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The State Bar of Arizona honored the James E. Rogers College of Law and several of its graduates for contributions to the field of law.

By La Monica Everett-Haynes, University Communications
July 9, 2008

The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law has received an award for its annual IMPACT Career Fair, which targets law students and lawyers with disabilities.

The award was one of several presented to the college, and a number of its graduates, by the State Bar of Arizona late last month during its 75th annual convention.

The fair, held each year in the Washington, D.C., area in collaboration with Georgetown University Law Center, is open to law school graduates and law students soon to graduate. The fair is held in Washington due to the large number of government agencies and sizable law firms in that area. The next fair will be held Aug. 15.

“The hiring rate for the disabled law school graduate is the lowest of any particular group," said Mary N. Birmingham, assistant dean for career and professional development at the College of Law.

She and other administrators at the UA college were being told by disabled students that they needed additional support finding jobs after graduation.

“We thought we were doing enough, but obviously we were not,” Birmingham said.

A National Association for Law Placement report on the 2006 graduating class showed that about 92 percent of all nonminorities were placed in jobs while about 88 percent of minorities were placed. Among people with disabilities, the placement rate was about 81 percent.

“The more we looked into it, the more we realized that it is a systemic problem that needs to be addressed on a national level,” Birmingham said.

Last year, about 30 employers from government agencies, organizations and law firms across the nation attended the career fair, which also lured about 80 disabled students and law school graduates.

In presenting the college with the Hon. John R. Sticht Excellence in Disabilities Accessibility Award, the bar called the fair "groundbreaking" and noted the college for "its outstanding mentoring efforts for students with disabilities.”

A number of UA College of Law alumni were among the 21 people who also received awards during the convention. Among the UA alumni who were recognized were:

• Pima County Public Defender Robert J. Hooker was awarded the Tom Karas Criminal Justice Award posthumously. Hooker, who earned his UA law degree in 1972, practiced civil and criminal defense law in Tucson for three decades. The award goes to those who have “worked tirelessly to advanced the principles of criminal justice by representing clients or the public with integrity, fairness, tenacity, creativity, brilliance and, above all, professionalism.” Hooker died April 1.
• Daniel G. Knauss, also a 1972 graduate of the college, was given the Michael C. Cudahy Criminal Justice Award, also for advancing the principles of criminal justice. After graduating, Knauss worked for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
• Jeffrey A. Hursh, who earned his philosophy degree from the UA in 1999, earned the bar's Member of the Year award. Hursh, a senior associate in Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.’s Tucson office, also graduated from the UA’s joint master’s of business administration and juris doctorate program in 2003.
• Craig H. Wisnom earned the Continuing Legal Education Award for his commitment to educating others in the field. Wisnom, an estate planning and trust administration attorney at Bogutz and Gordon, P.C., earned a political science degree from the UA in 1992 and his juris doctorate from the UA in 1995.
• Kathleen A. Mayer, a 1977 College of Law graduate, has been with the Pima County Attorney’s Office for more than 20 years. Mayer, who earned the Michael C. Cudahy Criminal Justice Award, now serves as the office’s chief legislative liaison. The award goes to criminal law prosecutors who advance the values in the field.
• The Judicial Award of Excellence for a public lawyer went to Pima County Superior Court Judge Gary E. Donahoe. The award goes to individuals who are working to improve the justice system. Donahoe earned multiple degrees from the UA, including his law degree in 1979.
• Mari Valenzuela, senior corporate counsel for Microchip Technology Inc., located in the Phoenix area, was among a group of attorneys who received the President’s Award. She earned an undergraduate degree from the UA.
• The Career Achievement Award for a public lawyer with a “distinguished career” went to John W. Dickinson, who graduated from the College of Law in 1972. Dickinson has worked in various divisions of the Pima County Attorney’s Office, including juvenile, narcotics, grand jury and property crimes. His efforts in the late 1990s while with the narcotics unit helped introduce a statewide arson reward program.
• Thomas J. Rankin, a 1993 College of Law graduate, earned the Distinguished Public Lawyer Award for his distinguished career and community service. In 1991, he joined the Pima County Attorney's Office as a prosecutor. Less than 10 years later, Rankin initiated the office’s Restitution Collection and Enforcement Program.