Honoring Director of Earthrise Professor Allison LaPlante ’02
Clinical professor, alum and director of Earthrise Law Center, Allison LaPlante, announced her departure from Earthrise.
Clinical professor, alum and director of Earthrise Law Center, Allison LaPlante, announced her departure from Earthrise and Lewis & Clark as of June 1, 2024, Lia Comerford ’13, is serving as a visiting assistant professor and the acting director of the clinic for the near future.
LaPlante’s departure brings nearly 20 years of exemplary service at the law school to a close. “Allison has taught and trained countless law students how to be effective environmental lawyers as well as helped graduates secure career placements doing environmental legal work across the spectrum of environmental careers,” said Dean Jennifer Johnson in an email to faculty and staff.
In her announcement, LaPlante expressed her gratitude for “the friendships I have built here and the mentorship I have received. I am very proud of the work I have done here over the last two decades, but it is time for me to move on. It was a difficult decision, but it is the right one for me right now.”
She joined Earthrise as a staff attorney and clinical professor of law in 2005.
“She has worked with countless students on real-world complex environmental cases, providing both invaluable experience as well as an example of how to be a terrific lawyer,” says fellow environmental law professor Dan Rohlf.
Hannah Goldblatt ’20, Staff Attorney for Advocates for the West, shared, “When I was a law student, Allison made a concerted effort to plug me into exciting cases and empowered me to take on chunks of briefing, which helped me foster a sense of independence and confidence in my legal thinking.”
Similarly, Audrey Leonard ’20, staff attorney for Columbia Riverkeeper, noted, “The mentorship and trust Allison offered me as a student gave me the confidence to be the advocate I always wanted to be, both for myself and the environment.”
Allison has also been a tireless advocate for our natural resources. “We all literally breathe easier as a result of Allison’s work. Earthrise’s lawsuit against PGE led to a settlement that resulted in closure of a massive coal-fired power plant in eastern Oregon in 2020,” Professor Rohlf notes.
Associate Dean Janice Weis, who leads the environmental law program, added, “Allison is an incredible combination—killer litigator, great educator and mentor to our students, and all around lovely, warm and welcoming person. We have been so lucky to have her all of these years.”
More Stories
From the Dean
Speaking with students is one of my favorite parts of being dean. At Lewis & Clark Law School, I’ve discovered a rare and powerful combination: students who pair fierce dedication to their mission with deep collaboration and a genuine commitment to each other’s success.
A Decade of Dedication:
Professor Lydia Pallas Loren’s Work on the Landmark Restatement of Copyright.
Legal Expertise Supports Migratory Species
Professors Chris Wold and Erica Lyman facilitated a workshop with CMS Parties to discuss the legal contours of some of the treaty’s most important provisions.
Beyond the Bar
Most graduates of law school go on to practice law, working in law firms or providing legal counsel to organizations and businesses. Yet, for some, the lessons of law apply more broadly, and the outcome of their law school education has been a surprising and successful career outside of law. Here are just a few of our alums who followed an alternative route.