James E. Rogers College of Law

March 4, 2015

Greetings,

Spring has arrived in Tucson. The College is buzzing with activities, while the glorious weather competes for attention. And it is not just the weather, but Tuscon's full plate of cultural and sporting events, and events that are both cultural and sporting such as the Fiesta De Los Vaqueros. (The College calls for a return to University Rodeo Days!)

This week, we prepare to host the National Native American Law Students Association (NNALSA) Moot Court Competition. Thursday we welcome alumnus Shane Ham ('09) back to campus for a discussion of "all the things I wish I knew in law school."

Next week, we host the 35th Annual Marks Memorial Lecture, one of our signature lectures of the year. Established in 1979 to enrich the college curriculum and reach the broader community, the series has brought dozens of notable speakers to campus over the last thirty-five years. Arizona Law alumna and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Selma Marks ('56), who established the series with her late husband, Jack, is still actively involved in our community, and we thank her for bringing us yet another 'food for thought' speaker.

This year's lecture will be delivered by former Colorado Senator Mark Udall, and is entitled "It's 2015: Why Are We Still Debating Torture?". The lecture, which takes place on Tuesday, March 10,from 5:30 - 6:30 in the Ares Auditorium, will be one of the premier events for the College of Law, and yet another superb opportunity to take advantage of the rich intellectual life at the College. Join us! Register here.

Also next week, Arizona Law is headed to Las Vegas for the Pac 12 men's basketball tournament. If you plan to be in Las Vegas for the tournament, please join us at our alumni reception. Full details are in the Footnotes.

Today, we feature student Keith Collett and alumna Kate King, and we celebrate the achievements of our Transactional LawMeet Team and our Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Team.

Until the Footnotes,

Marc

The 12 Transactional LawMeet Teams

Keith Collett (3L)

Third year student Keith Collett came to Arizona Law from ASU where he was a finance major. While Keith was interested in the business classes he took as an undergrad, he realized he was looking for a different career. After seeking the advice of friends who were in law school at that time, he decided that practicing as an attorney would better fit his interests and skill set, and he liked the idea that law is a service profession.

Arizona Law stood out to Keith throughout his law school selection process. People from all over the community -- from faculty members, to administrators, to current students and alumni -- reached out immediately to answer his questions and welcome him as a prospective student. Keith cites activities like the dinner at Dean Ponoroff's home as helping him realize that Arizona Law was exactly where he belonged.

According to Keith, "the community feel and support has continued through my three years here and I have never second guessed my choice."

Keith currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Arizona Journal of International and Comparative Law. He credits his experience working on the Journal as great preparation for practice.

"What I learned during the publication and editing process will have a direct and immediate impact on my ability to write effectively as a practicing attorney. In addition, the Journal offered a variety of other opportunities for professional advancement. The friendships I have formed with other students and faculty involved with this publication, as well as the other publications on campus, are invaluable. "

Keith is also part of the Business Law Society and the Prosecution Clinic.

After graduation, Keith plans to take the July bar exam and practice law in Arizona. As a first-generation law school student he did not enter law school knowing anything about specific legal practice areas. And what he has found is that he loves the law, but Keith has not yet settled on a particular area of practice. So far, his job search has included applying to judicial clerkships across the country as well as to business law firms, public sector jobs, and even some non-legal jobs. Keith has had internships in Judge Astrowksy's chambers on the Juvenile Bench of the Maricopa County Superior Court and at the UA's Office of the General Counsel.

Outside of the classroom, Keith's passion is music. During his 1L and 2L years he sang with a student-led a cappella group called Catcall, and served as its president during the 2013-2014 year. The group sang all around Tucson and competed each year in the regional International Championship of Collegiate A cappella ("ICCA" -- yes like the movie Pitch Perfect), taking 3rd place in 2013 out of ten groups from around Arizona and California. Catcall also sang at the Rialto Theatre in downtown Tucson with a local guitar duo called Ryanhood.

Keith also plays guitar, and can be counted on each year to perform at LawLawPalooza, the talent show fundraiser hosted by the Journal.

Keith and other members of Catcall

Kate Hackett King ('06)

Alumna Kate Hackett King finds herself in the midst of big changes these days. Kate recently accepted a position as Deputy General Counsel to Arizona Governor Doug Ducey.

Kate, a Phoenix native, found her way to Arizona Law after attending Duke University for her undergraduate education.

"I wanted to return home to Arizona to practice law. I had strong ties to Tucson, having spent much time with my grandparents and other relatives in Tucson when I was growing up. For these reasons, Arizona Law was the perfect fit for me."

After graduation, Kate clerked for Judge Michael Ryan of the Arizona Supreme Court and worked at Snell & Wilmer, where she focused her practice on labor and employment.

An active community advocate, Kate has volunteered her time with several organizations, including Arizona Town Hall, Xavier College Preparatory Alumnae Association Steering Committee, and our very own Law College Association Board. Kate credits her family with instilling her commitment to community and vocation.

"I credit my parents for teaching my brothers and me the value of an education, a successful career, and humility along the way. My brother Bob is an electrical engineer and my brother John is a physician (anesthesiologist)."

These days, when Kate is not at work, you can often find her playing with blocks or reading children's books as she tries to keep up with her two children (John, 18 months, and Emilia, 4 months).

Connect with Kate.

Transactional LawMeet Team and Jessup Moot Court Team

Transactional LawMeet

Please join me in congratulating students Chris Ambrosio (3L), Joe Baker (2L), Colleen Ganin (2L), Gregg Lines (2L), Ryan Pont (2L), and Jun Zhao (3L) for winning best draft and best overall in their bracket at the Western Regional portion of the Transactional LawMeet hosted last Friday at the law school. All six students worked on the draft, and Chris, Gregg, and Ryan handled the negotiation rounds. The team was mentored by Professor Billy Sjostrom.

As a result of their success, the team will advance to the national final to be held on April 10 at the law firm of Sullivan & Cromwell in New York City. For more information about the competition click here.

Congratulations team -- and good luck in the national finals!

Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Team

Front Row: Sean Kelly (3L),

Heather Goodwin (3L),

Christopher White (3L)

Back Row: Trevor Hill (3L),

Timothy Butterfield (2L),

Coach Julie Ferdon

Last week, another competitive team from the College was in action. The "Jessup Team" -- Timothy Butterfield (2L), Heather Goodwin (3L), Trevor Hill (3L), Sean Kelly (3L), and Christopher White (3L) -- participated in the Rocky Mountain Regionals of the Jessup International Law Moot Court competition with outstanding results.

The Jessup competition concerns issues of public international law. This year's issues involved secession and annexation (such as that which supposedly occurred in Crimea) and treaty interpretation. It is the largest moot court competition in the world and simulates disputes between countries before the International Court of Justice. Schools from 550 law schools in 80 different countries will participate this year.

The Rocky Mountain Regionals were held at Denver University. Twenty law schools from 12 states participated. Out of those 20 law school teams, our team's Memorials (briefs) won 1st Place, and team member Heather Goodwin won

3rd Place in the Best Oralist competition.

Congratulations to the Jessup Team!

Centennial Snapshot - Our Time on Park (1961-1979)

Last week, we highlighted the College's time in the Douglass Building on the UA main mall. Many of our alumni will remember their time in the College of Law building on Park Avenue, the first building to be designed specifically to house the law program. The College moved into the new building in January of 1961. Within five years, enrollment and the holdings of the law library had expanded to fill the capacity of the building, although it remained in use by the College through the 1970s.

The crowded library in the Park building, circa 1973.

The Park Avenue building -- the first building designed for the College.

Do you have photos or memories of your time in the College of Law building on Park Avenue? We would love to hear from you. Please contact Emily McGovern, Centennial Coordinator, to share your stories.

FOOTNOTES

Gutter Bowl

Tonight!: March 4, 2015

6 pm - 9 pm

Bowlmor Scottsdale

7300 East Thomas Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Alumni, faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend.

National NALSA Moot Court Competition

This Friday and Saturday, March 6 and 7, led by the efforts of our Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) chapter, we are hosting nearly 100 teams from across the country in the National NALSA moot court competition.

"Conversations with Bob Mundheim"

Beginning this coming Monday, March 9, Professor Bob Mundheim will host his popular annual Conversations with Bob Mundheim series of informal discussions with national leaders in business and law, relating their experiences in -- and perspectives about -- corporate governance, markets, ethics, and career development. This year's speakers include:

Dr. Wesley von Schack, Monday, March 9
Timothy Flynn, Monday, March 23
Simon Lorne, Monday, March 30
Brandon Becker, Monday, April 6
John J. Cannon, III, Monday, April 13

This series is always a treat for the College of Law and Eller College of Management communities, and it is free and open to members of the wider University of Arizona community who want to join one or all of the sessions. Please let us know if you are coming (we serve lunch!) by contacting Nancy Stanley.

Arizona Law in Las Vegas

March 10, 2015

7:00-10:00 pm

"Welcome to Vegas" party at Diablo's

March 11, 2015

4:00 pm

Arizona Law Alumni Reception at Pub 1842 (inside the MGM Grand)

2015 Darrow K. Soll Memorial Lecture

Professor Rachel Harmon, Sullivan & Cromwell Professor of Law at University of Virginia School of Law

"Why Arrest?

Friday, March 24

4:00 - 5:00 pm, Room 168

RSVP

Students are in the heart of the Spring term. For all of the community, the weeks are filled with classes, lectures, workshops and meetings. Spring break is less than two weeks away.

What early March means for each person depends on where they are in their course of study. Thirty-nine of our 3Ls have now taken the February bar, and moved into our short "Feb bar" real-world focused courses. (The Feb bar courses are open to all 3Ls and 2Ls.) Our 1Ls can begin to see the end of their first year of study taking shape. 2Ls are not only past the midpoint in the year but, for most, this is also past the midpoint (and for some near the end) of their Arizona Law studies.

Last Friday in Phoenix we had an admitted student reception at the international headquarters of Fender Musical Instruments Corp. http://www.fender.com/. This was the third year in a row we have had this event at Fender, hosted by alum Mark Van Vleet ('91).

Watch the NNALSA Moot Court Competition this week. Join the "Conversations With Bob Mundheim," starting next Monday. Come hear Senator Udall at the Marks Memorial Lecture next Tuesday, and Rachel Harmon at the Darrow Soll Memorial Lecture on March 24.

We love when you join us in person -- we know you are always with us in spirit.

Marc