Greetings,

For 100 years, this law school has provided the foundation for graduates to apply their skills and talents in professional endeavors. We produce graduates who are prepared to work with clients, assist judges, advance the mission of non-profits, or support the duties of a public agencies. 

This year, as part of our celebration of the Centennial, we are making our longstanding internal goal public to the Arizona Law community -- 100% employment for our new graduates. This means working closely with alumni to identify positions, seeking out grant opportunities for post-graduate practice groups, and supporting our strong and innovative Career Development Office (CDO) to put our students' talents to work.

This week, we highlight our "Help Us Get To 100" Centennial Campaign and feature post-graduate fellow Dominic Olivetti and career counselor Amanda Jantzi.

Warmly,

Marc 

We are working hard to create opportunities for our students to receive that critical first employment job. Our efforts have centered on creating opportunities that provide high-quality mentoring and the chance to give back through pro-bono legal services.

One of these new opportunities is our new Mortgage and Consumer Finance Group.  Established under a grant from the Arizona Attorney General's Office, the Mortgage and Consumer Finance Group will aid Arizona consumers faced with mortgage and finance challenges. 

The Mortgage and Consumer Finance Group is led by Director Joanna Medrano and offers four recent graduates the opportunity to serve as fellows. In this role, they will hone valuable practice skills while advancing the quality and quantity of legal services in the State of Arizona.

One of the first fellows of the Group is recent graduate, Dominic Olivetti. A native of Michigan, he came to Arizona Law "to escape the cold and snow for the warm weather and beautiful scenery in Arizona."

Dominic focused on gaining practice skills while he was in law school. He participated in the Workers' Rights Clinic, the Immigration Clinic, and a criminal defense project.  Dominic credits these valuable experiences as the strong motivation for his work within the Group.

"The Mortgage and Consumer Finance Group aligned well with what I have done previously and my dedication to lower income populations. Additionally, I earned my degree in finance and studied bankruptcy throughout my law school career, so I am comfortable dealing with mortgages and financial issues."

The Group will conduct outreach to clients across the state, providing legal services including loan modifications, civil litigation to resolve mortgage delinquencies and allow borrowers to save their homes, efforts to stop loss of income due to wage garnishment, and pre-purchase and pre-borrowing legal counseling. 

During law school Dominic focused on practical skill development, including attention to advocacy skills. Both summers he clerked at a public defender's office, and he volunteered as a clerk at the Pima County Public Defender during his third year of law school. He was able to participate in several felony trials -- including leading a felony trial from voir dire to closing.

The Career Development Office (CDO) is the central tool for students and alumni to connect with employers and employment opportunities in Arizona and throughout the world. Our ability to serve students begins with outstanding staff members.

This week we introduce Amanda Jantzi, a career counselor and member of the CDO Team. 

Amanda attended Cornell Law School in Ithaca, New York, and completed her undergraduate studies at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where she majored in political science and women's studies. She came to Arizona Law after completing her Master's in Higher Education Administration at the University at Buffalo where she worked as a career counselor at the law school.

Prior to receiving her master's degree, Amanda worked at Freshfields Bruckhaus Derringer in London as a capital markets associate with a focus on foreign-exempt debt and equity offerings, primarily in Russia and the former Russian Republics.

Her global experience prepared her well to counsel Arizona Law's international J.D. students, who all have law degrees from their home countries. She works with them on developing a job search strategy, including everything from writing cover letters to networking, as well as advising how to manage cultural differences and professional development.

"This group of students is incredibly diverse, so it's been great to work with them. I also counsel all students interested in pursuing opportunities abroad and work with the rest of our amazing team to plan career fairs and recruiting events, develop programming, and work on employer development and relationships."

Amanda is originally from Buffalo, and she contends -- and out of respect we believe her -- "I actually do miss the snow!"

Amanda visiting Rome

She has traveled throughout Europe, including studying abroad in Denmark. But when she came out to Tucson for her interview it was the furthest west she had ever been. Amanda has a five-year-old mini dachshund named BooBoo who goes -- reluctantly -- on hiking trips. She also enjoys swimming, being a hockey fan, reading and writing fiction.

Do you have opportunities for international students? Amanda is always available to talk about how we can connect your needs to our student's talents.   

The School of Law became the College of Law in 1925, and Lorna Lockwood became the College's first woman graduate that same year. During her student career, Lockwood served on the Law Student Body, first as Secretary in 1924 and then as President in 1925. She later became the first woman in the nation to serve as a state Supreme Court justice when she was elected Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court in 1965.

We are only two weeks from Gutter Bowl? Have you registered your team yet? The evening will include bowling, pizza, and beverages with celebrity bowlers Chief Judge Dan Collins, Vice Chief Justice John Pelander, and U.S. District Court Judge Stephen McNamee. 

Remember, lowest score wins! Are you able to beat your managing partner and get the lowest score? How about a victory over your old classmate? Honorary co-chairs Steve Hirsch and Chas Wirken will guarantee an amusing evening for all as teams compete for the coveted Gutter Bowl Pin! Join us for an night of fun, food, and good ol' fashioned competition. Arizona Law is exceedingly grateful to event committee chairs Alison Bachus, Jessica Post, and Tom Stack, as well as committee members Geoff Balon and Coree Neumeyer. This committee worked diligently to bring back the legendary Phoenix alumni event.  

March 4, 2015

6 pm - 9 pm

Bowlmor Scottsdale.

7300 East Thomas Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251.
 

Alumni, faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend.

Register now!

The 2nd Annual Civil Justice Lecture Featuring Patrick McGroder ('70)

Patrick McGroder, a shareholder in the Phoenix-based law firm of Gallagher & Kennedy, specializes in high profile, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death litigation. As an architect of social change, Pat has been on the cutting edge of litigation that has led to HMO reform, road design improvement, motor vehicle and aviation safety changes, and nursing home regulation.

During forty years of trial practice, McGroder has been lead counsel in more than 100 cases in which there has been a verdict or settlement in excess of $1,000,000. He has recovered more than $500 million for his clients during this time.  

He will present on "The Art of Oral Advocacy." 

Thursday, February 19, 2015

4 pm - 5 pm

Ares Auditorium (Room 164)

Reception to follow in the Snell & Wilmer Courtyard

National NALSA Moot Court Competition

March 6th and 7th 

NALSA needs lawyers and judges to serve as judges for various shifts during the competition.

If you would like to volunteer, please contact student organizer Chase Velasquez.