Students come to Arizona Law to gain a foundation for their careers; a fortunate few also come away with a partner for life.
Jamie and Jason Brandenberger (both '13) are two of the lucky ones. They met at the college in the fall of 2010, and now live in Portland, Oregon.
Jamie, originally from Tucson, attended the University of Arizona for the Business Management program as an undergrad. She says that attending Arizona Law was a "no-brainer" that allowed her to stay close to family and friends.
She shares,
"There are so many great memories, but my favorite is the weeks leading up to graduation. My group of friends spent so much time together, whether at graduation events or parties or out on University at the Dubliner or No Anchovies. I remember feeling so much love, joy, and thankfulness for the amazing group of people who would be lifelong friends."
After graduating, Jamie clerked for Pima County Superior Court Judge Jane Eikleberry, then at the Pima County Attorney's Office in Tucson. Today, she serves as Legal Counsel for Netrush, a third-party seller and agency on Amazon focusing on contracts, employment law issues, antitrust, and overall compliance. She is the company's first and only in-house lawyer.
"I get to interact everyday with creative, forward-thinking people who have taught me so much about Amazon, e-commerce, and strategy and who inspire me to push my limits, think outside the box, and continually improve. I never imagined I'd work in-house, but now I can't imagine doing anything else."
Jason grew up in Yuma, Arizona, and has strong family ties to Arizona. Both sides of his family settled in the area due to the agricultural trade opportunities. He attended the University of Arizona for his undergraduate studies in microbiology intending to become a patent lawyer. Of course, life can have some interesting twists and turns.
He was committed to finding a job he was passionate about. He eventually made his way back to Yuma and began working for a group of agriculture-related companies called the Gowan Group. He served as a negotiator in the procurement department, writing contracts and securing the terms of supply for the molecules that drive their chemical business.
"It was a great experience because they invested heavily in my rapid introduction/education to the agriculture industry. Up until that point I had only ever studied pharmaceutical science and the law, I quickly had to translate this to ag-chem and the management of a completely different class of chemistry."
After years on the transactional side in Yuma, he transitioned into sales where he works with various farmers and growing regions in Oregon. This career shift moved him and Jamie across the country to their new home in Portland.
If you're in Portland, they highly recommend Ken's Artisan Pizza. They go there about once a month and order the exact same thing. They were introduced to it by fellow Portlanders, Caylin ('13) and Stan Barter.
Looking back on Tucson, Jason shares,
"I very much miss afternoons spent with friends enjoying the sights and sounds of University Boulevard. When we come back to visit you will quickly find me at No Anchovies or Frog and Firkin enjoying a beer and the company of my former law school classmates."
Jamie added,
"I especially miss Alejandro's where I would regularly eat lunch with my friends while working downtown. The Mexican food in the Northwest just isn't the same as Tucson."
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