State Bar honors alumni

July 01, 2009

Four College of Law graduates received awards during a luncheon June 26, at the 2009 State Bar of Arizona Annual Convention in Phoenix.<separator></separator>Victoria Tandy (Class of 2007) received the Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, which recognizes outstanding efforts in law-related service to the community or the Bar by a member of the Bar's Young Lawyers Division. Tandy, whose undergraduate degree is from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Bogota, practices in the areas of commercial litigation, international arbitration and intellectual property as an associate at Quarles & Brady LLP.<separator></separator>"I am honored to receive this award because it is an affirmation that positive results come after hard work," said Tandy, 30. "Not only is a great motivator to continue developing my practice, but also a great personal satisfaction after having to overcome several obstacles over the last few years. To see myself here now and remember that I came to this country by myself with one suitcase and without speaking English just seven years ago is unbelievable.<separator></separator>"This award is also a great reflection of the changes happening in the legal profession, as far as embracing diversity and opening doors to everyone who is willing to pursue their dreams," she said.<separator></separator>Tandy founded the Victoria Tandy Award for Diversity for first- and second-generation immigrants at the College of Law, was named New Attorney of the Year in 2008 by the Maricopa County Volunteer Lawyers Program, volunteers for the Arizona Justice Project and chairs the China Women's Federal Shanghai Steering Subcommittee.<separator></separator>Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Ruth McGregor (Class of 1974) received the James A. Walsh Outstanding Jurist Award. It is given to a judge whose career exemplifies the highest standards of judicial conduct for integrity and independence and who endeavors to improve the administration of justice.<separator></separator>McGregor, a former clerk for (Ret.) U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, is a former trial attorney and Arizona Court of Appeals Judge who joined the Arizona Supreme Court in 1998. She has been chief justice since 2005, and is retiring on June 30, 2009.<separator></separator>The justice chairs the ABA's Section on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Conference on Chief Justices.<separator></separator>Linda Dayish Benally (Class of 2003) received the Hal Israel Community Service Award, which recognizes a young lawyer who gives generously of his or her time and knowledge to the community through Bar-sponsored programs and initiatives. The award is named for Herman Allen "Hal" Israel, whose great mind and generous spirit were inspirational.<separator></separator>Benally, a member of the Diné Nation, is an attorney at Pinnacle West Capital Corp., where she practices regulatory and contract law.<separator></separator>Her list of service is lengthy: she is on the State Bar of Arizona's Diversity Task Force, served on the Bar Leadership Institute's inaugural Board of Directors/Selection Panel, is a founding member and board member of the Native American Bar Association of Arizona, is on the board of the Phoenix Indian Center and the National Native American Bar Association and also gives her time to several other organizations.<separator></separator>Nancy Logan (Class of 1977) will receive the Public Lawyer Career Achievement Award, which honors a retired or retiring public attorney who has had a distinguished career. The Bar is recognizing her "compassion for and commitment to abused and neglected children, as demonstrated by her strong advocacy on child-welfare issues.<separator></separator>Logan recently retired as an assistant attorney general in the Child and Family Protection Division of the Arizona Attorney General's Office. She is considered an expert in many areas of child welfare, including the Indian Child Welfare Act, and the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.<separator></separator>Logan expects to continue training attorneys, judges, Child Protective Service staff and others on a wide-range of issues. She also is working with the Social Security Office of Disability Abjudication and Review.<separator></separator>Janie Magruder, <a href="mailto:Jane.Magruder@asu.edu">Jane.Magruder@asu.edu</a> (480) 727-9052 Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law