View as webpage

UPCOMING EVENTS

Greetings,

Today we spotlight an alumna with a lifetime of achievements in the law, Dee-Dee Samet from the Class of '63, alongside one of our newest LawCats, 1L Alex Hale.

Dee-Dee is one of this year's three Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, whom we will celebrate on November 5 during Homecoming and Reunion weekend. You can attend this event in person or virtually. I hope many of you will be able to join us.

Until the footnotes,

Marc

The College of Law will recognize Class of 1963 alumna Dee-Dee Samet with a Lifetime Achievement Award on Friday, November 5.

The award recipients are selected by Arizona Law faculty for their distinguished and exemplary careers, contributions to the legal profession, support for public causes and law reform, and commitment to the pursuit of justice. Also recognized at this year's event will be Judge Raner Collins ('75) and Justice Frank Gordon ('54).

Award Biography

Dee-Dee Samet earned her Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor from the University of Arizona, graduating from the College of Law in 1963, one of only three women in her class. For over five decades, she has devoted her law practice to public benefits work, focusing on Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income, and Worker’s Compensation. She is a Certified Specialist in Workers Compensation and is past co-chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section and the Worker's Compensation Section of the Arizona State Bar. Since 1985, Samet has been a Judge Pro Tempore with the Pima County Superior Court.

Samet’s record of professional service at the national, state, and local level is extraordinary. She served as president of the Arizona State Bar in 1999-2000, the third woman to hold that position. In that role, she was a member of the Executive Council of the National Conference of Bar Presidents. A member of the Arizona State Bar Board of Governors and the Arizona State Bar Foundation Board for many years, Samet also served as president of the statewide Arizona Women Lawyers Association, the William D. Browning Federal Bar Association, and the Pima County Bar Association. Samet also served as co-chair of the United States District Court’s Gender Equality task Force. Her community service includes board membership with Casa de Los Ninos, Southern Arizona Children’s Advocacy, Tucson Homeless Connect, and the Invisible Theatre. Samet is currently the President of the Casa De Los Ninos Foundation Board.

Samet has been recognized for lifelong dedication to the promotion of women in the legal profession by receiving the Sarah Herring Sorin Award from the Arizona Women Lawyers Association and the Alice Truman Award from the Southern Arizona Chapter of the AWLA. Samet has also received the Fred Kay Award from the Federal Bar Association, the Juan Medrano Public Service Award from the Pima County Bar Association, the Soroptimist Award for Advancing the Status of Women, the YWCA Woman On the Move Award, and the Founders Award from Greater Tucson Leadership.

~

Dee-Dee, we congratulate you on this award recognizing your lifetime of dedication to serving your community.

Name: Alex Hale

Hometown: Lake Havasu City, AZ

Year: 1L

Undergraduate institution: B.S. in engineering management from the UA

Named scholarship: Gerald Jones ('59) Memorial Scholar

What was your path to law school at the University of Arizona?

I've always had a strong interest in law since I was in high school and participated in We the People (a constitutional law club). My teacher, Mrs. Festa, was great and opened my eyes to just how awesome our constitution is and why it is worth preserving. Then, as an undergrad at the UA I took Law for Scientists and Engineers and learned some basic mechanics of common law and I ended up loving it! I knew at that point that I wanted to study law one day.  

I was in the Navy for ten years and served as a Naval Flight Officer/Mission Commander in the P-8 Poseidon aircraft. My squadron was primarily trained to look for submarines from the air, but we did all kinds of other missions to include counternarcotics, search and rescue, and humanitarian aid. I was lucky enough to fly around the world and see some neat places and work with great people. I resigned with the rank of Lieutenant Commander (O-4) in July so I can fulfill my dream of going to law school. 

I chose UA because I wanted to get back to my roots and return to Tucson. My wife, Rachel (also a Wildcat alumna), and her family are from Tucson, and it was great to bring my two daughters (Zoe and Evie) closer to their grandparents and cousins.

What’s your main area of interest? 

I am really interested in the intersection of Technology and Space Law as it relates to National Security. I am thankful to the College of Law for selecting me as a TechLaw Fellow. 

What are you enjoying most about the Arizona Law experience so far?

I like the camaraderie amongst the students. It is not like the horror stories I have heard about other schools. Most of my fellow 1Ls are very approachable and willing to compare notes. The 2Ls and 3Ls I have spoken with have also provided great guidance.

Together Again: 2021 Homecoming & Reunion Lineup

There's no place like Homecoming. Join us for both in-person and virtual events, November 4-6, 2021!

NOTE All alumni should have received an email last week, which details this year's events. If you did not receive our message, please make sure to update your contact information here. We want to make sure you are kept in the loop with any updates as the big weekend approaches.

Thursday, November 4, 2021

Alumni of the Year Awards Ceremony

Arizona Law honoree Dev L. Stahlkopf, Class of 1999

The University of Arizona Student Union Memorial Center,

Grand Ballroom, 2-5 p.m.

RSVP Required

Register for UA Alumni of the Year Awards Ceremony

50-Year Class Reunion Dinner

Celebrating the Classes of 1970 and 1971

Arizona Sands Club, 565 N Cherry Ave, Floor 5, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

RSVP Required

Register for the 50th Reunion Dinner

Friday, November 5, 2021

Arizona Law’s Lifetime Achievement Awards

The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law

Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie Lobby & Snell & Wilmer Courtyard

Honorees: Judge Raner Collins, Class of 1975; Justice Frank Gordon (posthumously), Class of 1954; Dee-Dee Samet, Class of 1963

4:30-6:30pm

RSVP Requested

Register for the Lifetime Achievement Awards

Arizona Law’s Alumni Reunion Celebration

Celebrating the following classes:

1970, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2015, and 2016

Culinary Dropout, 2543 E Grant Road, 7-10 p.m.  

RSVP Required

Register for the Reunion Celebration

Saturday, November 6, 2021

Arizona Law’s Red & Blue BBQ

The Snell & Wilmer Courtyard

11 a.m.-2 p.m.

RSVP Requested

Register for the BBQ

Have questions?

Contact Kate Osterholt, Program Coordinator, Alumni Engagement & Special Events, 520-621-8430, kosterholt@arizona.edu

Dee-Dee Samet (’63) and Alex Hale (’24): It is not hard to draw a straight line between our distinguished alumni, who have been leaders in the profession, and our awesome students, who have also done much good in the world—as Alex illustrates—and now want to train as lawyers and put those new skills to use.

Homecoming is the perfect setting to connect our alumni and friends and our current students. Join us if you can!

Warmly,