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SRider
Posts:2
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| 01/05/2012 12:02 PM |
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R-12-0002
Petition to Amend Rule 34, Rules of the Supreme Court
Would allow law students to take the Uniform Arizona bar examination in February of their third year of law school
Petitioner:
Sally Rider, on behalf of:
Dean Lawrence Ponoroff
University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law
Dean Douglas J. Sylvester
Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
Dean Shirley Mays
Phoenix School of Law
1201 E. Speedway
P.O. Box 210176
Tucson, AZ 85721-0176
Phone: 520-626-1637
Fax: 520-626-6444
rider@email.arizona.edu
Bar No. 011063
Filed: January 5, 2012
COMMENTS DUE MAY 21, 2012
December 5, 2012: ADOPTED as modified on an experimental basis, effective January 1, 2013 until December 31, 2015. |
Attachment: 1152290871.pdf
Attachment: 11523254.docx
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maggie5785
Posts:1
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| 04/22/2012 2:40 PM |
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Maggie Schmidt, Esq. (University of Arizona Law Graduate 2010)
Schmidt & Green Law Offices, P.L.L.C.
325 W. Franklin, Suite 117
Tucson, Arizona 85701
(520)622-0003
(520)622-0005 (fax)
maggie@schmidt-green.com
Arizona Bar #028002
Comment:
Pursuant to Rule 28(D), Rules of the Supreme Court, Maggie H. Schmidt, respectfully submits the following Comment for the Court's consideration of Rule 34, proposed change allowing third year law students to sit for the February bar exam prior to official law school graduation.
I. Reason the Proposed Rule Change Should Be Adopted
This proposal is long overdue. Presently, the lag time between graduating with a Juris Doctor degree, studying for the bar exam, and awaiting results of that bar exam, significantly impacts all law school graduates. In my case, that lag time cost me two opportunities to be hired at the Pima County Public Defender's Office where I had worked for over 2 years as a law clerk and 38(d) student attorney. I was studying for the bar the first hiring rotation (after a significant hiring freeze) and, therefore, was not eligible to apply. Then, I was awaiting bar exam results during the second hiring rotation. Ultimately, I decided to start my own law firm in Tucson with another new attorney who also had missed the hiring rotations at the Public Defender's Office (although for different, personal reasons).
While I am very satisfied with my decision to open my own practice, the new rule change would greatly impact all future law school graduates and may have changed my decision to open my own firm had I had the option to accept a job as a Public Defender.
The proposed change to Rule 34 would allow students to avoid the awkward and financially-draining time between taking the bar and awaiting results. Most of my fellow colleagues could only volunteer at firms or government agencies during this time and, if they were lucky, work at low hourly clerking rates. Those with families were at a significant disadvantage. All of us had to defer our students loan repayments during this time.
The option to work immediately post-graduation would benefit the new graduates as much as the legal community in Arizona. I spoke to several students who had to pass up job offers because they were not licensed attorneys at graduation, or were not even eligible to apply for attorney positions. Employers were either forced to hire other people or wait several months until those candidates were licensed.
The significance and greatness of this proposal cannot be overstated. It truly would change the legal playing field for new graduates and make certain, eligible graduates more employable right out the "graduation gate."
Please feel free to contact me further regarding my comment. |
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AZStateBar
Posts:118
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UofA SBA
Posts:1
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| 05/22/2012 2:02 AM |
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Student Bar Association
University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law
1201 E. Speedway
P.O. Box 210176
Tucson, AZ 85721-0176
ewalneck@email.arizona.edu
Comment:
The Student Bar Association of the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona supports Petition N. R-12-0002, which would amend Rule 34 in order to allow third-year law students to take the February bar exam before graduation.
Our decision is based on an independent student analysis. We have looked into the program as a whole and met with the faculty to discuss the potential positives and negatives and overall we are in support of the proposal. We are in support of the proposal for a variety of reasons. In particular, we are supportive of the hands-on approach that will be offered for those who choose the new direction with the February bar, while the "traditional" law school model will remain available for those who want a more traditional experience.
We also like the ability to start practice immediately after graduation, rather than having to wait until late in the year to be able to commence practice or to start looking for work. After a close analysis, we strongly believe the University of Arizona, Rogers College of Law is prepared for this proposal by already laying the foundation of how to design the curriculum and run the program in an efficient way. For the above reasons, the Student Bar Association supports the rule change allowing third-year law students to take the bar examination.
Respectfully Submitted,
University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law Student Bar Association
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mlanda
Posts:25
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| 06/19/2012 5:39 PM |
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Hon William J. O’Neil
Chair, Attorney Regulation Advisory Committee
1501 W. Washington, Suite 102
Phoenix, AZ 85007
602.452.3436
pdj@courts.az.gov
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Attachment: 1619391875571.pdf
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sjdavis
Posts:2
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| 06/29/2012 1:59 PM |
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Sandra Davis on behalf of Sally Rider
The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law
1201 E. Speedway
Tucson, AZ 85721
(520) 621-1498
sjdavis@email.arizona.edu |
Attachment: 1629595517971.pdf
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sjdavis
Posts:2
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| 11/08/2012 2:49 PM |
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The University of Arizona,
James E. Rogers College of Law
Arizona State University,
Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
Submitted by Sally Rider
1201 E. Speedway
P.O. Box 210176
Tucson, AZ 85721-0176
Phone: 520-626-1637
Fax: 520-626-6444
rider@email.arizona.edu
Bar No. 011063
Supplemental Information Regarding Early Bar Proposal and Answers to the Court's August 31, 2012, Questions are attached. |
Attachment: 1118495521471.pdf
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ecrowley
Posts:202
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lkoschney
Posts:226
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| 11/09/2012 5:52 PM |
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Ken Bennett
Secretary of State by Jim Drake
State of Arizona
1700 W. Washington, 7th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2888
Ph: (602) 542-4285
Fax: (602) 542-1575
www.azsos.gov
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Attachment: 1119521724371.pdf
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