Oregon Law

💎 Congratulations the 2026 Oregon Law Going the Extra Mile (GEM) award recipients: Georgia Williams (Classified, Left), Tash O'Brien (Officer of Administration, Center), and Associate Professor David P. Weber (Faculty, Right). Nominated by their colleagues, the GEM award is awarded to individuals who demonstrate excellence in leadership, community and inclusion, professionalism, superior service, teamwork and collaboration, and creativity and innovation. 👏

Oregon Law’s Jennifer Espinola, dean of students and director of the Frohnmayer Leadership Program, has been selected as one of twenty 2026 Outstanding Employees at the University of Oregon! 🙌 🎉 UO Human Resources administers the Outstanding Employee Awards annually, recognizing classified staff and officers of administration who exemplify excellence in their work and uplift the UO community.

”Through her work as dean of students in the School of Law and as co-creator and facilitator of the UO Leadership Academy, Espinola has empowered hundreds of faculty and staff to see themselves as leaders and agents of positive change. Participants gain tools, confidence, and perspective, creating a powerful ripple effect that strengthens teams, departments and the broader university community.”

Learn more about the award and this year’s recipients: https://bit.ly/430H7mG

🦆 Law Ducks earning pro bono hours and student employees of the Oregon Law's Public Service and Policy Program helped make this year’s South Willamette Law Day at the Knight Law Center a success.

💼 A collaborative effort between Oregon Law, the Lane County Bar Association, and the Civics Learning Project, Law Day seeks to engage local high school students in timely conversation about issues shaping our democracy and legal system.

⚖️ Law Day 2026 allowed nearly 200 students to learn about careers in law, hear from judges, attorneys, and regional journalists, and explore the 2026 theme, “Civics from the Ground Up.”

From the classroom to Nike HQ, Oregon Law’s new sports law program is already making moves. Launched in 2025 and led by Associate Professor David P. Weber, a nationally recognized expert in name, image, and likeness (NIL) law, the program blends academics and real-world experience to prepare the next generation of sports attorneys.

As college athletics experiences historic change, including new rules allowing direct payments to student-athletes, Weber and our are at the center of the action, exploring one of the fastest-growing areas of legal practice.

Read more:

Faculty director of new sports law program reads the field Associate Professor David Weber offers insights on hot topics and a trending legal specialty

For student-athletes, NIL continues to be one of the most dynamic and impactful areas shaping the future of college athletics.

In today’s The Black Student-Athlete Summit session, “Navigating NIL: Name, Image & Likeness – What Every Student-Athlete Needs to Know,” Oregon Law Professor David P. Weber and Excel Sports Management executives Nima Zarrabi, Tim Love, and Ryan Tollner broke down the ever-evolving NIL landscape, from its lack of consistent regulation to the rise of traditional NIL deals and new revenue-sharing models. They unpacked the growing influence of collectives and multi-media rights entities, and walked through key updates from the College Sports Commission, including how to navigate NIL Go standards and processes.

Attendees also got a real-world look at NIL marketing pitfalls, the impact of NIL on transfer portal decisions, and why understanding your tax obligations is critical. Bottom line: if you’re interested in sports law, NIL isn’t just relevant—it’s the future of college athletics.

Big plans started here ✨. During today’s The Black Student-Athlete Summit Law Lab, leaders in the Oregon Law community gave an inside look at the law school admissions process and the many paths within the legal profession ⚖️. Attendees discovered how to turn their experiences as student-athletes into standout personal statements, offering valuable tips to confidently prepare for a career in law 🎓.

Oregon Law truly enjoyed hosting BSAS 🤝. Gathering in community to learn, connect, and grow reminds us of the power of education to support leadership—on the field, in the classroom, and beyond. We were honored to create a space rooted in shared learning and purpose.

👏 Oregon Law celebrates the achievements of these 🦆 alumni:

* Jane Vetto, BA ’88, JD ’91, appointed as new Benton County Counsel
* Britney A. Colton, JD ’03, joined Redgrave LLP as Chief Operating Officer
* Hon. Beatrice N. Grace, BA ’09, JD ’15, received the inaugural Amicus Award from the Oregon Law Legal Research and Writing Program
* Lauren Bernton, JD ’16, awarded “40 under 40” by The Portland Business Journal, 2026

🎉 Oregon Law proudly recognizes three faculty members who received distinguished University of Oregon and law school awards for excellence in teaching and legal education:

🏆 Kristen Bell (left), associate professor and faculty director of the Public Service and Policy Program, is the 2026 recipient of Oregon Law’s Orlando John Hollis Faculty Teaching Award for excellence in classroom instruction.

🏆 Megan McAlpin (center), clinical professor in the Legal Research and Writing (LRW) Program, received the University of Oregon’s Thomas F. Herman Faculty Achievement Award for Distinguished Teaching. The award recognizes senior faculty who demonstrate sustained excellence in teaching and have a meaningful impact on student learning.

🏆 Suzanne Rowe (right), the James L. and llene R. Hershner Professor and director of the LRW Program, received Oregon Law’s Meritorious Service Award, which recognizes extraordinary contributions to legal education and the law.

👏 Congratulations to these outstanding educators, whose work advances student career readiness and the legal profession.

Read the full news story: https://bit.ly/43fmzGZ

👏 You did it! Congratulations Oregon Law JD Class of 2026 on your graduation! 🎓 💚 🦆 💛

🎉 day of giving is today!

🎓 Oregon Law graduates are practice-ready, well-trained both in doctrine and skills, and prepared to hit the ground running.

💬 “At Oregon Law, professors, administrators, and staff make you feel they want you to be successful. It’s beautiful to see how passionate they are about every student succeeding. Thank you so much for all your support. 🦆💚 Go Ducks!” ~ Aubrey Thurman, second year

🌟 Your support helps students turn purpose into practice and ambition into action.

🙏 Please consider giving today and help the newest members of our community succeed in law school, in their first roles, and throughout their careers. 💼⚖️🚀

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