| UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
JAMES E. ROGERS COLLEGE OF LAW |
SEPTEMBER 13, 2023 | | |
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Greetings,
This week, we share some of the details of the diverse new classes joining us in Tucson and remotely throughout the world for our JD, BA in Law and numerous graduate programs. We are looking forward to learning more about these students during the coming school year.
In this issue, we also introduce the new Marshall Foundation Scholars, who have received support from a program introduced in 2023 for Legal Paraprofessional students.
The students in today’s newsletter come from many geographic regions, backgrounds and walks of life, and each brings a valued perspective to our school and to the legal profession.
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Until the footnotes,
Marc
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University of Arizona Law Kicks Off Academic Year with Remarkable New Class | |
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The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law welcomed new faces to campus this August – in Arizona, online and abroad – kicking off the college’s 108th academic year.
A diverse group, the combined JD and Advanced JD entering class includes 131 students representing 62 undergraduate institutions, 27 states, eight Native Nations and eight countries.
Women make up half of the incoming class, and 28% are students of color, including 10 Indigenous students. This year’s entering JD class is also among the strongest academically in the college’s history with a median LSAT score of 163 and a median GPA of 3.79. And, thanks to the continued growth of the Navajo Law Fellowship Program, which offers support to Navajo students attending the college, this year’s JD class includes four students from the Navajo Nation. There are now nine total Navajo Law Fellows at Arizona Law.
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The JD class is joined by more than 1,800 undergraduate students who are pursuing a BA in Law degree, the first undergraduate law program in the U.S. The group is part of the largest incoming first-year class in University of Arizona history – more than 9,300 students.
The reach of the BA program extends well beyond the U.S. borders. This fall there are 485 students working towards the BA in Law at Ocean University in Qingdao, China, 74 students studying for the BA at American University Phnom Penh and more than 80 students as part of the dual degree partnership between the College of Law and Hanoi Law University in Vietnam. Students in each of those programs will earn a BA in Law from the University of Arizona and a law degree from their home institution.
Graduate education at University of Arizona Law continued to expand this year, attracting students from around the world to advance their skills. The Master of Laws (LLM) program welcomed six students to the General LLM and one to the International Trade and Business Law LLM. In addition, nine students joined the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy (IPLP) LLM, including two Indigenous Māori students from New Zealand and one Native student who is Cherokee and Cree. Five new students also joined the Master of Professional Studies in Indigenous Governance program, representing four tribes: the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, San Carlos Apache, Mescalero Apache and Gila River Indian Community. And four new students also began working to obtain their Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) from the IPLP program, with three Indigenous students, one hailing from the Maasai Indigenous community of Tanzania, one Indigenous student from the Endorois Indigenous community of Kenya and another from the Igbo Indigenous community of Nigeria.
The college also welcomed a strong and diverse class of new Master of Legal Studies (MLS) students, admitting 165 – the largest incoming class in the program’s history. The vast majority of these students will be pursuing the degree online, while 24 will join us on main campus here in Tucson. Thirty-two members of the fall MLS cohort and nine from the summer cohort are participating in the Legal Paraprofessional (LP) concentration. Among them, 68% are women and 59% are students of color.
Graduate certificates in Health Law saw 20 new students admitted for the fall. With the inclusions of this semester’s new cohort, more than 275 students have pursued their certificate. In total, more than 1,500 students have enrolled in the Health Law & Policy program since its launch in 2019.
The new class of JD, AJD, MLS, MPS, LP, SJD and LLM students includes several first-generation Americans, a larger number of first-generation college students and even more first-generation law students. Joining us with a broad range of professional and educational backgrounds, the class includes collegiate athletes, former journalists, musicians, a cattle breeder, a former talk radio host, a member of the Bobcat Senior Honorary and educators.
In speaking with a group of incoming students, Dean Miller noted, “You came here for reasons as varied and personal as your fingerprints, but there are some common themes. You told us that you want to make a difference. You are committed to helping solve the world’s problems – in both little and large ways. You also told us that you imagine big things for yourselves, and your futures and we will be proud – but not surprised – when you accomplish them. You came to us for undergraduate and graduate degrees, JD degrees and post-JD degrees. You came here for different reasons and different aspirations, but today, you are all LawCats.”
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Last Chance to Register for McCormick Lecture with Dahlia Lithwick Tomorrow
Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor at Slate Magazine and commentator on law and the Supreme Court, will deliver the 2023 McCormick Lecture virtually on Sept. 14, 2023. The event is sponsored by the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law and the J. Byron McCormick Society for Law and Public Affairs.
Lithwick will present “The Supreme Court: What’s Next?” followed by a conversation moderated by Associate Professor of Law Eunice Lee and Dean Emerita Toni Massaro.
Event: THE SUPREME COURT: WHAT’S NEXT? A Conversation with Dahlia Lithwick
When: Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Where: The McCormick Lecture will be delivered via Zoom.
The Zoom link will be sent out to registrants before noon on September 14.
Background: Dahlia Lithwick is a senior editor at Slate, and in that capacity, has been writing their “Supreme Court Dispatches” and “Jurisprudence” columns since 1999. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Harper’s, The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The New Republic and Commentary, among other places.
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Introducing the Marshall Foundation Scholars | |
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We are pleased to introduce the 2023-24 Marshall Foundation Legal Paraprofessional Scholarship recipients.
Beginning in the spring of 2023 in partnership with University of Arizona Law, the Marshall Foundation provides one-time awards applied to the cost of attendance to the BA in Law or Master of Legal Studies program. In addition to the Marshall Scholarship, the foundation also provides the Marshall Foundation LP Graduation Award, which helps to fund testing for LP licensure after graduation.
This year’s Marshall Foundation Scholars represent a range of backgrounds and LP career goals.
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Mario Armani
First year MLS—anticipated graduation 2025
Hometown: Albany, NY
Prior Education: Marist College, Bachelor of Science in Biology; Southern California University of Health Sciences, Doctor of Chiropractic
Why did you choose Arizona Law?
When I initially applied to Arizona Law, the University of Arizona Law School was the only school in Arizona that offered a comprehensive and well-organized Legal Paraprofessional track. Further, the James E. Rogers College of Law is known to be one of the strongest in the country, and the opportunity to complete a legal internship will provide me with the professional experience I need to begin my career after graduation.
Why do you want to be a Legal Paraprofessional?
I fulfilled my childhood dream by becoming a healthcare provider and starting my own private practice. I dedicated my life to assisting others. Although an injury ended my career as a chiropractor, I would love to carry the medical wisdom and experience I have gained into the legal field. That is why I believe a Master of Legal Studies with a Legal Paraprofessional Concentration will be a suitable fit.
Thank you to the donors:
Receiving the Marshall Foundation Legal Paraprofessional Scholarship is an immense honor and a significant steppingstone in my journey toward achieving my goals. The financial assistance provided by this scholarship will not only alleviate the burden of educational costs but will also empower me to focus on my studies and professional development.
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Shawn Jordan
First year MLS—anticipated graduation 2024
Hometown: Tucson, AZ
Prior Education: Northern Arizona University, Criminal Justice
Why did you choose Arizona Law?
I wanted to obtain a degree that would allow me to help others. The MLS Legal Paraprofessional Program is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to accomplish this goal.
Thank you to the donors:
I found my first semester to be very challenging. I was a full-time student while working full time and taking care of my two young children. After the end of the semester, my sense of accomplishment gave me the encouragement I needed to keep going.
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Jessica Stark
Senior BA in Law + Accelerated MLS—anticipated graduation 2024
Hometown: Glendale, AZ
Prior Education: Rio Salado College, AA in Paralegal Studies, Certification in Paralegal Studies
Why did you choose Arizona Law?
I was drawn to Arizona Law by the BA in Law program. Honestly, I was never one who loved or even liked school. I was never challenged enough and bored all the time. It took me quite some time to finish my AA and I definitely never thought I would be pursuing my BA let alone in the accelerated master’s program.
Post-graduation plan:
It is important to me to help individuals when they need it. I am looking forward to getting my LP certification in family law, so I am able to help individuals who might not otherwise be able to afford an attorney get some legal backing.
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Annastacissa Turner
First year MLS student—anticipated graduation 2024
Hometown: San Tan Valley, AZ
Prior Education: Mesa Community College, AGEC and Associate’s Degree; Northern Arizona University, Bachelor’s in Justice Studies, Intelligence Studies emphasis
What interested you in becoming an LP?
I initially enrolled in the University of Arizona with the intention of graduating with an MLS Compliance and Legal Risk Management concentration. My intentions quickly changed after attending the virtual orientation where professors and staff discussed the Legal Paraprofessional concentration. In considering the change, two main aspects resonated with me: being able to assist those that might not otherwise have proper representation due to who they can afford to hire and being able to practice the law in a capacity that does not make me an attorney but still enables me to seek justice for my clients.
Post-graduation plan:
Once I obtain my LP license, my hope is to help clients with civil matters that can enable my clients to ameliorate problems in their lives. I hope to provide the same guidance and representation that they would receive from an attorney that seems financially out of reach. My objective is to help those in need from a diverse perspective.
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Read the Latest Issue of the Journal of Appellate Practice and Process
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The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy have released the Summer 2023 issue of The Journal of Appellate Practice and Process (Volume 23, Issue 2). According to Journal Editor-in-Chief and contributor Tessa L. Dysart, “This issue reflects the diversity of appellate practice. The articles address a wide range of topics, but they are all tied to appellate practice in some way.”
Topics in the summer issue include:
- A look into tribal courts and the issues surrounding self-represented litigants, providing appellate practitioners and judges key insight into how tribal courts operate.
- A case for terminating the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.
- The courts’ power to recall mandate.
- Do better briefs and oral arguments impact how the justices vote?
- What trial judges want to see (and don’t want to see) in appellate opinions.
- How to write a reply brief.
- Two reviews of University of Arizona Law Professors books: Tessa Dysart’s “The Short and Happy Guide to Judicial Clerkship” and Diana Simon’s book, “The (Not Too Serious) Grammar, Punctuation, and Style Guide to Legal Writing”
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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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We are proud to teach a wider range of students interested in law and its siblings – regulation and compliance – than any other U.S. law school, and to do so through multiple locations and modalities. Our development of masters, bachelors and doctoral degrees, and a range of certificates and executive education, are all built on the foundation of the traditional JD program, which continues to thrive after 108 years, and to evolve.
Welcome, Wildcats – to all of our law programs! We are delighted to have you as part of our LawCat community.
One popular event in this community is the annual McCormick Lecture. The lecture is now remote and we hope to see many of you on Zoom tomorrow for this year’s McCormick Lecture featuring Dahlia Lithwick. RSVP here.
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