| UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
JAMES E. ROGERS COLLEGE OF LAW |
FEBRUARY 7, 2024 | | |
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Greetings,
The newsletter this week is packed with opportunities to connect and give back to our law school. Giving Day is next Wednesday – Valentine’s Day and Arizona’s Statehood Day. Learn more below about the initiatives you can support through your generosity.
The inaugural Law Alumni Weekend is coming up in April. This week’s newsletter includes your first look at the schedule for the weekend, including time to connect with fellow alumni as well as current and newly-admitted students.
Law Alumni Weekend welcomes all law alumni and includes a reunion for alumni years ending in 3, 4, 8 and 9, as well as a breakfast for 50+ year alumni. Watch your mailboxes for details.
Make sure you have a pen and paper, Outlook calendar or whatever else you use to keep track of coming events poised and ready as you read this Letter of the Law.
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Until the footnotes,
Marc
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This Valentine’s Day, Spread Love by Supporting the Next Generation of Leaders and Lawyers on Giving Day | |
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This Valentine’s Day, University of Arizona Law is asking the LawCat community to show your Wildcat love by contributing during Giving Day, a 24-hour campus-wide fundraising effort in support of students and the university.
While Giving Day will only last for 24 hours, the impact of your contribution will be felt for years to come. Your generosity ensures that University of Arizona Law is able to train the next generation of leaders and lawyers and allows us to provide a modern, nimble legal education of the highest quality. A legal education is a life-changing experience, and with your support, we can give our students the resources they need to transform their passions and skills into fulfilling careers.
This February 14, starting at 12:00pm Tucson time, University of Arizona Law is asking for gifts to support:
A New Day in Court
Help us transform advocacy at University of Arizona Law.
Construction is underway to give students “A New Day in Court.” This fundraising initiative is an effort to transform the student experience at University of Arizona Law, beginning with the construction of new state-of-the-art courtroom, classroom and lobby spaces that will literally put advocacy skills front and center in our law school. We are in the final phase of fundraising for this $4.9 million project, with $350,000 remaining to cover all furniture, finishes and AV for the spaces.
“My hope is that current students are able to share in the rich experience I gained at Arizona Law,” explained alumnus and “A New Day in Court” donor J. Michael (Mike) Hennigan (BA ‘66, JD ’70). “I am enthusiastic about the prospect of bringing more comprehensive preparation into the classrooms at Arizona Law.”
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Justice Advocates Coalition Summer Public Interest Fellowship Forever Fund
Provide forever funds in honor of Dean Emerita Toni Massaro to support students who accept unpaid summer positions with public interest organizations through fellowships.
The Justice Advocates Coalition (JAC) is a student-run organization that provides stipends to qualified students who accept unpaid summer positions with nonprofit law organizations.
Students launched the Justice Advocates Coalition in 2017 with the dual goals of empowering marginalized communities and supporting University of Arizona Law students pursuing careers in public interest law.
“It matters to me that that all the work these students have done does not disappear in the desert heat,” said JAC faculty advisor and Dean Emerita Toni Massaro. “There will always be a need, and if anything, I see more students now really wanting to make a dent in the world's problems through law. These students deserve to have this endure.”
Challenge Gift: Vicki Fleischer, Megan O’Leary (BA ’02) and Jonelle Vold (JD ’01) have stepped up with a challenge gift of $2,500 for all new gifts to an endowment in honor of Dean Emerita Toni Massaro during Giving Day. It is her dream that there is a forever fund to support fellowships for students in perpetuity. Join them in making her dream a reality.
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Dean’s Innovation Fund
University of Arizona Law creates what’s next in legal education, from our groundbreaking push to accept the GRE to creating the nation’s first undergraduate law degree to establishing new educational pathways and support systems for students from underrepresented communities. I appreciate your trust in me through your support of the Dean’s Innovation Fund to fund University of Arizona Law’s most pressing needs and projects.
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General Student Scholarships
University of Arizona Law is committed to excellence and access in legal education. Over 90% of JD students received a scholarship in the 2022-2023 academic year, and through your support we can offer more students financial assistance.
“I am grateful to be the first Sharp Scholar. The generous award gives me more flexibility to pursue a career in public interest without significant financial burdens. It also gives me confidence to know that there is a family who saw potential in me and is willing to invest in my legal education,” says second-year law student and scholarship recipient Laura Falk.
Challenge Gift: A generous LawCat from the class of 1998 has issued a challenge for all new gifts up to $10,000 made on Giving Day to support student scholarships at the College of Law.
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Become a Giving Day Ambassador
As a Giving Day Ambassador, you can help us get the word out about Giving Day and ask your network to consider making a donation to support the people, places and programs you care about most.
Questions about giving day or your gift? Contact the Alumni & Development office at alumni@arizona.edu or call 520-621-8430.
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Law Alumni Weekend Schedule Released: Join Us April 5-6! | |
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University of Arizona Law is thrilled to share the schedule for the first annual Law Alumni Weekend on April 5 & 6.
The weekend will welcome back all LawCat alumni to Tucson and to campus to participate in this new tradition of fun, connection and learning.
The weekend will include events for all alumni as well as dedicated events and reunions for graduates from class years ending in 3, 4, 8, and 9. The Law Alumni Weekend will coincide with Admitted Students Weekend, providing an opportunity for alumni to meet future LawCats.
“We are excited to launch this inaugural Law Alumni Weekend and provide a dedicated weekend for College of Law alumni to rekindle old friendships, celebrate shared successes and build new connections within the legal community,” said Senior Director of Alumni & Development Megan O’Leary.
Friday, April 5
LawCat Legend 50 Year+ Reunion Breakfast Celebrating the Classes of 1973 & 1974
Starting in 2024 as part of our 50-year reunion we are excited to announce the LawCat Legend Society. All alumni who have graduated at least 50 years ago become members and will be invited to this special gathering each year. This year we will celebrate the classes of 1973 and 1974 at breakfast.
WHERE: Hacienda Del Sol, Casa Luna Room, 5501 N. Hacienda Del Sol Rd., Tucson, AZ 85718
WHEN: 8:30 - 10:30 AM
WHO: College of Law alumni who graduated 50+ years ago and their guests.
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LawCats Live
Join in person or by Zoom for a lively and engaging lecture and discussion with Arizona Law faculty. Speakers and topic TBA.
WHERE: College of Law, Ares Auditorium (Classroom 164) & Zoom, 1201 E. Speedway Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85721
WHEN: 12:00 - 2:00 PM (Lecture from 12:00 - 1:15 PM, box lunch in courtyard after)
WHO: All College of Law alumni
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College of Law Tours (given by Arizona Law Ambassadors)
Curious what the College of Law looks like today? Join for a tour given by a current law student.
WHERE: College of Law, 1201 E. Speedway Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85721
WHEN: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 2:30 - 3:30 PM
WHO: All College of Law alumni and families
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Welcome To Tucson Reception
Join for snacks, drinks, and connection at the historic downtown Tucson courthouse, which now houses the University’s Gem & Mineral Museum. This event will also be attended by admitted students, which gives alumni a chance to meet future LawCats.
WHERE: University of Arizona’s Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum, 115 N. Church Ave., Tucson, AZ 85701
WHEN: 5:00 - 6:30 PM
WHO: All College of Law alumni and their guests. This event will be held jointly with the Arizona Law Admissions Office, and admitted students will also be in attendance.
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Arizona Law All-Class Reunion Celebration
All alumni who graduated in a year ending in 3, 4, 8 or 9 are invited to attend this reunion gathering. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Come to reconnect with classmates in this social and casual setting.
WHERE: Culinary Dropout, 2543 E. Grant Rd., Tucson, AZ 85716
WHEN: 7:00 - 10:00 PM
WHO: All College of Law alumni celebrating a reunion (Classes ending in 3, 4, 8 and 9)
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Saturday, April 6
*AM and PM before/after BBQ open to organize your own gatherings/hikes/meals*
LawCat Spring Fling
All alumni and their families are invited to attend this gathering inside the east side of the UA Football Stadium. Food, drinks and fun for all!
WHERE: Dunlap Club at Arizona Stadium, 1 N. National Championship Dr., Tucson, AZ 85719
WHEN: 12:00 - 3:00 PM
WHO: All College of Law alumni and families. This event will be held jointly with the Arizona Law Admissions Office, and admitted students will also be in attendance.
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Research Shows Discrepancies in Police Transparency, Calls for New Legislation | |
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Led by University of Arizona Professor of Law Jordan Blair Woods, a recent collaboration between Arizona law schools revealed inconsistencies in the publicly-available police data on public complaints and other incidents while offering suggestions for legislative reforms to police transparency that would consider the state’s unique policing needs.
The team’s article, “The Need for a Comprehensive Police Data Collection and Transparency Law in Arizona,” published in the Arizona State Law Journal, noted that the types of data collected by urban agencies with greater resources differs greatly from that available from smaller municipalities and tribal jurisdictions. The article was co-written by University of Arizona Law 3L Devyn Arredondo along with a student and a professor from Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.
To learn more about the team’s research, see the full story here.
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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.
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We will have our first standalone Law Alumni Weekend – not tied to Homecoming – this coming April 5 & 6. This change is in response to requests from many alumni that we create a time for alumni weekend that was the reason for the weekend – separate from the fun but noisy Homecoming festivities in the Fall.
For those outside of Tucson, remember that early April is still a beautiful time of year here. We hope to see many of you – those in the reunion classes (class years ending in 3, 4, 8 and 9) and all others who are missing our College and would enjoy a return visit.
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