August 22, 2025

Networks that last a lifetime: ASU Law alumni welcome students to their legal journey

At the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, connection is more than a buzzword — it’s a tradition that begins before the first day of classes. During orientation each fall, alumni, judges and legal leaders open their homes to welcome incoming students, offering not just advice but a network of support that will last throughout law school and beyond.

 

“Law school is a marathon, not a sprint, and the connections you make will be just as valuable as what you learn in the classroom,” ASU Law alum John Shufeldt (JD ‘05) said.

 

Of all the advice given to law students, one theme recurred throughout orientation: Connections are everything.

 

“Be intentional about the relationships you cultivate, because in this profession, your reputation and connections will often carry as much weight as the academic accomplishments on your resume,” ASU Law alum Grant Frazier (JD ‘19) said. 

 

What better way to begin a law school journey than to start it with the support of those who have been through it before? On Aug. 13, ASU Law welcomed 266 law students at orientation. The next day, 56 ASU Law alumni hosted and joined 16 dinners across the Phoenix area to welcome new JD, LLM and transfer students. A total of 120 local legal community members participated, including 35 federal and state judges, current and former public officials, and prominent law firm and business leaders.

 

“Seeing how passionate and excited our alumni and legal community are to welcome our newest students inspires me every year,” said Lauren Burkhart, assistant dean for alumni and community engagement at ASU Law. “It’s an incredible testament to their investment and support. From day one, our students have access to an accomplished professional network that’s eager to mentor, support and champion them.”  

 

Shufeldt is an emergency physician, entrepreneur and Arizona State University alumnus with more than 35 years of experience leading health care ventures. He earned an MBA in 1995 and a JD in 2005 from ASU, continues to practice emergency medicine and is a published author and speaker. An accomplished aviator, he hosted one of the dinners at his airplane hangar.

 

“I hosted the dinner because I remember how valuable it was, early in my career, to connect with people who had been down the same road. Law school can feel overwhelming, and I wanted to create a space where new students could relax, swap stories and get some honest advice from someone who’s been there,” Shufeldt said. “I hope they left feeling supported, inspired and a little more confident about the road ahead, knowing they’re not alone, and that success is as much about relationships and resilience as it is about grades.”

 

Frazier, managing partner of Frazier Law, PLLC, earned his JD from ASU Law in 2019 and soon after started his own law firm. He has served on ASU Law’s Advisory Council and Arizona’s Civil Rights Advisory Board and remains active in community and professional organizations. 

 

“ASU Law has profoundly shaped my life — both professionally and personally. It equipped me with the skills and fostered the relationships that gave me the confidence to bet on myself and ultimately launch Frazier Law. In fact, seven of the attorneys I have hired at the firm are people I met and built relationships with during my time at ASU Law. Along the way, I was fortunate to have mentors who generously gave their time, opened their homes and offered candid, thoughtful guidance at pivotal moments in my career. Hosting an orientation welcome dinner is one way I can pay that generosity forward,” Frazier said.

 

During the dinners, students conversed with alumni and asked about everything from the use of AI and practicing in different areas of law to the career paths alumni had followed.

 

“I enjoy the energy, optimism and fresh perspectives that students bring,” Frazier said.  “It’s deeply rewarding to play even a small role in their journey, offering guidance that might help them avoid mistakes I’ve made and seize opportunities I almost missed.”

 

“Students ask questions that make me reflect on my own journey, and those conversations often remind me why I pursued these paths in the first place. It’s rewarding to see their excitement and maybe help spark a little more of it,” Shufeldt said.

 

The tradition is designed not only to welcome students, but to plant the seeds of what it means to be part of the ASU Law community — a cycle of connection that begins on day one and extends long past graduation. In a few years, the students who sat at these tables will take their place as alumni, carrying forward the same responsibility to mentor, support and guide those who come after them.

 

“I hope the students leave with two things: first, a network of peers and mentors they can lean on during the inevitable challenges of law school; and second, a deeper understanding that legal education is about far more than casebooks and grades — it’s about building relationships, discovering a sense of professional purpose and finding ways to serve their communities,” Frazier said. “I also hope they leave inspired to pay it forward in contributing to the ASU Law community after graduation. Perhaps by hosting an ASU Law welcome dinner.”

Written by Kourtney Kelley