Helping Students to Succeed in Law School
The Academic Success Program provides workshops, small group and individual academic support counseling to assist students in:
- adjusting to a rigorous legal learning environment,
- constructing time management and stress management skills to meet the personal tasks and academic demands of law school,
- identifying individualized learning style preferences to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in academics and practice,
- developing the necessary study skills, classroom preparation and exam preparation tools to succeed in law school,
- maximizing effective writing, analytical, oratory and legal reasoning skills,
- increasing cultural awareness, both personally and professionally.
1LCohort – all incoming students are encouraged to participate I the 1L Cohort. The purpose of 1L Cohort is to teach law students the specific strategies to enhance both efficiency and effectiveness in law school. The 1L Cohort meets once a week throughout the semester. The focus of the 1L Cohort is based upon identified strengths and areas for growth from the learning tools previously administered – LASSI and MIDAS – and targeting interventions that are data-driven to maximize student outcomes.
Workshops - all students are encouraged to attend workshops throughout the academic year to empower efficiency and effectiveness in legal studies. Workshops are led by faculty or the Assistant Dean of Student Academic Outcomes and are scheduled to accommodate the needs of day and evening students. Some of the topics addressed in workshops include:
• Outlining
• Issue Spotting
• Essay Writing
• Multiple Choice Strategies
Individualized Counseling - all students are welcomed to raise questions or concerns with their academic progress and their life as a law student for additional guidance and support.
Orientation - all incoming students are required to attend a two day orientation that addresses a number of administrative matters, provides a comprehensive introduction to the law school experience, and offers an opportunity to meet and mingle with fellow students, faculty and staff.
Bar Prep - all graduating students are encouraged to attend a comprehensive bar strategies course to ensure that students understand the bar review and exam process. The course focuses on how to learn from bar review outlines and lectures; memorize; self-assess understanding; approach and excel on practice bar exam questions, including essay and multiple choice. In addition, the course assists students in developing skills and strategies to manage attitude, stress and study time.
Meet the Team
Kim Erickson
Prior to joining Phoenix School of Law, Kim was a practicing attorney in the Phoenix office of Bryan Cave LLP* in the class action and commercial litigation practice groups. Kim also spent two years in the Corporate Law Department - Litigation Division of State Farm Mutual Insurance Companies in Bloomington, Illinois. She began her practice in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at the firm of Cathcart & Dooley.
Kim graduated with honors from the Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1997, where she competed on the ATLA Mock Trial Competition Teams for two years and received the Woman Law Student of the Year Award. Kim has a bachelor's degree in education from Bowling Green State University. Kim's interest in the learning process and her passion for the self-confidence of students and their personal and professional growth will assist Phoenix School of Law students reach their academic and professional goals.
*Bryan Cave LLP is an international leading business and litigation firm with more than 1000 attorneys and other professionals in 19 offices worldwide.
Jill Hudson
Jill Hudson joined Phoenix School of Law in August 2008 as the Assistant Director of Bar Preparation. As of August 1, 2010, she will be the Senior Bar Strategies Instructor. She is an alumna of the University of Arizona, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (Business Economics). In 1998, Jill earned a Juris Doctorate from Regent University School of Law in Virginia, where she served on the Moot Court Board and competed on the National Moot Court Team. She also contributed to her law school as the Executive Secretary and Executive President of the Student Bar Association.
Immediately following law school and passing the Arizona Bar Exam, Jill served as a Deputy County Attorney for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office where she prosecuted adult felony and misdemeanor crimes.
Prior to joining Phoenix School of Law, Jill was an adjunct professor for Northern Arizona University's Distance Learning Program (an accelerated bachelor degree program for law enforcement officers), Western International University (undergraduate and graduate level classes), and Chandler-Gilbert Community College (both as an adjunct and instructor for their Law Enforcement Training Academy).
Jill's true passion is teaching and encouraging students, and is excited to blend this passion with her experience and education for the benefit of the Phoenix School of Law students.
