UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

JAMES E. ROGERS COLLEGE OF LAW

MARCH 1, 2023

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 6-10

Spring Break

March 10

Las Vegas Alumni Reception

March 24-25

National Conference for Constitutional Law Scholars

Greetings,

This week, we feature the recent Legal Paraprofessional Summit, held in-person at the University of Arizona campus in Chandler, with attendees at viewing hubs here in Tucson and in Yuma and fully remote attendees from around the country. I mention the viewing locations because they illustrate the way in which our state, university and law school have been at the center of the national conversation around legal paraprofessionals.

LPs have been compared with Nurse Practitioners, who broaden access to high-quality medical services. Similarly, the growing LP movement helps address gaps in the availability of legal services. Part of the challenge is providing excellent and affordable education to the LPs themselves. This is why we are pleased to announce the first class of LP students at the University of Arizona Law to receive financial assistance through a grant from the Marshall Foundation for education and licensing costs.

Through our degree programs as well as the community building and exchange of ideas through initiatives like the first LP Summit, the University of Arizona Law Legal Paraprofessional Program offers opportunities to this growing group of legal professionals.

Until the footnotes,

Marc

FEATURE

First Annual Legal Paraprofessional Summit Addresses Challenges and Solutions for Access to Justice

On January 20 and 21, the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law held its first ever Legal Paraprofessional Summit, bringing together a range of Legal Paraprofessionals (LPs), attorneys, judges and more to discuss LP licensure and professional development.

Arizona has been one of a handful of states leading a movement in the past few years for greater access to legal services through LPs, and in 2021 the state authorized licensing for LPs to provide limited legal services.

University of Arizona Law has long been at the forefront of the state’s efforts, with initiatives including offering the only MLS Graduate LP Certificate and the only Arizona Supreme Court certified BA program in the state providing the educational pathways to become an LP. Additionally, students enrolled in the BA program can earn the first ever undergraduate LP certificate beginning this Spring. The Summit continued these LP educational efforts as well as the conversation among leaders of LP initiatives from across the country.

During the conference, a number of speakers emphasized that Arizona’s LP licensing and similar programs in other states fill an important gap in access to justice. “Every state who’s approaching this new program is approaching it from a place of access to justice,” Legal Paraprofessional Program Coordinator Kristy Clairmont (’15) noted after the Summit. “We want to make sure that we’re filling a gap, not just creating another legal service provider that doesn't necessarily do what we’re hoping it does.”

For the full story, see here.

AROUND THE COLLEGE

Congratulations to First Class of Marshall LP Award Recipients

We are pleased to announce the first class of recipients of Marshall Foundation Legal Paraprofessional Scholarship and Graduation Awards.

In partnership with the Marshall Foundation, the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law established the awards to help support students who wish to obtain the necessary education to become licensed Legal Paraprofessionals.

Scholarship recipients each receive a one-time award applied to the costs of attendance associated with either the University of Arizona BA in Law, the Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program or the accelerated MLS program for qualified BA in law students. Once finished with their course work, students can then become eligible for the Graduation Award which will support the pursuit of licensure by providing reimbursement for the costs associated with testing – specifically one core exam and one endorsement area exam – and the state licensure application fees.

The spring 2023 awardees are:

Andrea E. Moreno—LP Scholarship; Accelerated MLS

Arlynna Mitchell—LP Scholarship; MLS

Heidi Carpenter—LP Scholarship; MLS

Kaitlin Bridge—LP Scholarship; BA in Law

Kayla Batt-Hernandez—LP Scholarship; MLS

Kelli Stoner—LP Scholarship & Graduation Award; BA in Law

Tabitha Corella—LP Scholarship; MLS

Bill Ennis—Graduation Award; MLS

Jason Halper—Graduation Award; MLS

The graduation awards of $550 each will help with licensing costs for LP testing and application fees. The scholarships, in the amount of $1,450, apply to the cost of attendance to each awardee’s degree program.

See here to learn more about the Marshall Foundation Grant.

Thanks for Your Support on Giving Day!

On February 14, University of Arizona Law joined the rest of the University of Arizona community for its annual Giving Day, a 24-hour fundraising event to support students and the university. Over 60 donors showed their love to University of Arizona Law, donating $63,736 to support student scholarships, summer fellowships, and top College of Law priorities – over $20,000 more than last year’s Giving Day

The University of Arizona across campus received more than 1,900 gifts during Giving Day, totaling more than $5.2 million towards students, scholarships and programs.

“We were thrilled to see all of the participation across campus during Giving Day this year,” said University of Arizona Law’s Senior Director of Development Megan O’Leary. “A special thank you to Brad Vynalek (’99), Dean Marc Miller and Dr. Christina Cutshaw, and Dean Emerita Toni Massaro and Melody Robidoux (’80 and ’83) for their leadership in making challenge gifts to encourage giving to college priorities.”

Giving Day at University of Arizona Law supported A New Day in Court, the Justice Advocates Coalition Summer Public Interest Fellowship Program, the Dean’s Innovation Fund, and Student Scholarships.

A New Day in Court funds the construction of two new state-of-the-art student courtrooms, an expansion of faculty support, and new experiential learning opportunities to enhance the student experience. The Justice Advocates Coalition Summer Public Interest Fellowship Program empowers students pursuing careers in public interest law by providing stipends to students who accept unpaid summer positions with nonprofit organizations. The Dean’s Innovation Fund allows the Dean to fund University of Arizona Law’s most pressing projects such as our push to accept the GRE to create new educational pathways for underrepresented communities. Lastly, Giving Day supported student scholarships that remove financial barriers and allow students to pursue the dream of a legal career.

It's Not Too Late

If you missed Giving Day, consider giving in support of the college today.

Give

Join Us in Las Vegas for Pac 12 Tournament Reception!

Are you going to be in Vegas for the Pac 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament? If so, join us on March 10 at 2:00 p.m. at Beer Park. We will be there from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Stay the whole time or just swing by to say hello! Please register for you and your guests so we can plan for food and drinks.

Any questions, please contact Kate at kosterholt@arizona.edu.

RSVP

Buy Donuts, Support Students

The University of Arizona Law Student Bar Association is hosting a Krispy Kreme fundraiser. From anywhere in the country, you can use this link to place an order for an original dozen ($15) at your local shop and 50% will be donated to the SBA.

Next time you’re craving donuts, support the SBA!

IN THE NEWS

Legal Ed will resubmit proposed elimination of admissions-test standard and consider increasing distance ed credits

ABA Journal, with mention of University of Arizona Law

University of Arizona Students Launch Expungement Clinic

HighTimes, featuring students Mia Burcham and Rebecca Caro Cohen

The Hardest Part of Red Flag Laws Isn't Getting Them Passed

FiveThirtyEight, featuring Tara Sklar

Proposed new rules for telemedicine could impact Arizona’s most vulnerable populations

KOLD, quoting Tara Sklar

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.

Share Your News Here

Twitter, @uarizonalaw

The Legal Paraprofessional pathway is still young, but its potential to transform access to legal services in critical areas is vast.

The term “paraprofessional” is somewhat misleading, as LPs are not beside or supporting, nor are they intended to supplant attorneys. In the structure created by the Arizona Supreme Court, LPs are independent legal practitioners – albeit only in the specific areas in which they are licensed and approved and can provide services that would not be readily accessible to those who need them, in so-called “legal deserts.”

Access to Justice is one of the deep and abiding conundrums for our profession. Indeed, the obligation to help provide legal services is part of what makes us a profession, and not just a guild. It is exciting to be in a state – and at a College of Law – that are leading the way to new and profound answers to solve the Access to Justice challenge.

Warmly,