The 19th Annual Frohnmayer Award
Honored
Marc Friedman, JD '89

Stayed tuned for 2024

The 19th Annual Frohnmayer Award honors Marc Friedman, Class of 1989.

Originally from New York, following high school Marc attended Brooklyn College for two years and drove a taxi in NYC. Traveling around the country and his desire to enjoy mountains and the wilderness led him to Alaska at 19 years. There he skied and climbed while learning carpentry. He drove trucks and equipment on the Alaska Pipeline.  He finished his undergraduate degree at the University of Alaska and subsequently become a land manager and planner for Alaska native corporations and the University of Alaska.  

In 1986 he entered law school with a 3 year old daughter and an amazing wife. He graduated law school in 1989 with three kids; his twin sons were born between his 1st and 2nd years of school. He considered going back to Alaska, having clerked in Anchorage between 2nd and 3rd year, but chose to remain in Eugene where his family was then well rooted.  

In the Fall of 1989 Marc was admitted to the Oregon Bar and was fortunate to land a clerkship in the Lane County Circuit Court with the presiding judge, Judge Pierre Van Rysselberghe. Following the clerkship and still uncertain what type of law practice to pursue, he accepted a position with Horton and Koenig. There he began a criminal defense and plaintiff’s personal injury practice. In 1990, he was admitted to the United States District Court for the District of Oregon and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

In his 3rd year of law school, Marc participated in the civil clinic supervised through Legal Aide in Lane County. It was through working for and with those whose needs were often not realized and those who were least able to access legal services that the seed of the idea for Access the Law grew.  

In 1993 Marc hung out his shingle and began a solo practice handling cases in a myriad of practice areas. During the course of his practice Marc became the lawyer for the students at Lane Community College. The cases and matters which the students brought were always fascinating and sometimes difficult. These students presented matters similar to the ones now served by Access the Law – issues for individuals and families of limited means faced with, for them, overwhelming legal problems.

Marc has also provided representation of small businesses in incorporation, licensing, and litigation, as well as real property and real estate matters. He has an extensive background in probate, elder law, and trust and estate matters, as well as criminal defense cases. He is a member of the Federal CJA Panel (federal indigent defense) and has participated in several capital defense cases. In addition to practicing law, Marc has assisted students serving as an adjunct professor at the University of Oregon School of Law.

From 2004 through 2010, Marc was the Administrator of the Lane County Public Defense Panel. In this role he oversaw the work of approximately 32 attorneys who were providing indigent defense clients for whom the Public Defenders’ office was unable to serve. The Panel was the predecessor to the Lane County Public Defense Consortium.  

In 2010, the opportunity arose to create what Marc anticipated as an adjunct to Legal Aide. Upon hiring Amanda Husted, a newly minted lawyer, they began the initial steps to pull Access the Law together. Little did they realize that the timing and circumstances were such that Access the Law would grow so quickly and so well. They filled a long vacant niche in the legal landscape.  

Since its creation Marc has been the Executive Director of Access the Law. Opening its doors in January 2011, it is a nonprofit legal services organization assisting and representing community members of modest means. ATL provides legal services for working and low-income families and individuals. ATL’s attorneys are knowledgeable and experienced in the areas of divorce, custody, and other family law matters, landlord /tenant, wills and estate issues, elder law, bankruptcy and other matters.  

Access the Law serves the underserved. Since 2013, Access the Law, in coordination with the VA, organized and implemented a free monthly legal clinic serving veterans. ATL has assisted many veterans who would otherwise be without legal counsel. Access the Law also assists the Lane County Circuit Court – Veterans Treatment Court by providing services to veterans who have ongoing Court involvement. On behalf of the Veterans Court, ATL coordinates fund raising to provide incentives and rewards to the veterans who have committed themselves to correcting and redirecting their lives and fortunes. Additionally, Access the Law serves the students of Lane Community College (LCC) and Oregon State University (OSU) in Corvallis.   

Mr. Friedman enjoys numerous outdoor activities and travel. He also enjoys spending time with his family and his dogs have always been a part of his legal practice. ‘Izzy’ is currently Access the Law’s official office mascot. 

On Friday, April 28, 2023, we welcomed members of the Oregon Law community to celebrate the 19th Annual Frohnmayer Award recipient.

2023 Frohnmayer Award Photos