OTLA Sidebar May/June 2020

18 • SIDEBAR • May–June 2020 communities and ourselves to con- stantly fight to level the playing field for workers, consumers and others who were injured due to the bad choices made by others. What I’d most like my colleagues to know about OTLA is: There is strength in numbers. OTLA allows us to come together to fight for a better and safer Oregon when indi- vidually we might not be as powerful. There’s more to life than my job. My favorite things to do are: I enjoy spending quality time with my family and traveling! I knew I was grown up when: Looking back, I was not grown up yet but at about sixteen years old I met with the head manager of the grocery store where I worked and negotiated better working conditions for those in my department. I absolutely can’t live without: Aside from the obvious things, I cannot live without coffee. My favorite fictional character is: I am not sure I can pick just one. I can however think of one character who I wish was only fictional! If I could give one piece of advice to new lawyers, it would be: Never stop learning while always trying to find new ways to benefit clients. I’ve always wanted to: I have always wanted to travel to other planets. My best subjects in high school were: Law and economics were my best subjects. Surprise! The class I dreaded most in law school was: I had a great real property professor, but I never saw the class applying to my future practice. Guiltiest pleasure: Desserts… Something not many people know about me is: I know, I talk a lot. I really do know it. My favorite author/musician/poet/ artist: There are so many great choices. I think George Harrison is the best Beatle, though. The reformation/revolution/social movement I appreciate most is: Also a question with so many great an- swers. The labor movement of the late 1800s is probably top for me because numerous movements towards equal- ity and fairness grew (and are still growing) from that. We have a long way to go. My motto, summed up: Don’t wait until tomorrow for what you can do today. The question I wish you’d asked: What has been the most challenging part of your practice? And my answer: I left a very stable law firm with a good, steady paycheck in 2010 to form my own law firm because I wanted to exclusively represent workers. Ten years later, I remain happy with the decision. I have had wonderful men- tors from plaintiff trial lawyer groups like OTLA who helped me chase the dream of having my own practice. I would have never succeeded without them. SPOTLIGHT continued from page 17 Outdoor adventurer Bullman ziplining with his wife.