James E. Rogers College of Law

University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law History

University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law was established in 1925 and is a public institution. The 325-acre campus is in an urban area near downtown Tucson. The primary mission of the law school is to integrate the study of interdisciplinary issues with the traditional legal course of study in a small law school of approximately 480 students, with a rigorous yet collegial atmosphere. Students have access to federal, state, county, city, and local agencies, courts, correctional facilities, law firms, and legal aid organizations in the Tucson area. In addition, Arizona is home to many Native American tribes, all with their own tribal governments and trial court systems. All facilities are accessible and modern, including classrooms, a moot court room, seminar rooms, a student lounge, a library, a computer laboratory for students, and a fully equipped computerized courtroom. Housing for students includes plenty of affordable off-campus rental housing and a new graduate student apartment-type residence hall on campus. All law school facilities are accessible to the physically disabled.

University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law Academics

In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M. and LL.M. in international trade law; LL.M. in indigenous peoples’ ;aw and policy. Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 6 credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in economics, American Indian studies, or women’s studies), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.P.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration), and J.D./Ph.D. (Juris Doctor/Doctor of Philosophy in psychology, philosophy, or economics).

The James E. Rogers College of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, environmental law, family law, international law, litigation, securities law, tax law, torts and insurance, Indian law, and human rights. In addition, clinics include a Domestic Violence Clinic, Child Advocacy Clinic, Indigenous Peoples Law Clinic, Immigration Law Clinics (3 to 5 units per credit) and Prosecution and Defense Clinics. These clinics are open to second- and third-year students who have completed Evidence and Ethics (Professional Responsibility). The college has a diverse set of offerings for its advanced research and writing seminars, ranging from the Warren Court to a death penalty seminar. Also offered is a rich variety of small seminars and colloquia. Internships may be taken with the state legislature, with the offices of U.S. senators and the White House Drug Policy Office, and with the Navajo, Tohono O’odham, and Pascua Yacqui tribal governments. Students may take up to 6 units of independent study with faculty supervision. Students may hear special lectures through the Isaac Marks Memorial Lectures, Rosentiel Scholar-in-Residence Program, McCormick Society lectures, and the Jeanne Kiewit Taylor Visiting Faculty Program. Chief Justice William Rehnquist teaches the history of the U.S. Supreme Court each January. Study abroad is possible in Puerto Rico at the University of Puerto Rico Law School. The College accepts credit for participation in ABA- approved international programs sponsored by other schools. All first-year students may participate in tutorial programs. Special scholarship efforts, mentoring, tutorial assistance, and a weeklong “Bridge Program” are offered to all students. The most widely taken electives are Federal Income Tax, Corporations, and Employment Law.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 85 total credits, of which 39 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Procedure, Legal Analysis, Writing and Research, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of an advanced writing seminar, Evidence, and Professional Responsibility. Many clinical and trial advocacy opportunities are available, but none are required. The required orientation program for first-year students is 3 days and encompasses academic and cultural aspects of the law school experience; 3 follow-up sessions during the first semester of school are held on ethics, stress, exam taking and various other matters.

In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0, have completed the upper-division writing requirement, and write a paper of “publishable quality” to fulfill the upper-division writing requirement.

University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law Unique Programs

Library

The law library contains 410,000 hard-copy volumes and 426,000 microform volume equivalents, and subscribes to 3650 serial publications. Such on-line databases and networks as CALI, DIALOG, Dow-Jones, LEXIS, LOIS, NEXIS, OCLC First Search, and WESTLAW are available to law students for research. Special library collections include an extensive collection of materials on Latin American law, water law, and Indian law. Recently, the library refurbished and recarpeted the computer laboratory and library. There are also extensive electronic databases. The ratio of library volumes to faculty is 13,667 to 1 and to students is 863 to 1. The ratio of seats in the library to students is 1 to 1.

Special Consideration

The law school recruits minority and disadvantaged students through a strong recruitment and retention program. Ethnicity is one of many qualitative factors considered by the Admissions Committee. Requirements are different for out-of-state students in that admission is slightly more competitive for nonresident students. Generally 70% of enrollees are residents and 30% are nonresidents; however, more than 50% of admission offers go to nonresidents. Transfer students must have one year of credit, have attended an ABA-approved law school, and should be ranked in the top tenth to the top quarter of their class. Space in the class and nature of law school attended are always factors, as are undergraduate record, LSAT score, admissibility as a first-year applicant, personal statement, and letters of recommendation from law faculty with whom the applicant has studied.

University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law Admissions

In the fall 2007 first-year class, 2589 applied, 455 were accepted, and 153 enrolled. Figures in the above capsule and in this profile are approximate. Eight transfers enrolled in a recent year. The median LSAT percentile of the most recent first-year class was 89; the median GPA was 3.5 on a scale of 4.0. The highest LSAT percentile was 99.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and take the LSAT. The most important admission factors include academic achievement, LSAT results, and a personal statement. No specific undergraduate courses are required. Candidates are not interviewed.

Applicants should submit an application form, LSAT results, transcripts, TOEFL for foreign applicants, a nonrefundable application fee, 2 letters of recommendation, use of the LSDAS Report, a personal statement, and a resume. Notification of the admissions decision is December through May. Check with the school for current application dates. The law school uses the LSDAS.

University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law Financial Aid

In a recent year, about 85% of current law students receive some form of aid. The average annual amount of aid from all sources combined, including scholarships, loans, and work contracts, was $10,000; maximum, $30,000. Awards are based on need and merit. Required financial statement is the FAFSA. Check with the school for current application deadlines. There are special scholarships for Native Americans. First-year students are notified about their financial aid application between acceptance and enrollment; generally between February and June.

University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law Students

About 50% of the student body are women; 29%, minorities; 5%, African American; 8%, Asian American; 12%, Hispanic; 4%, Native American; and 5%, foreign nationals. The majority of students come from Arizona (70%). The average age of entering students is 25; age range is 20 to 45. About 40% of students enter directly from undergraduate school, 22% have a graduate degree, and 60% have worked full-time prior to entering law school. About 1% drop out after the first year for academic or personal reasons; 98% remain to receive a law degree.

The primary law review is the Arizona Law Review. Students also edit The Arizona Journal for International Law, and The Journal of Psychology, Public Policy and Law. Other publications include Environmental Law Newsletter, and The Bulletin. Students may participate in a wide range of regional, national, and international moot court competitions. Other competitions include Richard Grand Damages, Grand Writing, and Jenkes competitions. Law student organizations, local chapters of national associations, and campus organizations include the Student Bar Association, Law Women’s Association, Phi Alpha Delta, Phi Delta Phi, American Civil Liberties Union, ABA-Law Student Division, Black Law Students Association, LaRaza/Hispanic National Bar Association, Native American Law Student Association, and Asian American Law Student Association.

The law school operates on a traditional semester basis. Most courses for full-time students are offered days only; there are some late afternoon, early evening elective courses for second- and third-year students. Course work must be completed within 3 years. There is no part-time program. New students are admitted in the fall. There is a 5-week summer session. Transferable summer courses are offered.