James E. Rogers College of Law   
 
November 19, 2014

Greetings,

 

In many ways it is a virtual age, but anyone who lives in (or visits) Arizona knows that place matters. The University of Arizona is a global leader in environmental science and policy, and Arizona Law has long been recognized as a hub for study and scholarship in the fields of environmental, natural resource, and water law.

 

This week we offer a salute to three individuals making a difference in environmental and natural resources law: Professor Robert Glennon, USDOJ Attorney Alison McGregor, and 3L Allison Rothgeb.

 

And a huge congratulations to the Arizona Law Jenckes Team! On Friday they brought home the Jenckes Cup -- now five years in a row! We have returned the Jenckes trophy to its home in the Daniel F. Cracchiolo Law Library. We are all incredibly proud of 3Ls Heather Goodwin and Sean Kelly -- and their legendary coach Professor Tom Mauet -- for their dedication and well-deserved win!

 

Until the footnotes,

 

Marc

Robert Glennon 

Glennon, Robert
Robert Glennon

 

Water law is synonymous with Arizona Law because of Professor Robert Glennon. Leading the field of academic research in water pricing and water crisis management, Robert is widely known beyond the realm of legal academics for his critically acclaimed books, Unquenchable and Water Follies. His ideas have had great resonance and impact from classrooms to boardrooms to an unforgettable appearance on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

 

Drought throughout the West has moved from the inside pages to the front page to the lead story, and Robert has taken center stage as policymakers grapple with the consequences. 

 

In October, Robert presented at the Hamilton Project/Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment forum on New Directions for U.S. Water Policy. Other speakers at the forum included Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, Robert Rubin, former Secretary of the Treasury, and California Governor Jerry Brown. Robert's presentation centered on a report he co-authored with Peter Culp ('01) and economist (and former UA professor) Gary Libecap titled, Shopping for Water: How the Market Can Mitigate Water Shortages in the American West. They urge the consideration of market measures to combat the shortages.

 

As water flows decline, Robert's ideas are on the rise. The New York Times and Washington Post, among others, have featured the report and his ideas on using price signals to encourage water conservation and market forces to reallocate water. He also published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal with Gary Libecap arguing that outdated laws are wasting the West's scarcest resource and that water should be tradable so it finds its most urgent uses.

 

The water crisis will be with us for years; Robert's talents will be needed to navigate complex changes in the years to come. Arizona Law is stronger and more capable of training the next generation of water law practitioners and scholars because of him.

 

You can learn more and download his report, Shopping for Water, for free on Amazon Kindle. 

 

 

 

Alison McGregor ('01)

Ali and her family
Ali and her family

 

At the heart of federal efforts to preserve and protect the nation's natural resources, Alison McGregor -- known more commonly as Ali -- serves at the US Department of Justice in the Environment and Natural Resources Division.

 

"I think I always wanted to be a lawyer. When I was growing up, my best friend's dad was a litigator and used to take us to watch some of his trials. I was fascinated with the drama and excitement of it and thought at a young age that I would like to be a lawyer too."

 

Environmental law came naturally to Ali. During all three years at Arizona Law, she was a member of the Environmental Law Society including serving as the organization's president during her third year. She also served as an Ares Fellow, studied abroad in Barcelona, and clerked at a boutique water-law firm in Aspen, Colorado.

 

After law school, she spent three years at the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. Ali then transitioned to Squire Sanders (now Squire Patton Boggs), where she commanded an impressive portfolio in the areas of hazardous substances, hazardous waste, state and federal water quality, water rights, and environmental permitting matters. She moved to the Washington, DC, office for a short time, and then went to work for the DOJ.

 

Her current position reflects her passion and expertise.

 

"My section of DOJ is essentially responsible for enforcing the major federal environmental laws, such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, CERCLA, RCRA, etc., on behalf of our client agencies, such as US EPA. Client agencies refer cases to us, and we either negotiate a settlement or litigate the case on behalf of our clients. It's a fun, challenging, rewarding job. I love it."

 

Today she resides in suburbs of the District with her husband, Steve Shermer, who is an attorney at EES, and her two boys, Eli (2 years old) and Zac (8 weeks old). Even though she has a little less free time with two kids scampering (or soon to be scampering) around the house, she is lifelong runner. In fact, she ran her first two marathons during law school, both at the Tucson Marathon.

Allison Rothgeb ('15)

Allison Rothgeb, who also goes by Ali, has committed her academic and professional talents to environmental law. She has done so both by working directly in the field and making an impact at the college.

Allison Rothgeb
Allison Rothgeb

 

Ali's flair for the environment and natural resources began at the University of Georgia where she double majored in economics and geography with a focus on meteorology and climatology. This led her to the University of Delaware where she earned her MS in geography focusing on glaciers and alpine environments in the Cascades.

 

"I took a few classes on water and natural resource management and planning during grad school. Those courses, as well as my research on snowpack and glaciers, which are a major source of water in the West, led to my interest in western water law and policy. Arizona Law has numerous outlets to engage with water and natural resources law during law school, so this program seemed like a natural fit for my interests and career goals."

 

It was such a good fit she is now known around the college as a dedicated and spirited environmental student. She has been named the Sol Resnick Fellow in Water and Natural Resources Law -- working as a research assistant to Professor Glennon. She is also the Senior Articles Editor for the Arizona Journal of Environmental Law and Policy and the Vice President of the Environmental Law Society.

 

In the field, she was a legal intern at the Arizona Department of Water Resources. She also clerked for the Pima County Attorney's Office and Judge Paul Tang on the Pima County Superior Court. She is currently working at the United States Attorney's Office in Tucson.

 

Ali is the embodiment of "when you want something, go for it!" Her passion and determination will take her far in the profession and the practice of environmental law.

 

Connect with Ali on LinkedIn
FOOTNOTES
The Jenckes Cup
The Jenckes Cup

A record 34 members of the American College of Trial Lawyers heard and judged the 2014 Jenckes Competition. A quick glance at this distinguished group reminds us that great trial lawyers remain resilient and committed to the development of future advocates like Heather and Sean.

 

We are proud to hold onto the Jenckes Cup for another year -- after all the Cup has a perfect spot in the Daniel F. Cracchiolo Law Library.   

 

Our great trial practice courses and experiential opportunities, the established Program in Criminal Law and Policy, and our new Civil Justice Initiative -- and of course Tom Mauet -- work to ensure that Arizona Law will continue to produce great litigators. And even as there are fewer trials in US legal systems, we see dramatic expansion and demand for advocacy knowledge and skills in countries such as Mexico and throughout the world.  

 

Heather Goodwin and Sean Kelly
Jenckes Cup Champions Heather Goodwin ('15) and Sean Kelly ('15)
Sean presenting to the jurors during the competition.
Sean presenting to the jurors during the competition.
Matt Schmidt

 

 

Congratulations to Matt Schmidt ('10) of Kinerk, Schmidt & Sethi, who has been named to Tucson's 2014 "40 Under 40" presented by the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Arizona Daily Star, and Snell & Wilmer. Matt and his father Ted Schimdt ('77) are constant contributors to the College. In fact, they both spoke at two different events for students last week. We are very grateful to Matt, Ted, and all of the alumni who make the time to come back and talk to students.

 

 

The Mind & the Law Lecture Series: Our Perfect Supreme Court? "From the crooked timber of humanity no straight thing was ever made."

 

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

7 pm
Ares Auditorium (Room 164) 

 

Professor Charles Fried of Harvard Law School -- formerly a member of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts and Solicitor General of the United States  -- discusses judicial wisdom and how jurists decide cases. Judges have long sought, and sometimes vainly pretended to have, a foolproof method for adjudicating constitutional cases. Professor Fried argues ultimately these theories of perfection -- including versions of original intent, original meaning, and several types of textualism -- all fall short. Nonetheless it is possible to describe examples of wise, if not flawless and uncontroversial, judging. We can draw instruction if not prescription from them.

 

No RSVP required. 

 

Final date in the series: December 3.

Click here to learn more. 
Charles Fried
Charles Fried


With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I hope you will find time to enjoy the holiday with friends and family. We are grateful for the opportunity to stay in touch with you every Wednesday. Please let us know when you change jobs, welcome a new member of your family, or reach a new life or professional achievement. Arizona Law is a family and we want to know -- and share -- the events in the lives of its members.

 

Warmly, 


 

Marc L. Miller  

Dean & Ralph W. Bilby Professor of Law
 
Shaping the next century of legal education
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