Chase Millea: 2016 Best and Brightest

Chase Millea
Chase Millea
Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona
Undergraduate School: Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University
Undergraduate Major and Minor: Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy
 
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During Law School:

  • President, Health Law Society
  • President, International Law Students Association
  • Associate Editor, Jurimetrics Journal for Law Science and Technology
  • Willard H. Pedrick Scholar (Deans List)
  • C.A.L.I. Award (top score in class): Health Law & Policy, Foreign Relations
  • Homeless Legal Assistance Project

Where have you interned during law school?

  • Coppersmith Brockelman PLC, Phoenix AZ
  • United States Department of Justice, Phoenix Immigration Court

What practice area will you be specializing in after graduation? I plan to specialize in the areas of healthcare and health technology. Specifically I look forward to assisting burgeoning companies with bringing cutting-edge technologies to market.
Why did you choose to attend law school? I chose to attend law school to establish a foundation of knowledge to contribute to the progress of medicine, science, and technology. With skills in research, writing, and advocacy, I found the law to be the tool with which I could best achieve this goal. 
What was your favorite law school class? My favorite law school class was Foreign Relations. Led by Professor David Gartner, our small group was able to engage on complex questions of the United States’ relationship with the international community and placed us in the shoes of the top decision-makers in our nation.
Which attorney do you most admire? The attorney I admire most is my grandfather James S. Millea. I never met him as he passed away before I was born. However, I admire the countless stories of his profound impact on his community and his family through the practice of law.
What have you enjoyed most about law school? I have enjoyed most about law school the opportunity to engage with some of the most brilliant people in Phoenix and beyond. From attorneys, judges, business owners, and fellow students, my interactions during law school have generated in me a genuine excitement to begin my practice.
What word best describes your professional brand? May I use three? Smarter not harder.
If you were debt free, how would you spend your first paycheck after landing your first law job? I would book a trip for my amazing parents to any place of their choosing.
“I knew I wanted to go to law school when…I realized that every facet of industry and personal life are governed by rules. We can learn to both work with them, and even better, change them to the benefit of our society.”
“If I didn’t go to law school, I would be…figuring out the next steps for a biotech startup.”
Which academic or personal achievement are you most proud of? I am most proud of starting my first company as an undergraduate, failing in the end, but learning to appreciate the lessons and apply them the next time.
Fun fact about yourself: I was a rock climbing stunt double for Patrick Wilson in a feature film, The Switch.
Favorite book: Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
Favorite movie: A Few Good Men
What are your hobbies? I love cycling, yoga, playing music, and quality time at the grill.
What made Chase such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2016?
“Chase Millea epitomizes what a great law student should be. He is a stellar performer in the classroom. Achieving my CALI award in Health Law and Policy among 40+ students in 2014 is no small feat. Chase is a leader among his student peers, serving as President of multiple entities including the student Health Law Society. He is an active scholar through his work on Jurimetrics and publication of his commentary. He has pursued outside internships with vigor, worked with some of the premier health law attorneys in Phoenix, and already established relationships with federal agencies for his upcoming DC semester abroad in the Spring 2016.
Chase should be commended for each of these accomplishments, but I also recommend him for this honor based on his capacity to bridge the study of law with its application in the real world. Chase already sees the forest through the trees. He grasps law concepts easily because he seems to understand their application far outside the classroom or internship. He not only has the foresight to assess his future role as a professional, but understands that applying his talents for the betterment of society is the ultimate goal.
There is no grade for this type of achievement in law school – only this award and the lifetime of success as an attorney which follows. For all of the reasons noted above I strongly support Chase for this outstanding recognition.”
James Hodge
Professor of Public Health and Ethics
Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
 

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