Amy Lopez

Amy Lopez is a native Oregonian, born in Portland and raised in Ashland. She started primary school in Tigard-Tualatin and moved to Ashland in the fourth grade where she ultimately graduated from High School. Amy played volleyball on a full-ride scholarship at Portland State University and finished college playing softball for the Raiders at Southern Oregon University. Amy obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology & Criminal Justice from Southern Oregon University. Amy earned her law degree from Western Michigan University.

 

Amy joined OSBA’s legal department in March 2018. Prior to joining OSBA, Amy worked for over six years at a private law firm in Sacramento, California representing a variety of public entities in civil litigation matters; school districts were the majority of her caseload. Prior to litigating at a private firm, Amy worked as a public servant for Colusa County Counsel’s Office, and the California Department of Justice in the Appeals, Writs & Trials Section of the Criminal Division.

 

Amy has significant litigation experience in employment and school law matters in both State and Federal Court. Amy provides advice and litigation services to Oregon’s member school districts, charter schools, education service districts, and community colleges.

 

Amy is admitted to practice law in Oregon and California state and federal courts, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

 

Education and Admissions

Southern Oregon University, B.S., 2006

Western Michigan University, Cooley Law School, J.D., 2010

California State Bar, 2011

United States District Court, Eastern District of California, 2014

United States District Court, Northern District of California, 2016

Oregon State Bar, 2017

United States District Court, District of Oregon, 2018

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 2018

 

Professional Distinctions and Affiliations

National Criminal Justice Honor Society – Alpha Phi Sigma

Honors Scholarship Recipient

Certificates of Merit: Business Organizations, and Advanced Writing

Moot Court Best Advocate

Women Lawyers of Sacramento

Sacramento County Bar Association

Jackson County Bar Association

Marion County Bar Association

Federal Bar Association

Association of Defense Counsel, Northern California

Oregon Association of Defense Counsel

Oregon Women Lawyers

National Council of School Attorneys

Oregon Council of School Attorneys

Law Student Mock Interviews, Willamette University College of Law

 

 

Presentations & Trainings

 2022

• Public Records - Hot Topics Table, OSBA Annual Convention 

 2019

• Employment Practices Liability Training, Rogue Community College
• ADA Disability Accommodations and Service Animals, PACE Webinar
• Employee Discipline and Terminations, PACE Day 
• Employment Practices, PACE Webinar
• School Law for Board Members Attorney Panel, OSBA Summer Board Conference
• Student Civil Rights and Discipline, OSBA Summer Board Conference
• Attorney Panel, Douglas ESD Annual Conference
• How to Run a Board Hearing, OSBA Annual Conference
• Public Records Hot Topic, OSBA Annual Conference
• Managing your Public Relations without Making it Your Full-time Job: Records Requests and Complaints, COSA Oregon School Law Conference

 

2018

• Hiring Practices, PACE Webinar
• Student Civil Rights, COSA Oregon School Law Conference