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LAW SCHOOL PROFILE
University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law [10-25-04 by Carina Zaragoza] The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law is a nationally prominent law school with outstanding faculty, students, and staff and an academic program that prepares students for leadership and service throughout the nation and world.
The University of Arizona James E. Rogers
with an all-around legal education.
income families. The purpose is to introduce the high school students to different aspects
College of Law is the oldest law school in Arizona and one of the first established in
Community service is an integral part of the
the West. The College originated in 1915 as
University Of Arizona James E. Rogers Col-
of legal education. The University of Arizona is widely recog-
a department of law, and in 1925, it became
lege Of Law. Rather than merely advocating
the fifth college at the University of Arizona.
community service, faculty and students of
nized as one of the world’s leading aca-
In 1999, the College was named the James
the College actively work in the community
demic centers of learning for the study of
E. Rogers College of Law in honor of the
on legal and non-legal projects. Throughout
indigenous peoples’ cultures, histories,
generous support of James E. Rogers, who
the year, the College is engaged in one proj-
languages, laws, and human rights. The
graduated from the College in 1962. James
ect or another. Once a month throughout the
Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program
E. Rogers is a prominent attorney, business-
academic year, the Community Service Board
(IPLP) at the James E. Rogers College of Law
man, and philanthropist. Graduates of the
sponsors a law school community service
is pioneering a model of applied research
College hold positions of leadership in the le-
project. Past projects have included helping
and advocacy that contributes to legal and
gal, corporate, and political arenas through-
low-income families build homes through
policy reforms at both the domestic and
out the country and internationally.
United Housing; volunteering at the Ronald
international levels and that harnesses those
McDonald House; organizing a team for the
reforms to address particular problems
With a ratio of 13 to 1, the College has one of
local AIDSWalk; helping Native Seed Search
faced by indigenous peoples. The mission
the most favorable student-faculty ratios of
on its farm, south of Tucson; and organiz-
of the IPLP is to prepare advocates, law-
any law school in the U.S. The College offers
ing activities for children at a local hospital.
yers, and scholars to meet the unique and
ten outstanding dual degree programs which
Student organizations have taken this com-
difficult legal challenges and policy issues
give students the opportunity to pursue
mitment to community service into their own
in the field of indigenous peoples’ rights in
interdisciplinary interests in several areas
hands and have developed programs with
the 21st Century. To name just one effort,
study. The College of Law Library is one
various community organizations.
the IPLP is working full force in conjuction
of the best legal research facilities in the
with other organizations in Belize. The Maya
Southwest, with a collection of more than
Law students volunteer with the Pima County
people of southern Belize have suffered from
354,000 volumes. The latest in computer-
Volunteer Lawyers Program. Students work
a history of colonization and continue to be
based legal research is available through
directly with clients under the supervision of
deprived of their human rights, especially in
LEXIS, WESTLAW, and Internet access. A
VLP lawyers on issues ranging from domes-
relation to the lands and resources that they
student computer lab for word processing,
tic relations, child support, and bankruptcy.
have traditionally used and occupied. Recent
computer-assisted legal instruction, and
Student volunteers team up with criminal
and ongoing actions of the government of
research plays an important role in student
defense lawyers and work on cases where it
Belize, which have encouraged non-indig-
academic life. The curriculum is designed to
has been determined that there has been a
enous settlement and large-scale logging
guide students from a broad, general legal
miscarriage of justice. The Native American
and oil development on Maya traditional
education at the outset to specialties in the
Law Students’ Association runs the Legal Re-
lands, threaten the Maya people and the
last two years. Students begin in the Small
ferral Program at the Tucson Indian Center.
natural environment upon which their culture
Sections Program and also develop their
Students provide referral services to people
and subsistence depends. In response to
writing skills. The program is then predomi-
on a walk-in basis three days a week. The
requests from the Maya communities, the
nantly elective in the second and third years
innovative Courts-R-Us program teams law
IPLP has become part of a multi-faceted
of law study. In this way, students walk away
students with high school students from low-
advocacy effort, working in coordination with
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LAW SCHOOL PROFILE
the Indian Law Resource Center, the University of Toronto Human Rights Law Clinic, and local Belizean attorneys and support groups. Although response by the government is slow, there have been victories thanks to the help of the IPLP. The IPLP served a key role in the first case in which an international tribunal with legally binding authority has found a government in violation of the collective land rights of an indigenous group, setting an important precedent for the rights of indigenous peoples in international law [Mayagna (Sumo) Community of Awas Tingni v. Nicaragua]. The IPLP is a forerunner in providing much needed legal recourse to an otherwise silenced group. In addition to service-oriented programs, the University Of Arizona James E. Rogers College Of Law provides a traditional legal education that focuses on traditional areas of legal study. Students walk away armed with the legal knowledge to effect necessary changes in the legal arena and beyond.
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1.800. 973. 1177