Associate Dean of Student Affairs Libby Davis ’93, announced her retirement from that position, stepping down in May 2026 from a role she has occupied for ten years. Previously, she led the Career Services office for 20 years as Director, Assistant Dean, and Associate Dean, and prior to that, served as Director of Alumni Relations. Going forward, she will continue to oversee Externships in a part time capacity.
We asked her to reflect on her thirty+ years here at Lewis & Clark Law School.
Looking back on your years as an administrative leader at the law school, what moments stand out most vividly? What accomplishment are you most proud of?
It’s been a wonderful almost 32 years so there are a lot of moments that stand out and things I’m proud to have accomplished. Early on, when I was in my original role - Director of Alumni Relations - I started our now long-standing tradition of feeding our Oregon bar exam takers during the two lunches. I did that after eating a PB&J in the parking lot of the Memorial Coliseum when I sat for the bar exam in 1993. My hope has always been that no one else ever has to do that unless they want to!
There were also a couple of programs I started when I moved over to Career Services - “Breakfast with Judges” and a “mock interview program”. Both served students well for many years. I also developed our long-standing “1L Attorney Mentor Program” while I was in Career Services. Since moving to Student Affairs, I also developed our Faculty and Peer Mentor Programs. Together, these three programs have developed and continue today, providing a solid foundation of mentorship for our 1L students.
What advice did you find yourself giving students again and again?
My goal was always to help students complete law school with the least amount of debt as possible so a lot of the advice related to how to most efficiently and effectively complete their degree requirements. I also routinely advise students to take advantage of opportunities to build practical skills (this is particularly pertinent in my current role managing externships). Having overseen our Externship Program in both my roles in career services and student affairs, I have seen over and over how vitally important gaining practical legal experience is to a student’s professional goals.
What faculty interactions were memorable?
Oh, I’ve had a lot of faculty interactions that are memorable! Having gone through the Covid pandemic together, there were a lot of faculty interactions that stick in my memory, including a 3 hour faculty meeting where we discussed how to handle grading during the spring 2020 semester. Fun times for all!
Early in my tenure, I had a (now) funny incident with Dean Emeritus Jim Huffman, who was the Dean when I started working for the law school. (Steve Kanter was the Dean during my law school years). Jim and I attended a Summer Institute dim sum meal in downtown Portland, along with about 40 students. I had never had dim sum before and, admittedly, I am a somewhat picky eater. As a result, as the food came out, I had no idea what anything - except the white rice - was so I didn’t take anything. My lunch consisted of white rice. From that day on, many of Jim’s emails have asked me whether I’ve had any white rice lately and humorously coached me on expanding my dining horizons.
What has this institution meant to you personally?
When I started law school in 1990, I never would have imagined having a 36 relationship with Lewis & Clark. I went to a large undergraduate university, which I truly enjoyed, but when I started at Lewis & Clark, I felt an immediate sense of belonging. I think Lewis & Clark is a very special place to attend school and to work. When I talk to prospective students, I always encourage them to visit the campus before they make a decision about which law school to attend. My usual line is, “Not all law schools are alike and Lewis & Clark is a great fit for students looking for a supportive environment in a beautiful location.” I suppose that’s what it has been for me too - a supportive and collegial place to work, surrounded by natural beauty that’s hard to find in most workplaces.
What are your plans for the externship and practica role you have now?
I’m really excited to be continuing to oversee the Externship Program, which I think is one of the oldest and most student-focused programs in the country. I expect to have more time to develop externship placements that will appeal to students and to support students as they develop their own externship placements. I’m also happy to have responsibility for our practica courses, some of which have been part of our curriculum for more than 20 years. Other practica are newer and, I hope, I can provide support for the adjunct faculty who teach the courses. I would also like to develop another one or two practica that are in alignment with student interest. I view my new role as a perfect blend of all the roles I’ve held at the Law School!
And, since that is part time, is there something else you are doing in this next chapter of your life?
With a little more non-work time, my goal is to take better care of myself, including doing more regular exercise - so far, I’m doing well with that! Also, totally cliche, but I plan to travel more. In 2025, I managed to complete one of my travel goals - I visited my last of the 50 states, which was Arkansas. Now, I want to check a few more places off my bucket list - like Italy and Spain! I need to have some amount of structure - which is probably not surprising to anyone who knows me well - so having things to plan will, I hope, help me use my additional time well.
As you step away, what are your hopes for the law school’s future?
One of the hardest parts about stepping down from my full-time role now has been knowing that the law school’s future is incredibly bright, thanks in large part to Dean Ouellette’s vision and passion for the school. I hope the school will continue to focus on developing entry-level practice-ready graduates by expanding our experiential course offerings. I also hope we will continue to build on the original values of the law school - providing access to a legal education to people who might otherwise struggle to enter the legal profession. I think that can be done by strategically adapting our long-standing commitment to our evening program by creating a flexible/hybrid JD program.
What gives you hope about the next generation of lawyers?
Artificial intelligence seems like one of the greatest challenges and opportunities awaiting the next generation of lawyers. My hope is that no matter where things go with AI, that people - attorneys, legal interns/externs, legal staff, clients, judges, etc. - are still the heart of the profession. Based on my conversations with students, I think most of them understand how vital it is to maintain empathy and care for their clients and colleagues - and, most importantly, for themselves. That gives me hope that, ultimately, our next generation of lawyers will serve the profession and their clients well.
