"The Sanity Game: Balancing Your Life and the Law"

Guest Speaker: Kate Brown was elected Oregon’s 24th Secretary of State in 2008. She was born in Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain. After spending most of her childhood in Minnesota, she earned a B.A. in Environmental Conservation from the University of Colorado and earned her law degree at Lewis and Clark Law School graduating in 1985.

Brown has taught at Portland State University, and practiced family and juvenile law. She served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1991 to 1996 and then won election to the Oregon State Senate. In 2004 she was elected by her colleagues to be the first woman to serve as Oregon’s Senate Majority Leader. .

Secretary Brown has led successful efforts to make Oregon’s state government open and accessible, helped to fund a comprehensive review of Oregon’s ethics laws, spearheaded legislation creating a searchable online campaign database and reformed Oregon’s initiative process.

2009 Harpole Attorney Award

Sarah Troutt is the eleventh Harpole Award recipient. An attorney since 1995, Sarah practiced law for several years in Salem as a partner in the law firm of McClinton & Troutt LLC. She became a claims attorney at the Professional Liability Fund in September 2008. Sarah has been an active volunteer for the Oregon State Bar, the Marion County Bar Association, and Oregon Women Lawyers. She served on the Oregon Board of Bar Examiners from 2000 to 2003, serving as co-Chair of the Board in 2003. She is the current President of the Willamette Valley American Inn of Court, a member of the Executive Committee of the OSB Litigation Section, and a member of the Oregon Rules of Appellate Procedure Committee. In 2000, she was presented with the Wallace Carson Award for Service to the Bar. She is universally respected by her colleagues and by judges for the quality of her work as well as for the professional manner in which she conducts herself.

Throughout her career, Sarah has kept her perspective about life's priorities. She has been married to Chad Colburn since 1991, and they have one child, Drew, age 11. Sarah is actively involved with Drew's educational and extra-curricular activities. She also spends time running, cooking, communing with her extended family and friends, and volunteering in the community.

2009 Harpole Memorial Legacy Scholarship

The Eleventh Annual Harpole Memorial Legacy Scholarship will be awarded to Natasha Richmond. Richmond is active in Lewis & Clark Law School student activities and community activities. She is the Head TA for the Legal Writing department while continuing to clerk for Safeco Insurance part-time. Natasha is also a member of the Environmental Law Review, and made sure to squeeze in her favorite coursesinto her schedule.

Natasha is also careful not to neglect her own personal welfare and private time. She regularly enjoys going on long walks, going to the gym, doing yoga, traveling, and making hand-stamped greeting cards.

Registration Information

Please register by Friday, March 27.

Special Assistance:
If you have a disability and need special assistance, please advise the
Office of Alumni Relations when you register.

For event questions, contact Robin Jerke
at 503-768-6607 or email lawalum@lclark.edu.

Past Harpole Recipients
Harpole Committee Members