Law school, reimagined: 25 ways ASU Law changed the game in 2025

2025 was a year of momentum at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, marked by innovation in legal education, historic global partnerships, major achievements, national recognition and new commitments to justice. What follows is a curated chronicle of the 25 moments that shaped ASU Law’s story in 2025.

1. Honoring a global leader: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf receives the 10th O’Connor Justice Prize

ASU Law began 2025 by recognizing a transformative world leader. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first female president of Liberia, received the 10th O’Connor Justice Prize for her work advancing democracy, economic stability and gender rights.

ASU Law also recently announced former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer as the 2026 O’Connor Justice Prize honoree, reaffirming the prize’s role in elevating global champions of the rule of law.

2. A renewed digital home for justice: The O’Connor site launches

A refreshed digital home now honors Sandra Day O’Connor’s legacy with greater clarity and heart. The newly redesigned timeline brings together the threads of Justice O’Connor’s work — her passion for civic education, belief in the power of law and dedication to public service.

By creating a more accessible and personal space, the portal invites visitors to connect with her story and reflect on the principles she championed through an interactive timeline, video and more.

3. National leadership in focus: AALS, ABA Midyear and the ALWD Conference

ASU Law’s national leadership took center stage in 2025 through three major events that brought scholars, judges and practitioners from across the country to engage with the college’s work.

At the 2025 Association of American Law Schools Annual Meeting, ASU Law faculty led panels on artificial intelligence, Indigenous sovereignty, global migration and legal pedagogy. The conference also recognized several ASU Law leaders. Willard H. Pedrick Dean and Regents and Foundation Professor of Law Stacy Leeds received the Section on Women in Legal Education’s Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lifetime Achievement Award. Professor Justin Weinstein-Tull earned the Civil Procedure Section’s Junior Scholarship Award and Professor of Practice Derrick Beetso was honored with the Indian Nations and Indigenous Peoples Section’s Early Career Scholarship Award.

ASU Law also played a central role in the 2025 American Bar Association Midyear Meeting, hosting programs that drew more than 600 lawyers and judges for panels, federal court proceedings and networking events. The conference recognized several members of the ASU Law community, including alumna Judge Diane J. Humetewa (JD ’93), recipient of the Spirit of Excellence Award, and Dean Leeds, who received the GPSolo Difference Maker Award.

Rounding out the year, the college won the competitive bid to host the Association of Legal Writing Directors 2025 Biennial Conference, “Leadership for the Third Wave,” which convened legal writing scholars and educators focused on the future of advocacy and communication. Together, these events underscored ASU Law’s growing role as a national convener and leader in legal education.

4. ASU Law welcomes the incoming class

ASU Law’s 2025 orientation welcomed an incoming class across degree programs with strong academic credentials and broad lived experience. Students came to ASU Law with interests in cybersecurity, human rights, sports law and AI governance, reflecting the evolving demands of the legal profession.

5. Reimagining access: ASU Law launches part-time and online JD pathway

In an effort to address national legal shortages, especially in rural communities, ASU Law announced a new part-time and online JD option. The initiative is designed to expand access to legal education for working adults, caregivers and public service-minded professionals, and makes ASU Law one of the highest-ranked law schools to offer its JD part-time and fully online.

ASU Law received more than 1,300 applications and the first cohort begins in January 2026. The shift represents one of the most significant innovations in the JD program in the school’s history.

6. A new era of admissions flexibility: Test-optional pathway for 2026

Reflecting ASU Law’s broader mission of access and excellence, the college unveiled a test-optional admissions pathway beginning in 2026. The holistic approach aims to remove barriers for applicants while maintaining high standards and recruiting strong, varied cohorts of future legal professionals.

7. ASU Law Talks launches a new platform for accessible legal education insight

Launched in the summer, ASU Law Talks is a resource blog designed to share expert-driven stories and practical guidance with a wide audience. Featuring articles from knowledgeable faculty and staff, the platform offers Q&As, clear insights on law school, advanced degrees, program comparisons and career paths. By breaking down complex topics and answering common questions, ASU Law Talks helps readers make informed choices about their legal education.

8. Celebrating the Class of 2025: A cohort defined by resilience

This spring’s commencement honored more than 600 JD, LLM, MHREL, MLS and MSLB graduates who navigated years of shifts in technology, policy and the legal landscape. The class included first-generation law students, military veterans and midcareer professionals.

Together, their stories formed a tapestry of determination and purpose. Looking ahead, this fall’s convocation ceremony will celebrate nearly 200 additional graduates as they join this remarkable class.

9. A year of unprecedented reputation gains and record graduate employment

In 2025, ASU Law celebrated record-high employment numbers for JD graduates and continued to climb in national rankings. ASU Law’s commitment to student success is reflected in its 95% employment rate for the Class of 2024, with graduates securing full-time, long-term positions that require or prefer bar admission or enrolling in further graduate studies within 10 months of graduation.

In the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings, released in April 2025, ASU Law is the top 20 public law school in the U.S. In addition to its overall ranking, ASU Law’s specialty programs received national recognition, with seven programs ranked in the top 35 in their respective fields. These include legal writing (No. 3), dispute resolution (No. 9), health care law (No. 13), environmental law (No. 16), constitutional law (No. 31), criminal law (No.32) and tax law (No.35).

ASU Law’s Legal Method and Writing program has consistently ranked in the top 10 for 16 consecutive years, as well as its Lodestar Dispute Resolution Center, which has been ranked in the top 15 for 12 consecutive years.

10. Landmark appointments signal growth and leadership

ASU Law strengthened its academic community this year with key leadership hires and six new faculty members joining in the 2025–2026 academic year. Together, these appointments bring expanded expertise across civil rights, corporate law, torts, health law, legal writing and clinical practice, reinforcing ASU Law’s commitment to innovation and student success.

Faculty appointments:

• Elissa Gentry,  health law, torts, law and economics
• Christopher Heo, legal method and writing; legal advocacy
• David Lopez, civil rights, labor and employment, immigration
• Tara Mospan, legal method and writing; legal advocacy
• Tracy Ortega, civil litigation
• Gregory Shill, corporate law, local government

Leadership and administrative appointments:

• Jennifer Albright, Inaugural JD Online Student Services Director
• Brittany Broombaugh, Senior Director of Development
• Andrea Cayley, Executive Director, Center for Law and Global Affairs
• Daniel Drane, Executive Director, Wolin Family Center for Intellectual Property and the Center for Law, Science and Innovation
• Zachary Gubler, Associate Dean of Research and Faculty Development
• Art Hinshaw, Associate Dean of Experiential Learning
• Jeff Lord, Professor of Practice
• Sean Harrington, AI and Legal Tech Studio

These appointments collectively strengthen ASU Law’s academic depth, leadership capacity and service to students and the broader legal community.

11. Wolin Family Center for Intellectual Property opens its doors

With the launch of the Wolin Family Center for Intellectual Property, ASU Law deepened its presence in intellectual property research and education, positioning Phoenix as a growing hub for innovation law and technology commercialization. The Wolin Center was curated and inspired by alum Harry Wolin (JD ‘88), to serve as a national leader in preparing the next generation of attorneys to navigate the rapidly evolving IP landscape.

12. ASU Law launches AI and Legal Tech Studio

ASU Law launched its new AI and Legal Tech Studio, a major step in advancing the college’s leadership in innovation and integrating emerging technologies across legal education. The studio will be led by Sean Harrington, who will guide its development and help translate rapid advancements in AI into practical tools, curriculum and partnerships for students and the broader legal community.

13. International collaboration expands: ASU Law and Ajou University form historic partnership

In 2025, ASU Law and Ajou University formalized a partnership aimed at strengthening global legal education, student exchange and cross-border research. The agreement positions ASU Law as a leader in international collaboration in research and law programming.

14. Schiefelbein Global Dispute Resolution Conference returns with influence

The Seventh Annual Schiefelbein Global Dispute Resolution Conference convened diplomats, arbitrators, scholars and industry leaders in Geneva, Switzerland, to explore the changing role of dispute resolution in an era of technological disruption and geopolitical change.

This year’s keynote speaker, Anthony Patt, professor of climate policy at ETH Zürich and director of the ETH Climate Policy Lab, delivered a talk that many described as transformative. A veteran contributor to multiple IPCC reports and a leading thinker on decarbonization pathways, Patt revealed compelling evidence that the global energy transition is happening at a pace few imagined possible.

15. Civil Rights, Migration and Workplace Law Initiative launches

ASU Law deepened its public service mission with the launch of a new initiative focused on civil rights, migration policy, workplace justice and community-engaged legal research.

The initiative, led by Professor David Lopez, focuses on how law shapes access to economic and political opportunity and promotes strategies for meaningful change in Arizona, the Southwest and beyond.

16. New Master of Legal Studies emphasis areas meet community and industry needs

To serve Tribal nations, government agencies and private-sector partners, ASU Law introduced new Master of Legal Studies tracks in:

• Navajo Nation Law
• Federal Contracting
• Land Use and Property Development

These pathways reflect ASU Law’s responsiveness to real-world legal and regulatory demands.

17. ASU Law tops the nation in legal master’s graduates

ASU Law continues its excellence in legal education and access, and is recognized for being No. 1 in the U.S. for Master of Legal Studies graduates. The distinction reflects the program’s accessibility, flexibility and growing relevance in business, health care, technology and public administration. Enrollment in masters programs at ASU Law increased again in 2025.

18. TechTainment sells out again

This year’s TechTainment conference, co-organized with ASU Law and the Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association, where entertainment law meets technology, reached capacity ahead of schedule. Panels of experts explored AI-generated content, music licensing, digital privacy and the legal complexities behind modern storytelling and media.

19. U of A and ASU collaboration video goes viral

A collaborative and creative video project on social media between Arizona’s law schools showcased unity and creativity, demonstrating how a shared mission can span institutional lines.

20. Spotlight on clinics: ASU Law shares impact through video

A new series of videos featuring ASU Law clinics showcases the impact of hands-on legal training. Students advocated for small business owners, supported Tribal communities and worked to expand access to justice across Arizona.

The series highlighted how clinical experiences prepare students to serve clients and communities from day one.

21. Taylor Swift copyright analysis captivates audiences

An ASU Law Talks article examining the legal dimensions of Taylor Swift’s copyright battles became one of the year’s most engaging pieces, especially resonating with readers as it coincided with the release of her latest album. The story broke down complex concepts through a pop culture lens, offering an accessible look at how intellectual property law shapes real-world creative industries.

22. ASU Law’s top social media post of 2025

ASU Law’s most-viewed Instagram post of 2025 tapped into the popular Love Island–inspired “mommy/mamacita” trend to spotlight the launch of the online and part-time JD, celebrating community, belonging and the confidence students bring to their legal journey. The playful post drew hundreds of thousands of interactions and showcased the vibrant, supportive culture that defines the ASU Law experience.

23. Faculty excellence recognized across the nation

ASU Law faculty earned a slate of honors in 2025, including:

1. ASU Law’s Tamara Herrera honored with awards for excellence in legal writing and service
2. ASU Law Professor Jon Sands receives Ninth Circuit’s John P. Frank Award
3. Professor Robert J. Miller honored with Lifetime Achievement Award from Native American Bar Association of Arizona
4. Ann Ching elected to the Board of the Association of Legal Writing Directors
5. Aaron Hernandez named to the 2025 Phoenix Business Journal 40 Under 40 list
6. ASU Law’s Myles Lynk honored with ABA’s top ethics award
7. Myles Lynk receives the 2025 ABF Outstanding Service Award
8. Patty Ferguson-Bohnee wins The Phoenix Business Journal’s 2025 Outstanding Women in Business award
9. ASU Law Professor Rhett Larson receives the ASU Founders’ Day Faculty Service Award
10. ASU Law Lodestar Dispute Resolution Center faculty win CPR’s Outstanding Professional Article Award
11. Dean Stacy Leeds named to AZ Big Media’s 50 Arizona business leaders to watch in 2025
12. Australian government appoints Diana Bowman as Honorary Consul for Arizona

Together, these honors underscore ASU Law’s reputation as home to some of the nation’s most influential legal scholars and practitioners.

24. New virtual tour welcomes the world into ASU Law

ASU Law released an enhanced virtual tour in 2025, offering a digital walkthrough of the Beus Center for Law and Society. The tour highlights clinics, classrooms and student spaces and gives prospective students and partners an inside look at life at ASU Law.

25. A win down under for MSLB students

The Master of Sports Law and Business program took its learning abroad this year, traveling to Melbourne, Australia — a city where sports, culture and innovation intersect. Students immersed themselves in Melbourne’s rich sports tradition and vibrant neighborhoods while meeting with industry leaders who offered a window into the international sports marketplace. The experience broadened their understanding of global opportunities and strengthened the program’s international reach.

A narrative of progress: 2025 as a turning point for ASU Law

From global partnerships to faculty accolades, and from new academic pathways to digital innovation, 2025 reinforced the college’s mission to educate future lawyers and leaders who advance justice, serve communities and adapt with integrity in an era of rapid change.

The year will be remembered as a turning point in ASU Law’s ongoing story.