Benjamin R. Scissors

Associate

Ben’s practice focuses on defending clients who are facing criminal charges and potential charges throughout the State of Oregon. He graduated from Lewis & Clark Law School in 2020 with honors in legal research & writing and oral advocacy, and having served on the Board of the Student Advocates for Business and Environmental Sustainability. His advocacy skills were highlighted at the National Environmental Moot Court Competition where Ben was awarded Best Oral Advocate in the country in 2019, edging-out the nation’s top student advocates from over 60 law schools. He is only the second person in Lewis & Clark’s history to receive this award.

Ben has significant practical experience from his time trying misdemeanor cases and motions and conducting arraignments at the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, drafting operating agreements and other formation documents for small businesses at the Small Business Legal Clinic, handling complex criminal and government relations issues for a solo practitioner in white collar defense, and negotiating settlement agreements in complex business disputes as a civil litigator.

Ben enjoys and excels at building relationships. He leverages his interpersonal and oratory skills to win over judges and juries and achieve advantageous outcomes for his clients.

Ben is a Portland, Oregon native who graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs, Sociology, and a minor in Arabic. When he is away from law, he is exploring new hot springs, camping, cooking as best he can, and searching for the best snow in the backcountry.

Areas of Practice

• Defense of clients facing criminal charges and potential criminal charges
• Financial Crimes (theft, embezzlement, fraud, white collar crimes)
• Domestic Violence Crimes (assault, menacing, harassment)
• Sex Crimes (rape, sexual abuse, child pornography, online sexual corruption of a minor)
• Violent Crimes (assault, harassment, weapon possession)
• Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, and Relief from Sex Offender Registration
• Driving and Vehicle Offenses (DUII, reckless driving, hit & run)
• Criminal Investigations (grand jury investigations, civil compromise negotiations)
• Restoring Driving Privileges, Restoring Firearms Rights
• Expungement of Criminal Convictions
• Application for Governor’s Pardon

Bar Admissions

• Oregon, 2020

Education

• Lewis and Clark Law School, J.D., Portland, Oregon
• University of Colorado at Boulder, B.A., International Affairs, Sociology, Arabic, Boulder, Colorado

Honors and Awards

• Best Oral Advocate Overall – National Moot Court Competition, 2019
• Team Quarterfinalist – National Moot Court Competition, 2019
• Pro Bono Award, Lewis and Clark Law School, 2017
• Outstanding Oral Advocate – First Year Moot Court Competition, Lewis and Clark Law School, 2017
• Honors – Legal Research and Writing, Lewis and Clark Law School, 2017

Published Works

• Youth and Measure 11 in Oregon – Co-Author, Worked with BOLI’s Council on Civil Rights and helped develop working group that led to creation of SB 1008

Past Employment Positions

• Chenoweth Law Group, Attorney, 2020-2021
• Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, Certified Law Student, 2019
• Small Business Legal Clinic, Intern, 2019
• Ungar Law Office, LLC, Law Clerk, 2018-2020
• Craig Johnston, Lewis and Clark Law School, Research Assistant, 2019 (summer)
• Office of John Schroedel, Attorney at Law, LLC, Law Clerk, 2018-2019
• Oregon Justice Resource Center, Policy Associate, 2016-2017
• Oregon Justice Resource Center, Office Manager, 2015-2016
• Oregon Innocence Project, Legal Intern, 2015-2016

Languages

• English
• Arabic

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