A genuine desire to help others leads to law school: Faith O’Malley JD’24

Growing up in Indiana, Faith O’Malley JD’24 never saw herself as an attorney. She didn’t think she had the typical ‘lawyer personality’ portrayed on television, but she always had a deep desire to help others and fight for justice.

A year after earning her bachelor’s degree, O’Malley moved to Portland to work toward a master’s in public administration. Days before her first semester, she withdrew from the program — a choice that set her on a path to find her true purpose.

O’Malley eventually began working in fundraising.

Volunteering for Catholic Charities’ refugee resettlement division sparked the idea of becoming an attorney. She watched as attorneys guided refugees through difficult situations, and she realized that being one involved more than just arguing in court.

Having witnessed the impacts of immigration firsthand after her parents’ move to the U.S. from England, she was immediately drawn to the idea of working in immigration law. But pursuing her new dream didn’t happen overnight. In fact, it took four more years for her to apply to law school.

When you are out of school and working full time, it is hard to take such a big leap,” O’Malley shares. “But I couldn’t get the idea out of my head, and eventually I just dove in headfirst and applied.

A student and an advocate

Growing as both a student and an advocate for others, O’Malley’s time in law school showed her dedication to fighting for justice. One experience she is particularly proud of is co-founding the Immigration Law Association during her 1L year alongside classmate Emma Gill JD’24. The student organization helped raise visibility for immigration law through a series of successful speaker and pro bono events.

Involvement in the Willamette University Public Interest Law Project (WUPILP) also combined a few of O’Malley’s skills and interests — public service, law and fundraising. During her 2L and 3L years, O’Malley prioritized finding opportunities for legal volunteer work, but she quickly saw numerous roadblocks.

She knew that she had the ability to make change happen. By joining the Pro Bono Honors Program and later advocating for and serving in the role of Pro Bono Chair of WUPILP, O’Malley created volunteer opportunities for students and local organizations.

Just a week after Associate Dean for Career Planning & Development Tomas Hernandez started at Willamette Law, he had a knock on his door from O’Malley, who wanted to talk about the Pro Bono Honors Program. He saw that not only was she deeply passionate about serving others, but she also was willing to roll up her sleeves and get things done.

Looking ahead

O’Malley’s time in law school is now complete, but her advocacy for more pro bono opportunities, new courses around serving vulnerable populations, and building sustainable systems for student organizations will leave a legacy.

“Faith exemplifies a commitment to public service,” Hernandez says, “paving the way for future students to benefit from her leadership. She is destined to be a great attorney.”

Following law school, O’Malley started a new position as a Civil Rights Fellow for LeDuc Montgomery LLC. She will be pursuing her licensure through the new Supervised Practice Portfolio Examination. Alongside this new role, she intends to continue advocating for others and volunteering when possible.