northern Illinois University and is also an adjunct lecturer at the University of Arizona Eller College of Management.

Carletta joins a CDO team with extensive experience in a variety of legal and career development positions. Read below about how they can assist employers and students:

Leah Won

Assistant Dean for Career Development

Specialties: private practice and corporate

Prior roles: deputy general counsel of urban school district, public law associate in two mid-sized law firms, Teach for America corps member

Kaitlyn Quigley

Senior Director

Specialties: judicial clerkships and internships

Prior roles: legal aid supervising attorney, big law litigation associate, Arizona Supreme Court and federal clerkships

Chantal Johnson

Director

Specialties: public interest and government

Prior roles: deputy director and staff attorney at legal services, published author, big law summer associate

Kristy Clairmont

Director

Specialties: law firms and JD advantage opportunities

Prior roles: program manager for University of Arizona Law’s Legal Paraprofessional Program, owner of family law firm in Tucson, certified k-12 teacher

In addition to the full-time team, the CDO’s student workers, law students Fiona Stout (2L) and Haley Kringlie (3L), and undergraduate student Maddie Reel, provide valuable help to the CDO and students.

IN THE NEWS

University of Arizona Innocence Project awarded $1.5 million grant for wrongful convictions work

AZPM, featuring University of Arizona Innocence Project and Vanessa Buch

Innocence Project at University of Arizona to use grant funding on improved DNA analysis

12 News, featuring University of Arizona Innocence Project and Vanessa Buch

University receives $1.5M grant for wrongful conviction reviews

Tucson Standard, featuring University of Arizona Innocence Project, Vanessa Buch and Virginia Morris

New $1.5M grant to help U of A program fight wrongful convictions

Arizona Daily Star, featuring University of Arizona Innocence Project and Virginia Morris

University of Arizona Innocence Project receives $1.5 million grant from DOJ

KOLD, featuring University of Arizona Innocence Project and Virginia Morris

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

X, @uarizonalaw

The U of A Innocence Project stands out for its critical role in Arizona, and its deep links to a national network of attorneys and organizations. The clinic has been brilliantly led by Professor Vanessa Buch – and the excellent work over years will now be greatly amplified by the DOJ grant. I invite readers to follow the work of the clinic in the months and years ahead.

Warmly,