Wildcat Wednesday -- Letter of the Law

James E. Rogers College of Law

May 31, 2017

Greetings from New York City,

Summer is off to a busy start. I'm writing to you this week from New York City where I am meeting with our NYC area alumni and friends of the college -- including, this very evening, a reception at Toscana 49.

A reminder to all NYC-area alumni that we hope to see you at 6 p.m. this evening, Wednesday, May 31, at Toscana 49, 143 E. 49th Street (contact Marissa White with questions).

In today's newsletter we introduce you to 2010 alumnus Shannon Trebbe, who has returned to the college as the new senior director of the Career Development Office.

We also tell you all about this year's innovative -- and inspiring -- class gift, which carries the Class of 2017's spirit of service forward.

Until the footnotes,

Marc

Shannon Trebbe ('10) Joins Career Development Office

From top:

hiking opportunities abound;

a CDO interviewing event in progress; the Robert Carroll Stubbs Career Development Suite.

This spring the College of Law welcomed Shannon Trebbe as the new senior director of the Career Development Office. Shannon advises our students seeking post-graduate judicial clerkships and our 2Ls.

Shannon is a proud Arizona Law alumna who graduated s umma cum laude in 2010. During law school, she was a member of Arizona Law Review and the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition Moot Court Team. She was also on the founding board of the Arizona Journal of Environmental Law and Policy.

After law school, Shannon worked as a clerk for the Honorable Daniel A. Barker (now retired) at Division 1 of the Arizona Court of Appeals and then as an appellate attorney in the Phoenix office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP.

Shannon draws on her experience as a judicial law clerk and as a member of the hiring committee at Steptoe to assist students in applying for post-graduate judicial clerkships and other legal positions.

Originally from Massachusetts, Shannon went to Boston University for her undergraduate studies. Shannon later fell in love with the Southwest during a visit, so when she decided to apply to law school, she took the opportunity to move here to the desert permanently.

Shannon says that she ultimately chose Arizona Law for its collegial atmosphere ... and proximity to excellent hiking opportunities!

These same qualities -- and now the opportunity to help our students along their career paths -- have drawn her back to Tucson and to Arizona Law.

Shannon is married to a fellow alumnus of the law school, and they are the proud parents of two cats, Holly and Squeaks. In her free time, Shannon enjoys hiking, rewatching Star Trek TNG and DS9, and attending Shakespeare festivals. Shannon is very excited to be back in Tucson and at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law.

Hire an Arizona Law Student or Graduate -- Fall 2017 Interviewing

Find out how to participate in Fall 2017 interviewing through the Arizona Law Career Development Office. The interviewing schedule begins August 4 in Los Angeles and covers several major markets throughout the West.

Students Graduate to Service

Gift co-chairs Jillian Andrews and Storm Byrd present

the 2017 Class Gift at convocation.

In a twist on class gift fundraising, Arizona Law's 2017 graduates have pledged a total of more than 4,100 hours of community service over the next three years. The pledge serves as this year's class gift.

A total of 104 students -- close to 80 percent of the Class of 2017 -- pledged hours as part of Arizona Law's first Graduate to Service campaign.

Arizona Law has a tradition of impactful class gifts funded by donations from its graduating students. But this year's class wanted to do something a little different. Graduating JD student Jillian Andrews, who co-chaired the campaign with Storm Byrd, said:

"Graduate to Service is the perfect class gift for the Class of 2017, because I know how devoted my classmates are to service. I'm constantly amazed by everyone's willingness to devote their time and talents to those in need, and I think our class will use our degrees to make positive change."

The Arizona Law graduates who participated in the giving campaign will provide pro bono legal services, community service, volunteer time, and service to charitable organizations or boards (legal or otherwise), during their first three years in the workforce.

The class gift is in keeping with the spirit of service many students bring with them when they join Arizona Law and exhibit while students. For example, in 2016-17, students completed 40,000 hours of pro bono service through Arizona Law's legal clinics, working with clients such as military veterans, low-wage workers, entrepreneurs, immigrants seeking asylum, and victims of domestic violence.

Autumn Kycia ('17) received the 2017 Andrew Silverman Community Service Award.

Wes Stiner ('17) was one of three 2017 recipients of the LCA Service Award (along with Katherine Herriot and Janet Howe).

Lindsey Huang ('17) was recognized for her service through the Volunteer Lawyers Program earlier this year. Pictured with Arizona Supreme Court Justice John Pelander ('76, left) and Robert J. Grey, Jr., president of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity and former ABA president (right).

Another student community service tradition is the partnership with Southern Arizona Legal Aid's Volunteer Lawyers Program. Since the program launched in 1999, more than 1,300 students have delivered civil legal assistance to more than 16,000 Pima County residents.

I am delighted but not at all surprised by this community service pledge from our big-hearted students. Every day I hear stories of how our students and alumni are using the law to give back, and this is a vibrant and living legacy for our newest graduates to leave. I look forward to hearing about the service our graduates give, and to seeing how this meaningful new tradition grows.

See original story here.

Support Future Lawyers With Your Gift

to the Law College Association

Alumni are the hallmark of the College of Law. Your participation and support -- in events, mentorship, and giving -- provides opportunities for the next generation.

You can complement the 2017 Class Gift by making a gift to the College of Law that builds on their spirit of service and helps to support future students and our legal clinics.

As we prepare to close our fiscal year on June 30, 2017, we ask you to consider making a gift to the College of Law -- In Favor of Students. All gifts matter, regardless of size, and help us deliver on our promise of a high-value, top-quality education, in a small, supportive community.

"I support Arizona Law because I deeply appreciate how the college engages future lawyers, legal practitioners, and the greater community in legal education and public service."

-- Christine Thompson ('01)

FOOTNOTES

Join Arizona Law at the State Bar Convention

Join your Arizona Law friends for appetizers, drinks, and a great chance to connect during the convention. We invite you to attend a reception for Arizona Law alumni and friends at the Westin La Paloma, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 15.

Also make sure to visit us at the Arizona Law booth throughout the convention (June 14-17) to say hello and receive free UA Law gifts.

Contact: Marissa White in the Alumni and Development Office

With students coming to our college from dozens of states and countries each year, it is not surprising that we find Arizona Law alums working almost everywhere.

Summer is a great time to visit these alums and our many lawyer friends who did not graduate from our college but who believe in and support our vision.

I always enjoy celebrating Arizona in New York -- and indeed Arizona everywhere.

And wherever our 7,500 or so living law school alumni are, there are often a good number of UA alumni. Some of those 275,000 UA alums became lawyers at other law schools. (Yes, there are other law schools.) It is wonderful when those Wildcats reach out to help our College of Law and our students.

Warmly,

Shaping the next century of legal education

[email protected]