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Call it bad luck, or maybe serendipity. James Bruce graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in business administration and joined Enron Corp. as a financial analyst. Six moths later, the company declared bankruptcy. Out of a job and wondering what to do, Bruce recalled the attorneys he had met through Enron.

鈥淚 was really interested in what they were doing, so after Enron fell apart I thought about law school,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e always considered myself as a problem solver, and getting paid to help other people solve their problems seemed like a good deal to me.鈥�

Bruce earned his law degree from UO鈥檚 law school in 2006. He worked for Jordan Caplan Paul & Etter for four years before joining Kell, Alterman & Runstein in 2010. His practice focuses on small business, estate planning and personal injury cases, including litigation. He also represents clients in real estate transactions and the exchange of intellectual property rights.

A lifelong Portland native, Bruce is a founding member of the New Avenues for Youth Ambassador Board and works to increase awareness about homeless youth while raising money to support the organization.

Michael Moffitt, Philip H. Knight Dean of the UO law school, noted that Bruce was a member of a five-person team from the Oregon New Lawyers Division that was honored by the American Bar Association. The ABA presented its Youth Lawyers Division National Project of the Year for Service to the Bar to the team for creating the Practical Skills Through Public Service Program. The program connects unemployed or underemployed lawyers with public service organizations to provide legal services to people in need while helping the lawyers gain experience and develop essential professional skills.

Bruce also has dedicated numerous hours to organizing affordable continuing legal education courses for the Oregon New Lawyers Division鈥檚 3,000 members.

Which living person do you most admire?

Bill Clinton. I admire the way he鈥檚 gone through some adversity in his political career, but he鈥檚 maintained a real sense of dignity. His ability to cross the party line and get things done for the country has always impressed me. He鈥檚 also a great speaker.

You鈥檝e been given a chance to spend part of your time as a superhero. Who are you and what is your super power?

I鈥檝e always wanted to fly. I broke my ankle when I was 3 years old because I wanted to be Superman and I thought I could fly, so I jumped out of a tree. It would be very cool to be able to fly.

What is your favorite website and why?

I like Reddit because it鈥檚 a good source of current events mixed in with a little entertainment and humor.

What is the most challenging thing about being a lawyer?

Staying impartial so I can give my clients the best advice rather than putting myself in their shoes. And not taking work home at night, too.

Tell us something about yourself that might surprise most people.

I attended the last Grateful Dead concert in Eugene.