Jennifer Bonham

June 2011 

The VLP is pleased to

announce that Jennifer

Bonham has been

selected as our Out-

standing Law Student

Volunteer for the month

of June 2011.  Jennifer is

a second year law student

at the U of A and has been

a participant in the VLP’s

Domestic Relations Clinic. 

Jennifer impressed the VLP

staff so much with her intelligence and strength of character that the VLP asked

her to become one of our three Student Coordinators.  Student Coordinators are

experienced law students that act as liaisons between the law school and the

VLP.  They take on extra responsibility within the program and help manage

the VLP’s clinics.  We are very excited to have Jennifer as a Student Coordinator

for the next two years and we believe that she’ll do a fantastic job in the position!

Jennifer is originally from New York City but her family migrated to Tucson

when she was eight in search of warmer weather.  As an undergraduate, she

studied Art History and Philosophy.  Her thesis focused on eighteenth-century

female portraiture influenced by Turkish themes.  Once she started law school,

Jennifer immediately signed up to volunteer with VLP for the following reason:

     I wanted a hands-on legal experience while I was in law school.  VLP is

     a wonderful resource in the Tucson Community because sometimes the 

     people who are neediest get the least help.  The lawyers who volunteer

     their time at the clinics never appear hurried or short-tempered.  They

     really want to help clients resolve their situation.

Like many of our students, the hands on experience gained from volunteering

with VLP influenced her decision to get involved.  But Jennifer also has a deep

commitment to public service that the VLP’s programs spoke to.  She states

that her dream job would be to work for “Legal Aid, or another non-profit that

gives legal help to people who could not otherwise afford it.”  We asked Jennifer

what she feels is the most important thing she has learned during her time with

the VLP  and she responded, “That a client will sometimes have more legal

issues than he or she thinks, so it’s really important to ask questions

thoroughly and make sure you have all the facts.”  She has also learned a

new mantra of “notice, notice, notice!”

Jennifer decided to go to law school at the University of Arizona to stay near her

husband, who works at Raytheon here in Tucson.  Although she based her

original decision to attend law school at the U of A on logistics, Jennifer says

that she is happy with her decision because of the school’s small class sizes

allows for personal attention from professors.  She also appreciates the non-

competitive and friendly atmosphere among students.  One other perk of the

U of A is all the great professors on staff.  Among Jennifer’s favorites are,

“Professor Atwood for being so warm and friendly, Professor Schneyer for

being so knowledgeable and vibrant, Professor Rose for being quick witted,

and finally Professor Orbach for being so funny!”  

In her free time, Jennifer does a lot of Lindy-hop, which is a 1930’s swing dance

born in Harlem.  Jennifer and her husband teach Lindy-hop classes regularly

and love travelling to different Lindy-hop events.  In July they will be flying to

one of their favorite destinations, Michigan, to attend a swing dancing event

and to go camping.  Jennifer also likes to spend her spare time reading a

good book, listening to vintage jazz, hiking, and cooking (she writes a food

blog!).  This food-lover’s favorite local eateries include Café Poca Cosa,

Zemam’s, and Le Rendez-Vous.

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Past Outstanding Volunteer Student Awards