The LENS - August 2026
There is something special about the start of a new academic year at ASU Law. Our halls are once again filled with energy and the sense of possibility that comes with a fresh start. This month, we welcomed more than 600 new students across our six degree programs. They arrive with different backgrounds, experiences and aspirations, but they share a common purpose: to learn, grow and discover how they can use the law to make an impact. I am excited to see what they will accomplish during their time here and beyond. As we begin this new academic year together, I look forward to all that lies ahead and to sharing the stories, ideas and accomplishments that will shape another exciting year at ASU Law. Thank you for being part of our community, and welcome to the August edition of The LENS.
Angela M. Banks
Interim Dean and Charles J. Merriam Distinguished Professor of Law
Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
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Welcome to ASU Law, Class of 2029!
A new class of Sun Devils officially began their law school journey this month. Take a look inside JD Orientation as our newest students met their classmates, heard from ASU Law faculty and leaders, and experienced their first moments as members of the ASU Law community.
Upcoming events
Beus Center for Law and Society, W. P. Carey Foundation Armstrong Great Hall
12:10 - 1:30 p.m.
Beus Center for Law and Society, Room 544
Faculty in the news
- Tribal Business News: People on the move in Indian Country (Bob Miller)
- The Petrie-Flom Center: Supreme Court Signals Reticence to Protect Public Health (James Hodge)
- New America: Respecting the Agency of the Unhoused (Ben McJunkin)
- Derechos y Esperanza: Part III: From Immigrants' Rights Resistance and Activism to Advocacy: How Growing Up in Undocumented and Mixed-Status Families Following the State's Enactment of SB 1070… (David Lopez)
- ASU News: ASU Law’s latest initiative aims to prepare future lawyers for the AI era (Sean Harrington)
- Daily Mail: Divorced dad's attempt to bond with his daughter ended in tragedy... now legal experts say it could spark seismic shift in America's gun law (Ben McJunkin)
- The Yuma Sun: Ensuring Arizona's water future (Rhett Larson)
- KJZZ: Tohono O'odham weigh legal options after U.S. court denies bid to stop wall construction on land (Bob Miller)
- MPR News: New generation of Native entrepreneurs building an economic future grounded in culture, history (Bob Miller)
- National Academies: ARPA-E Plays Unique and Valuable Role in Energy Innovation and Should Be Reliably Funded, Says New Report (Gary Marchant)
- Law.com: ABA Council Extends Test-Optional Admissions Variance by 3 Years (ASU Law)
- National Law Review: The 2026 Top 50 Legal Innovators in Academia (Sean Harrington and Joseph R. Tiano, Jr.)
- Bloomberg Law: Judge-Made Rule Criticism Endangers Manager Retaliation Standard (Michael Selmi)
ASU Law Talks
ASU Law Talks is a recurring series of posts written by expert law faculty and staff with deep knowledge in legal education, empowering you to make informed decisions about your legal education journey.
Faculty Scholarship
- Introduction To The Uniform Commercial Code And 2022 Amendments by Lawrence J. Trautman, Mark Edwin Burge, Michael Conklin, Laura Coordes, Brian Elzweig, Larry D. Foster, II, Adam J. Levitin, F. E. Guerra-Pujol, John Paul, Kurt M. Saunders and Kevin White
- Private Standards as Liability Shields: A Pro-Innovation Artificial Intelligence Regulatory Approach for States by Gary E. Marchant and Jordan Buckwald
- Transnational Campus Borderlands by Khaled A. Beydoun and Sheldon Evans
Stay informed by exploring our scholars' contributions and subscribing to ASU Law’s SSRN eJournal for updates on the newest research.
ASU Law is hiring for the following positions:
Communications Specialist
As part of the strategic Marketing and Communications team at ASU Law, this position primarily supports the college's social media and storytelling efforts by planning and creating engaging content, capturing photos and video, drafting and scheduling social media posts, and identifying and writing compelling stories for the ASU Law Newsroom.
Executive Director of Finance and Business Operations
ASU Law seeks an accomplished executive leader to provide strategic oversight of the College’s finance, business operations and human resources functions.
Changing Futures: Sandra Day O' Connor College of Law Scholarship Fund
Your support of the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law Scholarship Fund helps make a legal education possible for talented students who might not otherwise have the opportunity. By easing the financial burden of law school, your generosity allows students to focus on their education, pursue meaningful experiences and prepare to become the next generation of legal leaders.
Stay up to date with ASU Law announcements and stories by visiting our newsroom.
Contact ASU Law at [email protected]