February 24, 2025

ASU Law and AzSHA partnership helps bridge gap between legal education and practice

The Arizona Society of Healthcare Attorneys is committed to investing in students from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University to help develop the next generation of health care attorneys.

“Our relationship with ASU Law allows us to bridge the gap between legal education and practice, ensuring students are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of health care law,” said Melissa Soliz, ASU Law alumna (JD ‘11) and AzSHA president. “ASU Law has one of the leading health law programs in the country, and many of our members are alumni or have professional ties to the university.”

Founded to provide lawyers and regulatory compliance professionals in the health care field an opportunity to meet, share ideas, conduct legal seminars and exchange legal and regulatory information, AzSHA offers ASU Law students free memberships. These memberships provide access to exceptional educational programming, mentorship, networking opportunities and the AzSHA Scholars Program. 

The mentorship program connects students with experienced health law attorneys for guidance on career paths and industry trends. The scholar's program supports students as they pursue careers in health law. Additionally, AzSHA sponsors and hosts educational events, including panel discussions, guest lectures and networking receptions. These give students the chance to interact with practicing attorneys, policymakers and compliance professionals.

AzSHA also partners with the ASU Law Center for Public Health Law and Policy to offer students opportunities to publish educational blogs through AzSHA. This collaboration helps students expand their professional networks and gain practical insights into health care law.

“The future of health law depends on well-trained, passionate legal professionals and it’s our responsibility as an organization to help cultivate that talent,” Soliz said. “By supporting students, AzSHA ensures that the next generation of health care attorneys is prepared to tackle the evolving legal and regulatory challenges in the industry. Investing in students also strengthens the profession as a whole — helping to create a robust, knowledgeable and ethical legal community that can serve health care providers, patients and policymakers effectively.”

Soliz reflects on her time as a law student and understands the impact of mentorship in shaping a career. In addition to her work at AzSHA, she is a partner at Coppersmith Brockelman PLC where she focuses on compliance with data privacy and interoperability laws, as well as data strategy and technology design for health information exchange.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see students progress from being eager law students to accomplished health care attorneys,” Soliz said. “Many of the students who engage with AzSHA go on to become active members, and some even take on leadership roles within the organization, myself included. Watching them grow, develop expertise and contribute to the field reinforces the importance of the work we do. Seeing their success, whether it’s landing their first job in health care law, arguing a case or shaping policy, reminds us why mentorship and education are at the heart of AzSHA’s mission.

As the organization looks to the future, AzSHA is focused on continuing its support for ASU Law students.

“ASU law students are known for their strong work ethic, intellectual curiosity and deep commitment to public service. They bring fresh perspectives and innovative thinking to complex legal and regulatory issues,” Soliz said. “ ASU Law fosters a collaborative learning environment, which translates into students who are not only academically strong but also excellent team players, an essential skill in health care law where interdisciplinary collaboration is key.”

For information on the health and wellbeing area of expertise, visit law.asu.edu/health-and-wellbeing.

Written by Crystal Jimenez