Biography
Neal O. Alnajran
Anticipated Graduation: May 2022
Hometown? I was born and raised in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and moved to the United States in 2012. I lived in Madison, WI and New York, NY prior to coming to Portland in 2015.
Undergraduate & Previous Work Experience. I graduated from Portland State University (PSU) with a degree in electrical engineering. During college, I interned for PacifiCorp, CertainTeed Corp., and Continuous Solutions.
Are you currently employed? If so, with whom? Not currently, but this Summer I will return to Klarquist Sparkman, LLP as a Summer Associate and also work with Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, PC.
What sparked your interest in studying intellectual property law? As an electrical engineering student, I was automatically boxed into intellectual property law. My first instinct was to resist being boxed in too early. However, after having some experience working with patent litigation, I learned more about myself and what I like. I now can see myself working in intellectual property law because I truly enjoy the complexities of both the law and science.
What do you find most interesting/surprising about intellectual property law? The difference between patent “prosecution” and “litigation.” I thought they were one in the same, but I quickly learned they were not. What is most interesting to me is how trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets work in tandem to protect a business’s identity and value. While they are all separate disciplines of intellectual property law, seeing how they work together has been fascinating!
Are you involved with any extracurricular activities? I am currently on Lewis & Clark’s Law Review, a member of Phi Alpha Delta, a student mentor for the incoming class, and also involved in diversity issues within the law school community and the Oregon bar at large. I try to seize any opportunity I can to advance the rights of minority groups.
What do you like to do for fun? I love traveling. I frequent Bend, the Coast, Hood River and smaller towns in-between. I enjoy cooking as much as I enjoy exploring what the Portland scene offers. I run on weekends to de-stress.
Favorite places in Portland? Portland Center Stage at The Armory is by far my favorite place in Portland, but the Moda Center and Providence Park are tied for second when the Blazers and Timbers are in town.
Why did you pick Lewis & Clark Law School? The relatively smaller size of class, coupled with the collaborative environment, made Lewis & Clark the right fit for me. Not to mention that the campus is in a forest. Also, I live in Portland and want to remain here after law school.
What do you like most about Lewis & Clark? The sense of community the school provides is what I like most about Lewis & Clark, and the quality of the students, faculty, and staff is beyond excellent.
What has been your favorite experience so far? I really enjoy meeting people from different backgrounds and experiences.
Any advice for new students? Know that whatever feeling you may have, someone else is feeling that too, so find them!