When the circus came to town, Misha Dunlap, an ardent animal rights activist and owner the Morning Glory Café, did what she always did — she protested. But this time she was
arrested for it.
“I was holding a sign silently that said ‘circuses make animals sad,’” Dunlap said.
After her arrest, Dunlap contacted Eugene attorney Lauren Regan, who frequently dined at the café. Regan defended Dunlap, who was later acquitted. Dunlap took an avid interest in her own case, and it led her to enroll in the
University’s School of Law in 2002.
“It seemed inherently unfair, and I wanted to do something about it,” Dunlap said. “I was mad; I didn’t dress like a business owner and was targeted for my opinions and because I looked like I couldn’t beat the system.”
Dunlap is now one month away from
graduation.
Over the past year, Dunlap contributed
530 hours of pro bono law work at Regan’s law firm — more pro bono hours than any other
University student. Her efforts helped the law school win the Oregon State Bar’s Pro Bono Challenge for the fourth time. Jane Steckbeck, director of the law school’s pro bono program, accepted the student award presented by Oregon Supreme Court Justice Thomas Balmer on March 10.
In all, University law students last year contributed more than 10,600 volunteer hours to nonprofit and government agencies that help the poor. University students volunteered their time at various legal-aid programs, domestic-violence clinics, public defenders’ offices, victims’ service programs, youth-offender projects, community mediation programs, district attorneys’ offices and many others. The hours contributed at law-clerk wages amount to nearly $130,000 of free legal help.
Dunlap worked on two large projects during her time with Regan’s firm.
“She does a ton of things day to day and has made it possible for me to take on so many cases and litigate them,” Regan said.
The first project was in response to the Interference with Agricultural Operations law, which affects people who protest by tree sitting or blocking access roads.
“The law is used to oppress free speech,” Dunlap said. “It has been found unconstitutional in one county and is up for appeal right now.”
Dunlap researched the law for the indigent activists who were arrested under it and could not have afforded the legal help needed to fight their arrests.
Dunlap also devoted much of her time to working with prisoners who were arrested and convicted with extraordinary sentences. One case was that of Jeffrey Luers, arrested for setting fire to sport utility vehicles in the area.
“He was sentenced to 22 years for setting fire to SUVs because of the political speech wrapped up in the activity,” Dunlap said. “He was punished within the system for
political speech.”
As well as working on the two projects, Dunlap helped Regan create the Civil Liberties Defense Center.
“She was instrumental in getting it off the ground,” Regan said.
The center will serve as a referral service and a brief bank, a collection of briefs and research on various civil rights issues, to help people who would otherwise be unable to afford legal help.
“It is in response to the (USA) PATRIOT Act and the changes in civil liberties we have seen in the last few years,” Dunlap said. “It is dedicated to performing services and giving information to mainly activists without money but that use free speech.”
The center is currently assisting in finding protesters of the Biscuit Fire who have been found guilty under the Interference with Agricultural Operations law.
“We have referred and matched approximately 25 clients with attorneys so far,” Dunlap said.
After graduation Dunlap will become an associate at Regan’s firm, where she will continue to work on environmental litigation, criminal defense and civil liberties cases.

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