From the Dean
Speaking with students is one of my favorite parts of being dean. At Lewis & Clark Law School, I’ve discovered a rare and powerful combination: students who pair fierce dedication to their mission with deep collaboration and a genuine commitment to each other’s success.
Dear Lewis & Clark Law Community,
Speaking with students is one of my favorite parts of being dean. At Lewis & Clark Law School, I’ve discovered a rare and powerful combination: students who pair fierce dedication to their mission with deep collaboration and a genuine commitment to each other’s success.
This spirit shines through in moments I witness every day, and in the stories shared throughout this magazine.
One evening, as I was working late, a second-year student burst into my office, beaming: “I have to tell someone. I just won my first jury trial!” To have a student already trying—and winning—a jury trial is a remarkable achievement. That success came about from an innovative collaboration with elected officials, public defenders, and faculty. It’s a great example of what we do best here: train exceptional lawyers while serving our community.
Our faculty embody these same values. Their scholarship and advocacy are shaping national and international conversations—from environmental policy to intellectual property.
That culture of innovation and service doesn’t end at graduation. In meeting so many of you this past year, I have been struck by how our alumni carry this ethos into the world. Whether practicing in a major law firm or forging a new path, Lewis & Clark alumni consistently apply their talents to serve their clients, professions, and communities. Their stories, too, fill this magazine and represent the enduring impact of a Lewis & Clark education.
The challenges facing our world are significant, but I remain profoundly optimistic. Every day, I see the path forward in the determination of our students, the expertise of our faculty, and the engagement of our alumni. I am honored to lead this remarkable institution, and inspired every day by what we will continue to build together.
With gratitude,
Alicia Ouellette
Jordan D. Schnitzer Dean Lewis & Clark Law School
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Beyond the Bar
Most graduates of law school go on to practice law, working in law firms or providing legal counsel to organizations and businesses. Yet, for some, the lessons of law apply more broadly, and the outcome of their law school education has been a surprising and successful career outside of law. Here are just a few of our alums who followed an alternative route.
Law Students Bridge the Gap in Oregon’s Public Defender Crisis
Any discussion of public defense in Oregon—and in many states—must acknowledge the elephant in the room: There aren’t enough public defense attorneys available to represent clients, and that’s causing a constitutional crisis.