ABOUT THE OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY LEGAL COUNSEL
The Office of University Legal Counsel is a team of legal professionals dedicated to public service and advancing the university's mission. We are a service unit that empowers campus stakeholders to accomplish their goals, while successfully balancing efficiency, innovation, and risk. We accomplish this mission by:
- Promoting a climate of ethical behavior, integrity, and accountability
- Providing timely, creative, and practical legal advice
- Increasing awareness of higher education's complex regulatory landscapes through training, outreach, and accessibility
- Representing the university's interests in litigation, administrative proceedings, and business transactions
- Facilitating the development and implementation of university initiatives
Contact
STAFF OF THE OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY LEGAL COUNSEL
David P. Groff, JD, University Legal Counsel
Phone: (541) 885-1102
Email: gc@oit.edu
Dave Groff has been with Oregon Tech since 2018 and provides advice and assistance on a wide range of legal issues for the University, including student affairs, employment, litigation management, policy development and compliance. Dave has represented Oregon Tech since 2018. Dave was previously County Counsel for Klamath County, where he covered the gamut of legal cases, from government law to contracting to acquisitions and other areas. Before his position as County Counsel, Dave was in the Klamath County District Attorney’s office as its Chief Deputy for 10 years, as well as serving in many other legal roles for the county beginning in the 1990s. He also served in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Medford and Portland, Oregon, as Special Assistant United States Attorney from 1997 to 2012. Dave is also on occasion an adjunct instructor at Oregon Tech in the humanities and social sciences department. Dave received his J.D. at Willamette University College of Law and has a B.A. from Dartmouth College in History and Government.
Pam Grove, Assistant to University Legal Counsel
Phone: (541) 885-1116
Email: gc@oit.edu
Pam Grove has been with Oregon Tech since 2018, and currently assists Mr. Groff with employment and labor issues, policy development and compliance, is the public records officer for the university, and is responsible for the operations of the University Legal Counsel’s Office. Pam moved from the Southern California area where she received her paralegal certificate in 1990. Pam brings 34 years of experience in the private and government legal sectors, along with strong knowledge in litigation in various areas of the law, with an emphasis on insurance defense, insurance fraud, medical malpractice, legal malpractice, probate, land use, wrongful death, and class actions.
CONTACT US
When Can You Contact Us?
Anytime a legal question arises out of your role at the university, you are encouraged to contact the Office of University Legal Counsel for guidance. To ensure coordination and conserve resources, we request that you route questions and requests for service through management (a department chair or director) so that we know we are being asked to advise a branch of the university.
Please consider which other persons should be involved. For example, a merit employee issue may best be resolved by involving a member of the Office of Human Resources staff. Please also provide us with as much background information as possible, and a detailed “ask” for the matter in which you are seeking assistance.
Due to the unpredictability of legal practice, we request that you provide adequate time for review of documentation prior to the time approval is expected.
When should you contact us?
It is important that the Office of University Legal Counsel be informed anytime there is a threat of a lawsuit (or actual litigation filed) against the university or its personnel arising out of their university function, whenever you receive a subpoena or summons for university-related records or testimony, and whenever a government agency gives notice that it is conducting an inquiry or investigation involving the university.
On complicated or serious matters, you should also expect to set an appointment.
Disclaimer: Materials presented are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. An attorney should be consulted regarding the specific facts and circumstances associated with any legal matter. No warranties or representations are made as to the accuracy of any information presented here or at any of the websites to which a link is provided, and the inclusion of a link or reference is not intended to be or imply any endorsement.
Some of the content on the Oregon Institute of Technology Office of University Legal Counsel website is adapted from the websites of the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Portland State University, Eastern Oregon University, Southern Oregon University, and Western Oregon University. We would like to acknowledge their authorship of the original material.