Professor of Law, Bill Chin, a 1994 graduate of Lewis & Clark Law School, is retiring from teaching, after thirty years. Teaching mostly first year students in legal writing, lawyering as well as specialty courses in military and veterans law, Professor Chin touched thousands of students taking their first steps to become attorneys.
We asked him to reflect on his remarkable teaching career:
What are you most proud of?
Being part of a collective journey where the law school community increasingly coalesced to evolve a unitary faculty, and belonging to a community filled with vision, drive, and caring.
What teaching moments were memorable, funny, insightful?
During one class when I was lecturing, the class became quite animated. I thought the class was reacting to the brilliant points in my lecture. It turned out the class was freaking out over a spider that was descending from the ceiling. We peered at the spider and debated what to do. Finally, a courageous student retrieved the spider and set it free outside the classroom. During another time, I had a conversation with a student near the end of class and “ineffable prolixity” came up during our chat. I thought, Perhaps there are new things under the sun. I learned a lot from past tip speakers, students who talked to the class for a few minutes on some topic relating to writing, researching, or studying. I greatly enjoyed pizza parties in class when everyone mingled and created a class community. I am grateful for all the students who stepped up when needed including those who volunteered to be an attorney interviewer for mock client interviews in class and others agreeing to argue twice at the Multnomah County Courthouse during moot court competitions to ensure a peer in class had an opposing counsel.
What student interactions will you think of fondly?
Working with those outstanding Lawyering Teaching Fellows who peer mentor our 1Ls; those dedicated students at PILP (Public Interest Law Project); those amazing students in the Minority Law Student Association, Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, and other student groups; and those incredible students on the AEP Committee, Appointments Committee, and other law school committees. Also, running with students through Tryon Creek many decades ago, with Prof. Janet Steverson in the lead, and playing softball with students at the nearby park many years ago. I also remember those students who shared with me their trials and hurdles during law school, and who inspired me as they continued their law school journey despite obstacles that could not hold them back.
What faculty interactions were memorable?
Prof. Craig Johnston’s rowing challenge. Prof. Charlie Martel’s paddle boarding excursions on the rivers. My faux-boxing match involving electric sensors with Prof. Tomás Gómez-Arostegui in the law school cafeteria for a fundraiser, which Tomás continues to deny ever occurred. Whooping and hollering at Prof. David Schraub’s Superbowl party. Nature walks on our trails with Law Library Director Rob Truman, Prof. Keith Cunningham-Parmeter, and others. My PILP co-auctioneer Prof. Meg Garvin subtly reminding me about that “surprise” live auction item that I almost forgot about during the live auction. I’m still dwelling on not winning the free dinner prize offered at the PILP Sports Challenge organized by Prof. Janet Steverson and Prof. Jim Oleske. Also, receiving hand-drawn holiday cards from Prof. Steve Johansen back in the day before Steve retired to do other things with his time. Partnering with the entire Faculty to do this thing called Legal Education.
What staff interactions were memorable?
Alumni DirectorNatasha Richmond’s daughter delivering Girl Scout cookies; Jacob McCormack’s dog joining our AEP Admissions Committee meetings; Micah Zaayer, Ben Skaggs, and Josie calmly restoring lost computer data after frantic pleas for help; Reggie Raiford and the Facilities team reliably delivering our Lawyering moot court robes; Heidi Judge, Madison Hogan, and I ruminating on whether Fig Newtons might be a healthier snack alternative for the Lawyering moot court volunteers; Lisa Garcia ensuring I was reimbursed down to the last penny; Andy Marion converting my documents during that tumultuous era when Word won out over WordPerfect; Brooke Mill and I happening to meet at a local garage sale; Judy Asbury and the Communications team ensuring the best possible head shot photo was taken; David Carter providing me with one-minute TED Talks to my finance questions; partnering with the entire Staff to work on behalf of the law school community.
What are highlights of your scholarship?
Getting that first one published. Being able to send my articles to educators and others who emailed me directly asking for copies because they do not have access to Westlaw or Lexis and cannot pay for these legal research platforms. Working with research assistants, our wonderful students, who spend their summers giving it their all as they work tirelessly to find relevant sources for my articles.
A recap of Professor Bill Chin’s career:
Prof. Chin co-lead the Strategic Plan Subcommittee within the Legal Writing Institute’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Committee and served as a member of the Legal Writing and Generative AI Convo Group. He received the Lewis & Clark College President’s Faculty Excellence Award. Chin was a member of the Executive Committee for the Minority Groups Section of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) and the Award Committee for the AALS Section on Legal Writing, Reasoning, and Research. He was a Commissioner on the Oregon Commission on Asian Affairs. He served on the planning committee of the Asian American Youth Leadership Conference. He was chair of the Oregon State Bar’s Legal Heritage Interest Group. Chin is a member of the Oregon State Bar, Legal Writing Institute (LWI), Clarity, and Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO).
Professor Bill Chin was born in Hong Kong, grew up in San Francisco, moved to Portland, joined the Air Force, returned to Portland and attended Lewis & Clark Law School to get his JD. He chose Lewis & Clark after meeting Professor Steve Johansen, then Director of the Legal Analysis and Writing Program.
After graduation in 1994, he served as deputy district attorney for Multnomah County, and then returned to Lewis & Clark Law School to teach and be part of the academic enterprise alongside students, staff, and faculty.
Chin served in the U.S. Air Force, Air Force Reserves, Oregon Air National Guard, and Oregon Army National Guard. He has served as co-chair of the Oregon Minority Lawyers Association, a member of the Oregon State Bar’s Uniform Criminal Jury Instructions Committee, a delegate to the Oregon State Bar’s House of Delegates, and vice-president of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance (Portland Lodge).
Chin has given presentations on AI use in legal education, legal history, clear writing, team teaching, legal scholarship, and curriculum development. His research interests include issues relating to AI in the legal field, national security, criminal law, and civil rights.
More details can be found here.
