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(Editor’s note: This piece originally ran in the May 26, 2011, issue of the Briefly Legal PDX e-newsletter)

Liani Reeves wasn’t always sure she would become a lawyer, but she was certain she wanted to dedicate her career to public service. The North Bend native considers herself fortunate that her profession allows her to do both.

With bachelor’s and law degrees from Willamette University, Reeves has worked for the Oregon Department of Justice and served as a staff attorney for the National Crime Victim Law Institute. In January, Gov. John Kitzhaber appointed her as his general counsel.

A longtime co-chair of the Oregon Minority Lawyers Association, Reeves received Willamette University’s Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. Award for her commitment to civil and human rights. She has co-taught Lewis & Clark Law School’s Crime Victim Litigation Clinic. In addition, Reeves mentors law students and has been named Mentor of the Year by both Willamette University and Lewis & Clark College.

Reeves recently shared the highlights and difficulties of her profession and what it’s like to serve as the Governor’s general counsel. Her responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.

Briefly Legal: What made you decide to become an attorney?

Liani Reeves: Law has always been interesting to me in the sense that it impacts everything that we do, from the way we drive and interact in the workplace to the trademarks and patents on our toothpaste. Having a law degree seemed like it would be both interesting and empowering because of the law’s impacts on our day-to-day lives and how it can be used to make change in a meaningful way.

BL: What do you enjoy most about it?

Reeves: The way I can directly impact people or state policies. I have great respect for our public employees. Sometimes there are a few who make a bad name for all of us, but my experience is that most people in public service are trying to do the right thing.

BL: What are some of the challenges?

Reeves: The challenge is the resource issue. With the substantial budget shortfall, sacrifices must be made. Working in the public sector allows you to see both the impact on state agencies and on public services. Trying to find the appropriate balance is challenging but rewarding.

BL: What have you learned through your years of co-chairing OMLA?

Reeves: The OMLA has provided a great network of people who have supported me throughout my career. As a new practicing attorney of color, I found myself feeling isolated in Oregon’s legal community. And as a woman, I had chosen a career that was still male dominated (litigation), so I felt isolated in that regard. I was looking for a support network to help me grow as an attorney and a place where I felt at home in the legal community. OMLA provided that.

BL: What do you do as the Governor’s general counsel?

Reeves: There are three main areas of work: day-to-day legal advice, programmatic areas assigned to the General Counsel’s office and policy work. The day-to-day legal advice includes things like public records, employment and government ethics matters, reviewing authority of boards and commissions, monitoring litigation involving the state or the Governor’s office, and reviewing bills for legal sufficiency.

As far as programmatic areas, the General Counsel’s office is in charge of processing extradition warrants and clemency applications, filling vacancies of Oregon’s judges and district attorneys, and negotiating gaming compacts with Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribal governments. The General Counsel’s office is also assigned policy portfolios relating to public safety and tribal issues.

BL: What has that experience been like so far?

Reeves: It’s been great. Most of the legal work is unique to the Governor’s office. For example, extradition and clemency matters and tribal gaming compacts are discrete areas of law; there aren’t very many places besides the Governor’s office where you would learn or be able to practice those areas of law or make that type of impact. That has made the transition intellectually challenging because of all the new areas of law to learn, but it has been interesting and rewarding. I also started in the middle of the legislative session, so diving into that process has been hectic but fun.