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Jeffrey Dobbins

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; Professor of Law

Headshot of Jeffrey Dobbins

Contact Information

Salem Campus

Address
Collins Legal Center 413
245 Winter Street SE
Salem  Oregon  97301
U.S.A.
Phone
503-370-6652

Biography

Jeff Dobbins joined the Willamette faculty in 2006 after practicing law in both public and private sectors. From 2002-06, he practiced law in the Commercial Litigation Group of Perkins Coie LLP in Portland. From 1996-2002, he was an attorney in the Appellate Section of the Environment Division at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. Throughout his career, Dobbins briefed and argued more than 50 cases in federal and state appellate courts, spurring his ongoing academic interest in appellate process.

An Oregon native, Dobbins received his undergraduate degree from Harvard in history and science. He then enrolled at Duke University, where he attended both the Law School and the School of the Environment. He was editor in chief of the Duke Environmental Law and Policy Forum and an articles editor for the Duke Law Journal. Dobbins was elected to Order of the Coif and was first in his class at the law school. Throughout his educational career, Dobbins taught — first as a discussion leader at Harvard, where he received a Certificate of Distinction in Teaching, and then with Duke undergraduates, law students and School of the Environment students.  After graduation from Duke, Dobbins served as law clerk to Chief Judge Abner Mikva and Judge David S. Tatel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and then as law clerk to Senior Associate Justice John Paul Stevens of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Dobbins’ research interests focus on areas of civil procedure and administrative law, with an emphasis on appellate process and theory. He teaches Civil Procedure, Federal Courts, Administrative Law, Native American Law, and seminars in specialized areas of appellate process. Dobbins is a member of the bar of the State of Oregon, as well as of the U.S. Supreme Court and eight different U.S. Courts of Appeal. He continues his local involvement in the appellate courts as a program manager for the Oregon Appellate Pro Bono Program.

Education

  • JD, Duke University, summa cum laude, Order of the Coif
  • MEM (Environmental Management), Duke University
  • AB, Harvard University, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
Willamette University

Faculty Support

Address
Willamette University
College of Law
245 Winter Street SE
Salem Oregon 97301 U.S.A.
Phone
(503) 370-6405