During their final semester at Willamette Law, Spencer Wollan JD’25 and Barrett Inman’s JD’25 externship placements collided.
Wollan walked into the federal courtroom and saw a familiar face across the aisle: her friend, Inman. One was there to defend, the other, to prosecute.
“My immediate reaction was relief, because I respect Spencer, and we’re friends,” she says. “I knew her work ethic. When you’re doing your first trial, there is a level of uncertainty in how the other party will conduct themselves. It was nice, for our first experience, that it wasn’t something we had to worry about.”
Willamette Law’s externship program’s strength lies in these immersive, real-world experiences. Through Willamette Law’s robust alumni network and connections, students gain hands-on experience working with seasoned attorneys while earning academic credit in placements across the United States in both private and public settings. They also give students the skills they need to meet unexpected challenges with poise and professionalism, such as facing an opposing counsel who is someone you know well.
Wollan and Inman became friends at Willamette Law. They both say the time prosecuting and defending the same case across from a fellow student and friend helped them feel more comfortable as they eased into their roles as future attorneys.
Wollan says knowing each other and having a rapport made the process smoother.
“We had a conversation beforehand,” Wollan says. “I found that if you have a basic respect for another person, it is actually pretty easy. As soon as we were in court, it was just a matter of doing our jobs.”
Inman agreed, saying it wasn’t a competition, and the two were simply working toward the good of their clients.
Pushing boundaries and following their passions
Inman, who worked in the legal profession for a number of years before going to law school, wanted to challenge herself as a student.
“Part of my philosophy in going to law school was trying to put myself in positions and circumstances that were new to me, to really fill knowledge gaps, take advantage of the status of being a student, and try things that were new or also a little intimidating,” Inman says.
Late in her 2L year, she jumped on the opportunity to apply for an externship in government and public service with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Portland. Although she didn’t have any experience in that area of law, she wanted to learn more and push herself out of her comfort zone.
A former advocate for foster children through as a court appointed special advocate, Wollan was inspired to go to law school as a way to use her skills to help others. Following her passion, she knew she would eventually go into criminal defense. She externed with the Public Defender of Marion County and the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon before joining the Office of the Public Defender for her last student learning experience.
Arguing for the government, Inman says the case ended with what she felt was the “best case scenario” for both sides. The defendant exercised his right to be heard, and the government prosecuted something they had justification for, obtaining a result that wasn’t an overreach.
“The most important thing is that the client feels satisfied with your representation,” Inman explains. “In the end, he said everything he wanted to say. To me, that’s a huge win.”
Beyond the classroom
The real victories extended beyond the case itself. Inman and Wollan gained skills they couldn’t have learned from textbooks. For Inman, who was nervous about public speaking and being in a courtroom, the externship pushed her to gain confidence in courtroom advocacy. Wollan learned to communicate with clients under pressure and manage high-stakes work as it emerged.
“I think it’s really cool that we had the opportunity and the exposure to the court environment in our externships,” Inman says. “It was a strong reflection of the school having those opportunities for students.”
Opposing counsel doesn’t have to mean opposition. Professionalism, respect, and friendship can coexist, even when you’re arguing different sides of the same case.
