By Chloe Meyere, Duck Career Network Communications Associate and UO Student

Catherine Reichenberg ’01
Associate, Gunderson Law Firm

When alumna Catherine Reichenberg ’01 first arrived at the UO, she did not think that one day she would be practicing law alongside her father. Although her father, an accomplished attorney, regularly commented that she had the qualities, skills, and aptitude to be a lawyer, she envisioned a career that would relate to her music major. Very quickly, however, she realized her passions lay elsewhere. After changing her major four times, Reichenberg chose to major in English, a subject matter she had grown to love and one that utilized a strength—critical thinking. 

Fitting into the UO community came more quickly as she settled into life at the UO. Reichenberg joined Delta Gamma Sorority and assumed leadership positions that taught her to take initiative. This initiative helped her build the will and determination to pursue her career ambitions, although in the early years of college, she was still unsure what path that might be.

 

Discovering a love of international study, travel, and law

The summer before her senior year, Reichenberg decided to step out of her comfort zone and chose to study abroad. She joined a program through the university that took her to Angers, France, for several months. Her experience was so positive that she ultimately decided to continue her study abroad for another term, but this time in London. These experiences gave her the ability to see things from multiple viewpoints, a skill she feels contributed greatly to her ongoing success both in school and out. As Reichenberg reflected upon her life experiences thus far in life, the new insight she gained from her travels, and the “big picture” thinking she was gaining through her education, Reichenberg began to clarify her career aspirations, and she began to see what her father brought up over time, that a career in law fit her. 

 

The path to law becomes more clear

In 2003, after what seemed like a very long process that included LSATs, applications, and multiple school acceptances, Reichenberg committed to the University of the Pacific—McGeorge School of Law. She found her first year of law school to be quite challenging, but based on her positive memories of studying in France and England, she decided to study abroad the summer following her first year of law school, this time in Budapest and Prague. As she was exposed to more people and places, and she found that she thoroughly enjoyed meeting individuals and hearing their stories, her confidence in pursuing a career in law, where she could readily meet people who needed help, only grew.  Best of all, she met her husband, Jeremy, that summer.

 

The right decision for her, but not for everyone

Having worked in law for several years now, she is happy with her career decision, but Reichenberg is very clear that law school is not for everyone. Those who do attend for the wrong reasons, she points out, are the ones who may be unhappy with the life they have post-graduation. 

“It’s a very long process, and once you graduate, you aren’t making tons of money,” Reichenberg explains. “Those of us who find success are the ones who work insane hours and dedicate ourselves to the work because we actually love what we do. You always see those attorneys who say they hate their jobs or are unhappy with their careers, and you know that they were the ones who went to law school for the wrong reasons.” Reichenberg goes on to explain, “I know a lot of people who applied to law school because they felt lost after graduating college and had no other plan. As it turns out, these same people came out of law school just as lost as when they went in.”

 

Building connections and exploring the field

Thankfully, Reichenberg was not one of those people. After graduating in 2006, Reichenberg spent several years working as a law clerk at different institutions. She knew the importance of building as many connections as possible and learning all she could through the firms and government officials she worked for. 

“After I worked as a law clerk for a judiciary committee, I realized that that side of the field worked with policy, not advocacy. Ultimately, I think that’s what drove me to want to pursue commercial and civil litigation.” She knew that she really enjoyed working with people and would enjoy having clients. 

 

Finding her professional place

In the summer of 2006, Reichenberg had built a substantial network, leading her to three job opportunities that would allow her to pursue her goals. Gunderson Law Firm, her father’s law firm, was one of those opportunities. As he had inspired her to pursue law in the first place, Reichenberg took the job as an associate with Gunderson and has been happy with her choice ever since. 

“I remember the first case I tried on my own,” she recollects. “My father sat second chair just to be sure everything went smoothly. I’ll never forget how it felt when I won!” 

 

Is the field of law for you?
 

Today, Reichenberg still works at the firm with her father and travels all over the country. She also has a two-year-old son named Grayson. She advises anyone interested in pursuing law to carefully analyze their motives behind it. Although she acknowledges how rewarding the work is, she is clear that it is not for those faint of heart: balancing a stressful career with important family time can be a challenge. But she explains that the people who will find happiness in law are those who like helping their clients through some of the most challenging times in their lives and gain satisfaction by helping others.