The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, the oldest law school in Arizona and one of the first established in the west, was founded in 1915 as part of the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences at the University of Arizona. In 1925, the College of Law was established as the fifth college. The law school has developed a high-quality academic program that prepares lawyers for leadership and service throughout the state and country and internationally.
The law school’s curriculum encompasses theoretical materials and diverse clinical programs affording students experience with actual cases and clients. Of particular note are the school’s two specialized post JD legal degree programs in areas of international significance, including a program of advanced study of the international and domestic implications of the rapid economic and legal changes confronting indigenous peoples globally and a program involving the multiple legal dimensions of free trade expansion between the US and Latin, Central, and South America. In addition, joint degrees in many fields, including business, philosophy, psychology, women’s studies, and Latin American studies, are also available.
With a collection of more than 400,000 volumes and access to a host of legal and law-related online databases, the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law Library plays a vital role in fulfilling the college’s dual mission of teaching and research.
Admission Criteria
|
LSAT |
GPA |
25th-75th Percentile |
158-163 |
3.24-3.76 |
Median* |
161 |
3.54 |
The above LSAT and GPA data pertain to the fall 2011 entering class.
Medians have been calculated by averaging the 25th- and 75th-percentile values released by the law schools and have been rounded up to the nearest whole number for LSAT scores and to the nearest one-hundredth for GPAs.
Admission Statistics
Approximate number of applications |
1,540 |
Number accepted |
552 |
Percentage accepted |
35.8% |
The above admission details are based on fall 2011 data.
Class Ranking and Grades
At the James E. Rogers College of Law, first-year students are not ranked until the end of the fall semester. All students are ranked at the end of the academic year. Second- and third-year students are also ranked at the end of the fall semester. No new rankings are calculated following summer school.
Pursuant to the rules of the University of Arizona, the law school employs the following grading system. The letter grades have the following numerical equivalents:
A |
4.00 |
A- |
3.7 |
B+ |
3.33 |
B |
3.00 |
B- |
2.67 |
C+ |
2.33 |
C |
2.00 |
C- |
1.67 |
D+ |
1.33 |
D |
1.00 |
D- |
0.67 |
E |
0.00 |
A grading system for JD students in which “A” means excellent, “B” means good, “C” means fair, “D” means poor, and “E” means failure. In addition, “P” means pass, “F” means fail, “I” means incomplete, and “W” means withdrawal is employed by the law school.
Pass/Fail
JD students do not have the option of taking Graded courses as Pass/Fail. The “Pass/Fail option” is only provided for LLM students. JD students may take courses on a Pass/Fail basis only when that course is designated as “Pass/Fail” on the law school’s schedule.
Incomplete Work
A grade of “I” may be awarded, and only in exceptional circumstances, if a student has not completed all the course work required for a grade. The grade of I may not be awarded if the student is expected to repeat the course; in such case, a grade of E shall be awarded. A grade of I may not be used in the calculation of grade point averages, but shall be automatically changed to a final grade of E unless removed by a final grade within one year after the “I” is given. A student who receives a grade of “I” in a course may not audit the course before removing the Incomplete. The grade “I” automatically becomes an E unless replaced by a final grade on the last day of classes within one year after the grade of “I” is awarded.
Grade normalization (Curve)
The following rules apply with respect to class grade distributions at the law school:
The James E. Rogers College of Law’s grade normalization curve applies to all courses with an enrollment of 21 or more students who are JD candidates enrolled for graded credit. Grades must be distributed in the following manner: 15% A’s, 15% A-’s, 25% B+’s, 25 % B’s, 10% B-’s, and 10% C+’s or lower. However, the faculty in extraordinary situations may deviate by 2.5% from the prescribed mandatory grade curve.
In classes, other than substantial paper seminars, with fewer than 21 students who are JD candidates enrolled for graded credit, the mean grade point average may not exceed 3.5. Faculty may not deviate from this requirement, except in extraordinary circumstances. Faculty who believe that extraordinary circumstances justify a higher mean grade point average for a particular class may seek permission to deviate from this requirement in writing from the Vice Dean.
For purposes of evaluating work in assigning grades under the mandatory curve prescribed, the grades of D+, D, and D- reflect varying degrees of unsatisfactory work. A grade of “E” reflects work that is so unsatisfactory as not to merit credit for the course.
There is no grade curve or required mean grade point average for substantial paper seminars or in-house clinics.
Honors
Students who rank within the highest 25% of the grade point averages for those in a graduation class may be awarded degrees with honors. No more than 25% of the total number of graduates in a class may graduate
with honors.
Honor |
|
Criteria |
Order of the Coif |
|
Top 10% of students who have completed at least 75% of their law studies in graded James E. Rogers College of Law courses |
summa cum laude |
Highest Distinction |
Top 7% |
magna cum laude |
High Distinction |
Next 7% |
cum laude |
Distinction |
Next 11% |
Dean’s List |
|
GPA of 3.30 or higher (students with 10 graded units per semester) |
Awards
Name of Award |
Description |
Ralph W. Aigler Award |
Awarded to an outstanding senior student |
Order of Barristers |
Membership offered to eight to 10 students who have excelled in the school’s second-year moot court competitions |
Ares Fellows |
Awarded to students selected by first-year small-section professors |
Steptoe & Johnson Award |
Not provided |
Charles L. Strouss Law Review Prize |
Not provided |
E. Thomas Sullivan Antitrust Award |
Not provided |
Harry S. Taylor Scholarship |
Not provided |
Lynn Thompson Memorial Scholarship |
Not provided |
Burr Udall Moot Court Award |
Not provided |
WMS and James A. Glasgow Scholarship |
Not provided |
F. Britton Burns Moot Court Award |
Not provided |
William Browning Constitutional Law Award |
Not provided |
Dannie Lee Chandler Memorial Award |
Not provided |
Rufus C. Coulter Jr. Memorial Scholarship |
Not provided |
John R. Christian Award |
Not provided |
T.C. Clark Litigation with Civility Award |
Not provided |
Arizona Journal of International and Comparative Law Boris Kozolchyk Award |
Not provided |
William T. Birmingham Trial Advocacy Award |
Not provided |
DeConcini, McDonald, Yetwin & Lacy Academic Achievement Award |
Awarded for academic achievement |
William Gordon Moot Court Prize |
Awarded to first-year student for moot court |
Richard Grand Damages Argument Award |
Not provided |
Richard Grand Legal Writing Competition Award |
Awarded for best legal writing |
Toney A. Hardy Law Prize |
Not provided |
Roger C. Henderson Distinguished Graduating Senior Award |
Not provided |
F. George Herlihy Merit Award in Law |
Not provided |
E. Herbert Herlihy Merit Award in Law |
Not provided |
Bruce R. Heurlin Study of Federal Courts Award |
Not provided |
Junius Hoffman “Beyond the J.D.” Award |
Not provided |
Jennings, Strouss & Salmon First-Year Law Student Award |
Awarded to first-year law student |
Harry O. Juliani Memorial Award |
Not provided |
Law College Association Achievement Award |
Not provided |
Joseph M. Livermore Service Award |
Not provided |
Lorna E. Lockwood Award |
Not provided |
Paul Marcus Public Interest Law Fellowship Munger Prize |
Awarded to scholars in international and business law |
Outstanding Senior Award |
Not provided |
Public Service Award |
Not provided |
Rusing and Lopez Award |
Not provided |
Andrew Silverman Community Service Award |
Not provided |
Snell & Wilmer Best Law Review Note Award |
Awarded for best the Law Review note |
Snell & Wilmer Outstanding Second-Year Law Review Writer Award |
Awarded to second-year student for best writing in the Law Review |
Journals
The Arizona Law Review is edited and managed entirely by students. Students looking to gain intensive expertise in research consider working on the review a valuable educational experience. Published quarterly, it is widely circulated and serves as a forum for leading scholars, judges, and practitioners while providing its members with a demanding analytical writing experience dealing with criticism and commentary on current legal problems.
As its name indicates, the Arizona Journal of International and Comparative Law is a scholarly journal devoted to issues related to international and comparative law. Its emphasis is on providing students with a rigorous analytical writing experience in a challenging and collegial atmosphere as they focus on international law topics. It publishes two volumes per year with articles from authors around the world and students at the University of Arizona. Each year, it also publishes a symposium issue which usually includes papers submitted at a conference related to international or comparative law.
The Arizona Journal of environmental Law & Policy (AJELP) is a student-run online publication that examines environmental issues from legal, scientific, economic, and public policy perspectives. AJELP creates an engaging, responsive, and interactive platform where pertinent environmental law and policy issues can be discussed. It is a sponsored publication of the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, University of Arizona.
Moot Court
Students at the James E. Rogers College of Law are introduced to oral and written appellate advocacy through the school’s moot court program. Second-year students can enroll themselves in the Samuel M. Fegtly Moot Court Competition. Students who excel in the Fegtly Competition are invited to join the National Moot Court team and to serve on the Moot Court Board, where they assist in a variety of capacities in the Fegtly Competition for second-year students. Qualified, selected students may participate in either the National Moot Court Competition or the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. However, students may not participate in either competition more than once. Further, students are not permitted to participate in both the National Competition and the Jessup Competition.
Clinical Programs
Clinical legal education is an integral part of the practical experience available at the James E. Rogers College of Law. The law school offers the following clinical programs:
The Child and Family Law Clinic supports community agencies working to address the needs of families plagued by family violence. It defends the rights of children and adults involved with the justice system with integrity.
The Civil Rights Restoration Clinic represents ex-offenders in seeking restoration of civil rights, setting aside of convictions, designations of Class 6 offenses, etc. Each student handles a number of cases which entails interviewing clients, gathering the necessary documentation, drafting pleadings, making court appearances, etc.
In the Criminal Prosecution Clinic students serve as prosecuting attorneys in one of the prosecution offices in Tucson, or, with permission of instructor, in other Phoenix cities during the summer. Under the supervision of lawyers, students work in the felony, misdemeanor and juvenile law areas.
The Immigration Law Clinic provides students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with immigration law by providing services to immigrants in a variety of settings. It provides three different types of services to the immigrant community in Southern Arizona: Deportation Defense, Immigration Consultation Clinic, and Immigrant Workers’ Rights.
The Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Clinic provides domestic and international legal assistance to the indigenous peoples of the world. Students provide legal assistance to tribal governments, tribal attorneys, and non-profit organizations working with and for Indigenous people in the United States and across the globe.
The Mortgage Clinic is open to students who have taken The Mortgage Crisis or who are currently enrolled in it. Students are placed at Southern Arizona Legal Aid (SALA), where they work with homeowners at risk of losing their homes.
Placement Facts
Starting Salaries (2010 Graduates employed Full-Time)
Private sector (25th-75th percentile) |
$65,000-$115,000 |
Median in the private sector |
$95,000 |
Median in public service |
$52,000 |
Employment Details
Graduates known to be employed at graduation |
65.4% |
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation |
87.4% |
Areas of Legal Practice
Graduates employed In |
Percentage |
Law Firms |
41.0% |
Business and Industry |
9.4% |
Government |
17.3% |
Public Interest Organizations |
8.6% |
Judicial Clerkships |
20.9% |
Academia |
2.9% |
Unknown |
0% |
Externships/Internships
Externships
- Umbrella or “Ad Hoc” externships: JD students wishing to obtain academic credit for unique government-related, government-sponsored, or non-profit externships arranged by the student may be able to do so if they meet certain conditions established by the College of Law Faculty.
Internships
- Several internships are available to law students. Over the past several years, various congressional internships have provided an opportunity for one second- or third-year student each semester and summer to work with the legislator’s staff in Washington.
The College of Law offers Legislative Internships in Washington, DC through which law students may receive academic credit while working in the office of a US Senator or Representative from Arizona. A student who serves as an intern with a US Senator or Representative during the fall or spring semester may receive 10 units of credit.
The College also offers internships with the Navajo, Tohono O’odham, White Mountain Apache and Pascua Yaqui tribal governments, through which students interested in Indian Law may undertake clerkships.
Student organizations
- American Bar Association Law Student Division
- American Civil Liberties Union
- American Constitution Society for Law and Policy
- Arizona Journal of International and Comparative Law
- Arizona Law Review
- Asian Pacific American Law Students Association
- Black Law Students Association
- Business Law Society
- Christian Legal Society
- Environmental Law Society
- The Federalist Society
- Immigration Law Student Association
- Intellectual Property Student Association
- International Law Society
- J. Reuben Clark Law Society
- Jewish Law Students Association
- Latino Law Student Association (LLSA)
- Law Students for Reproductive Justice
- Law Women’s Association
- LEAD Mentoring
- Moot Court
- National Lawyers Guild
- Native American Law Student Association
- Oral Advocacy Organization
- Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International
- Phi Delta Phi
- Pride Law
- Public Interest Law Organization
- Student Bar Association
- Students of Arizona Health Law Organization
- Sports & Entertainment Law Society
References
- http://www.law.arizona.edu/
- http://premium.usnews.com/
- http://www.nalplawschoolsonline.org/
- http://www.ajicl.org/
- http://www.ajelp.com/
