The Beus Center for Law and Society (BCLS) is the new home to the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, as well as several other organizations. The building space uses form and function to connect students, visitors, and the general public to the role of justice in society. The BCLS was designed to be inviting, engaging, and accessible to everyone who is interested in learning about the law, its effect on our daily lives, and the many services and resources available through ASU and other BCLS partners.
Plans for the BCLS were unveiled on December 2013. Construction on the six-story, $129 million building began in the summer of 2014. ASU Law students will find their learning experiences and opportunities enhanced by being steps away from the legal, political, and economic heart of Arizona in the nation’s sixth-largest city. This move to downtown Phoenix makes it easier for students to network with alumni and other experts, as well as prospective employers.
The BCLS fosters collaboration among its occupants, including the Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics, The McCain Institute for International Leadership, the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute, Arizona Voice for Crime Victims, Arizona Justice Project, and the ASU Alumni Law Group— the nation’s first teaching law firm that also helps the community gain access to affordable legal services. The ASU Campus Stores – Downtown Phoenix, City Central Coffee, and the restaurant (coming soon) are open to the public. The building also includes Think Tank spaces for grant-funded, interdisciplinary research projects. The BCLS will further play a major role in helping members of the community understand their legal rights. To that end, a community outreach-focused organization — the Arizona Legal Center — will act as a conduit for the public to access legal support.
ASU Law is proud to be a part of the BCLS, an endeavor that will further the legacy and work of the college’s namesake — Justice Sandra Day O’Connor — who is devoted to ensuring citizens learn about and understand the importance of rule of law and civic engagement.
