Amy Lopez
Senior Assistant Legal Counsel
Bio
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.
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Education and Admissions
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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
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Professional Distinctions and Affiliations
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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
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2026
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- Classified Staff Issues, OSPA Summer Retreat
- Employment Separation Process, PACE Day
- Hot Topics: What District Leaders Need to Know, OASBO Winter Conference
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2025
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- How to Conduct Investigations, COSA School Law Conference
- Public Meetings – Required Training, OSBA Annual Convention
- Complaint Procedures and Hearings, OSBA Summer Board Conferences
- Navigating ADA: Mastering the Interactive Process and Leave Laws, PACE Day
- Preparing for RIF/Layoffs, COSA – New Superintendents Academy
- Not in Our School – The Administrator’s Role in Preventing & Addressing Bullying, OSPA Virtual Winter Retreat
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2023
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- Minimizing Employment Liability, OSBA Annual Conference
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2022
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- Public Records – Hot Topics Table, OSBA Annual Convention
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2019
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- 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
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2018
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- Hiring Practices, PACE Webinar
- Student Civil Rights, COSA Oregon School Law Conference
