Associate attorney

Brandon Kaskawal

Welcome to Harker & Lepore and thank you for taking some time to read my profile. Working in the legal field was not my initial dream as my childhood was filled with the desire to serve in the military. Following that dream, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2005 as a field radio operator. The Marine Corps fulfilled my desire to not only serve my county at large, but give back to my local community as well. From 2005 to 2009, I proudly served my country and would have continued to do so but for an unfortunate incident and injury in 2008. In 2009, I was honorably discharged and left with a want to serve that needed to be filled. Due to my injury, I was unable to serve my community in a more traditional role and I was forced to think outside the box. I eventually found my answer in the Portland legal community.

In 2016, I enrolled at Lewis & Clark Law School to begin the arduous path of becoming an attorney. During my time at Lewis & Clark, I had an opportunity to serve various members of the community through my work at the Oregon DOJ, Western Resources Legal Center, Port of Portland, and Goldwater Institute. In June 2019, I earned my JD cum laude and passed the Oregon Bar exam later that summer.

Many of the skills learned in the military have transferred well to the legal field. As a self-motivated and driven individual, I take the initiative to seek out challenges and opportunities which will broaden my horizons. The values I learned in the Marines have continued to be a driving force in my life; leading me to approach all situations with integrity and a determination to overcome any challenge. I hope that you will allow us at Harker & Lepore to tackle that challenge.

Education

LEWIS & CLARK LAW SCHOOL

Juris Doctor, cum laude, 2019

Lead Article Editor, Lewis & Clark Law Review

PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY

B.S., cum laude, Political Science, 2016

Phi Kappa Phi, President’s List

Honors Thesis: Determinants of State Firearms Policy Variation