Pro Bono Attorney Spotlight - Jacob McCormack ’22
The Small Business Legal Clinic is proud to announce that year’s Pro Bono Attorney of the Year is Jacob McCormack. Jacob will receive the award at the Distinguished Business Law Graduate Reception on April 15 at Miller Nash LLP.
Jacob is a Lewis & Clark Law alumnus and current Assistant Director of Admissions for the Law School. He generously volunteers his time with the SBLC working directly with small business clients on their transactional law matters. Jacob interned at the SBLC during Law School, and has been an advocate for the clinic for several years.
Open gallery
Why did you decide to volunteer with the SBLC?
I decided to volunteer with the SBLC right after graduation. I spent multiple semesters working at the SBLC as a student which showed me the need that our community has for legal representation. I hate seeing local businesses get hit with legal issues that could have been avoided if legal representation was more accessible. As an Oregon native, being able to give back to my community in this way means a lot to me.
What type of work do you do as a Pro Bono Attorney for the SBLC?
I have taken on several clients as a Pro Bono Attorney. I personally love working on trademark prosecution cases and assisting clients with copyright issues. But I will also work on cases related to entity selection, contract drafting, and more.
What do you enjoy about volunteering with the SBLC? Are there any challenges?
I love being able to help clients understand the legal nature of their businesses. However, legal matters are rarely simple. For example, picking a business name is more complicated than just checking the Secretary of State’s website. It involves checking other state and federal databases as well as a good search on Google to avoid trademark issues. By educating my clients and advising them on their matters, I find joy in helping them navigate the legal world.
What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, you can mostly find me spending time with my schnoodle (poodle and schnauzer mix), named Westley. I also love to cycle and ski if I have time. I am a bit of a video game nerd, so when our schedules allow, I like to play some online games with friends and catch up on our lives.
