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Law school: Lewis & Clark Northwestern School of Law

Career highlight:聽 A former police officer who has built a law career on service to law enforcement, Blitz played a crucial, yet largely invisible, role assisting the city of Woodburn in 2009 after a bomb planted at a bank exploded, killing two police officers and critically injuring a police chief.

Noteworthy:聽 A former Marine Corps lawyer, Blitz commanded a Marine Corps reserve unit while starting a private practice in Eugene.

Akin Blitz鈥檚 37-year legal career came on the heels of public service as a policeman, reserve deputy sheriff and police dog training assistant. At Lewis & Clark Law School he distinguished himself in legal writing, research and as a Moot Court board member. He was commissioned in the Marine Corps in 1969, served actively for four years following law school and continued service in the Reserves, primarily in JAG-related assignments through 1990.

As an employment, law enforcement, labor and public service attorney on contract with various state, local and regional law enforcement agencies, Blitz has become widely recognized through the courts, labor relations boards, and the criminal justice system as a whole. He鈥檚 written or assisted writing 10 significant papers in various professional publications and instructed at dozens of seminars and presentations to labor and law enforcement groups. For the past several years, he鈥檚 made the list of Oregon Super Lawyers.

He鈥檚 known as a client鈥檚 lawyer as opposed to a lawyer鈥檚 lawyer. 鈥淚 bring value to the table because people don鈥檛 understand the interrelations of agencies and law,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 help clients understand the dynamics involved. It鈥檚 extremely satisfying to help them achieve what鈥檚 best both for them and what鈥檚 in the interest of the public.鈥�

But there鈥檚 another side to Blitz. He and his bearded collie, Annie, were inducted into the Oregon Veterinarian Medical Association Hall of Fame for their work with mentally fragile children at various hospitals and with victims and witnesses to violence. Their active work resulted in the creation of a therapy dogs program in Washington County that uses animals as a positive way to help children and victims through the trauma of violence.

A former Eagle scout, Blitz said scouting has influenced every aspect of his life.

鈥淪couting taught me the importance of service and public interest,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n one way or another, my career has really been a continuing extension of that.鈥�