"When I decided that I was going to attend law school, it became apparent that UA Law had a well-established reputation in the legal community and an extensive community of alumni."

 

Aside from this, Philip says, the college also provided a scholarship that made law school possible financially. 

"Between the financial incentive that UA Law offered me and the stories that I had heard from alumni I knew, I decided that UA Law was the best fit for me."

 

Philip was the first in his family to go to college. Growing up, he knew that he wanted to attend college, but says it always felt a bit like a pipe-dream. He was fortunate to be offered a full ride as an undergraduate. When the time came for next steps, he says: 

"Though I knew that I wanted to go to law school, I had no idea how I was going to pull it off financially. Much to my surprise I was offered the Hirsch Scholarship and law school suddenly became an attainable reality."

 

Now, at the conclusion of his 1L year, Philip says he has enjoyed Arizona Law's tight-knit community. 

"Though 1L classes are rewarding, there is no question that they can be a challenge and stressful; it's nice to be able to relate with classmates going through the same experiences."

 

This summer (and throughout next school year as well) Philip will be interning in the legal department of a software company called JDA Software. As is the nature of in-house counsel, he says, his responsibilities are varied but mainly focus on transactional work (especially contract drafting and review). Post-graduation Philip would like to practice in Phoenix doing transactional work.

At this spring's Arizona Law Scholarship Lunch, Philip had the opportunity to meet with Cher Hirsch, Steve's widow (pictured above). 

"Going into the meeting I knew that I wanted to express my thanks, but I never would have been able to guess that I would leave the lunch with a different perspective about what an attorney should strive to be. Throughout the course of the lunch, Cher told me stories about Steve's many adventures as an avid outdoorsman, and his involvement in conservation efforts with the Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation. Steve's involvement in the legal community and dedication to charitable work exemplify what I now believe an attorney should be. I am grateful beyond words to the Hirsch family for giving me the ability to pursue my dreams, and I hope that I can help others in the future in the way that the Hirsch family has helped me."