| UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
JAMES E. ROGERS COLLEGE OF LAW |
JULY 26, 2023 | | |
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Greetings,
Our traditionally strong employment rates continue to rise for University of Arizona Law graduates. We are happy to share employment outcomes for the class of 2022.
This week, we also connect with recent graduates currently serving in federal clerkships, who tell us how their clerkships are providing a valuable foundation for legal practice.
One critical reason our employment numbers are breaking records is because our community continues to hire new graduates. Thank you for all you do for the future success of our students and recent alumni!
Finally, we are excited to share details on the new Law Alumni Weekend, taking place for the first time in April 2024.
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Until the footnotes,
Marc
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Employment Rate Climbs for University of Arizona Law Class of 2022 | |
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Following a record-breaking employment rate for the class of 2021, the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law class of 2022 demonstrated continued growth, achieving the highest employment rate in school history.
Graduates who had employment ten months after graduation, in long-term, full-time jobs that required bar passage or gave strong preference to those holding a Juris Doctor degree was 88.3%, outpacing the national average of 84.6%.
“We are happy that our numbers stayed consistent with our school record last year and are continuing in an upward trend,” says Assistant Dean of the Career Development Office (CDO) Heather Spielmaker.
See the full story to read more about employment rates, clerkship outcomes and more.
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Q&A with Recent Grads Clerking in the Ninth Circuit | |
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Rates of graduates entering judicial clerkships from University of Arizona Law are far above – and in many years more than double – the national average. Graduates gain valuable experience at all levels of state and federal judiciary and build a foundation for a variety of career paths.
This week, we hear from three clerks with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Annabel Barraza (’21), Kelleen Mull (’20) and Wouter Zwart (’19).
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Annabel Barraza (’21)
Annabel is a clerk in the chambers of Triple Wildcat Judge Roopali Desai (JD ’05, MPH ’01, BA ’00).
What brought you to the University of Arizona?
The academics and the people.
How did your experience at the University of Arizona Law prepare you for a clerkship?
The University of Arizona Law gave me a solid legal foundation, critical thinking skills and the ability to engage in legal research and writing.
What does having a federal clerkship mean to you?
Having a federal clerkship is invaluable because I am the first person in my family to pursue higher education. It presents an exceptional opportunity to learn, grow and make influential connections within the legal profession.
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Kelleen Mull (’20)
Kelleen also clerks for Judge Desai, for whom she has been clerking since the winter of 2022. Kelleen previously clerked for Chief Judge G. Murray Snow of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona.
What brought you to the University of Arizona?
I am from Tucson and always wanted to come back to Arizona to practice law in my community. Going to law school at the University of Arizona seemed like a perfect first step toward that goal.
How did your experience at the University of Arizona Law prepare you for a clerkship?
The University of Arizona gave me doctrinal, writing and practical experience that I draw on every day. In particular, my legal writing classes really prepared me for a writing intensive role like clerking. I am also very thankful for the mentors who encouraged me to seek out a clerkship and helped me understand what a valuable experience it could be.
Tell us about your work in Judge Desai’s chambers.
Unsurprisingly, my work is primarily research and writing focused. Term law clerks spend much of their time researching and drafting memos about their assigned cases. Through this process, I have been introduced to so many new areas of the law and I think all of us have seen our analytical skills improve. My favorite part of the writing process is brainstorming and working through tough issues with my co-clerks.
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Wouter Zwart (’19)
Wouter began his clerkship in the fall of 2022 in the chambers of Chief Judge Mary Murguia. He previously clerked for Judge Samuel Thumma of the Arizona Court of Appeals and Judge James Browning of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico.
How did your experience at the University of Arizona Law prepare you for a clerkship?
No one in my family is a lawyer, but University of Arizona Law has excellent academics, and its amazing professors quickly helped me develop my legal reasoning. Every professor took an interest in my learning, and I am especially grateful to Dean Emerita Toni Massaro and former University of Arizona Law Professor David Marcus for their mentorship and instruction. Also, the writing department was instrumental to improving my legal writing.
What does having a federal clerkship mean to you?
Clerking has been a fantastic opportunity to learn how the judicial system works from the inside. Clerking has also given me tremendous insight into the judicial system as whole, including its many flaws. Ultimately, I know that I am a better and more persuasive advocate thanks to my clerkships.
Do you have any takeaways for students reading this week’s newsletter?
Prior to starting law school, I had never heard of a clerkship or knew what it entailed. Even well into my 2L year, I did not understand its value. But as a new lawyer, clerking is an excellent way to quickly learn what is persuasive in court and to see wide variety of cases.
However, some put too much weight on clerking as a perquisite for some jobs. There are many paths to being a great advocate, and most of them do not include clerking.
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Save the Dates: Homecoming and Law Alumni Weekend! | |
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Save the date for University of Arizona Law’s Homecoming festivities including the Lifetime Achievement Awards and our annual Red & Blue BBQ.
This academic year, for the first time, we will move class reunions from homecoming and celebrate them instead at a brand new event we are calling Law Alumni Weekend. Details are below:
HOMECOMING WEEKEND 2023: November 3–4
LAW ALUMNI WEEKEND 2024: April 5–6
Starting in the spring of 2024, the college will invite all alumni back to campus for a weekend of fun and celebration, giving LawCats two chances to connect each year. Reunions will take place during Alumni Weekend. Alumni who graduated in a year ending in 3, 4, 8 and 9 will celebrate their reunion at our inaugural event in April 2024.
Visit law.arizona.edu/homecoming to stay up to date on the details, to contact the Alumni & Development Office with questions, or to get involved.
See you soon, and Bear Down!
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Rising 3L Allison Weber is working this summer in the Civil Rights Division at the United States Department of Justice. She recently shared this photo taken with Attorney General Merrick Garland. We’re looking forward to hearing more stories about summer legal experience from Allison and other students this fall! | |
Last Chance to RSVP: Join Us for Phoenix Mixer August 1 | |
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Arizona Law employers, alumni and friends are invited to network with Arizona Law students and administrators in Phoenix during summer interview week. The event is next week, so please RSVP if you haven’t done so already. Appetizers and drinks will be provided.
When: Tuesday, August 1, 5-7 p.m.
Where: AC Hotel Phoenix Downtown, 414 North 5th Street, Phoenix, Arizona
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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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The JD is a professional degree, and the vast majority (but not all) of our JD students come to the University of Arizona with the hope and expectation of putting that degree to use as a lawyer. While JD students come from across the country and across the world, the majority start their careers in Arizona, whether in private practice, in government, working for a tribe, in a clerkship or with a non-profit organization. We are fortunate to be in a thriving state with only two law schools – both strong and both public.
But as good as the legal landscape, our strong alumni and friend network, our faculty and program of education, and the support from our superb career office, it is ultimately the excellent, hard-working students who come to Arizona that are the reason for such strong employment outcomes. For any employer looking for a capable attorney, you would be wise to reach out and look very closely at all of our students and graduates.
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