Frohnmayer joins law firm.

Byline: Sherri Buri McDonald The Register-Guard

Former University of Oregon President Dave Frohnmayer has taken a job with the Eugene-based law firm of Harrang Long Gary Rudnick.

As of Tuesday, Frohnmayer became "of counsel" to the firm, accepting select projects in legal, public policy and other matters, the law firm announced Wednesday.

"Of counsel" refers to a lawyer who is affiliated with a law firm but is not a shareholder.

"We want to draw on his remarkable expertise in the area of appeals," as well as other areas, such as leadership and governmental relations, firm President Jens Schmidt said.

Frohnmayer's rsum includes three terms as Oregon attorney general, from 1981 to 1991; three terms in the state House of Representatives; legal adviser to the UO president; and dean of the UO law school.

Frohnmayer, 69, said he hasn't really "retired" since retiring as UO president on June 30. He served in that role for 15 years.

Frohnmayer said he has joined the UO faculty and is on paid sabbatical leave through the end of the year, which will probably result in him writing a book or articles. While on sabbatical, he'll develop the undergraduate leadership courses he will teach next year in the university's Clark Honors College.

"I love teaching undergraduates," said Frohnmayer, who has taught a freshman leadership seminar for the past 14 years.

"You have fresh, young 18-year-old minds, and they keep my barnacles scraped off," he said.

Frohnmayer said he's also finishing up a six-week project for the Oregon University System brainstorming ways to increase the percentage of Oregonians with a college degree. That project officially ended Aug. 15.

Frohnmayer said his work for Harrang Long will be limited and comply with the "conflicts of interest" and "conflicts of commitment" rules that all university faculty must observe.

He said he'll stick to the so-called "one day in seven rule," which limits faculty's time on outside activities to about one day a week. "I secured the assent of the provost of the university before I took the of-counsel position," Frohnmayer said. "It's not a 9 to 5 engagement at all."

The firm does not disclose compensation of its attorneys, Schmidt said.

While Frohnmayer goes to work for Harrang Long, he remains a highly paid state employee.

For his six-week project for the Oregon University System, he was paid at $4,725 a week - the same rate as the state portion of his salary as UO president, according to his contract with the UO.

Under that contract, he is now on paid sabbatical through the end of the year, at $4,725 a week. From Jan. 1 through March 31, he will continue to be paid that salary while he teaches the undergraduate course at the Clark Honors College, according to the contract. Then, he will go on "study leave" through May 30, during which the UO will pay him $4,252 a week, according to the contract.

Study leave is granted by the Oregon State Board of Higher Education and accrues based on length of service as university president, Frohnmayer said. He said he plans to use his study leave to continue to study leadership theory.