Shelby Rihala, who joins Jordan Ramis as an associate, focuses her practice on government law, including public contracting, government ethics, and public records. Additionally, she has extensive experience drafting ordinances, Intergovernmental Agreements, contracts, and other legal documents. She also has experience in sustainability, environmental, natural resources, land use, and wetlands law. Shelby actively advises city councils and lead department staff on various legal issues. Prior to her time at Jordan Ramis, Shelby served as City Attorney for several Oregon municipalities. She also worked as the chief of staff to an Oregon state senator and as a government affairs associate for Washington County, Oregon.
Shelby earned her B.A. from Willamette University (Politics and French, cum laude). She received her J.D. from Lewis and Clark College (also cum laude) with a certificate in environmental and natural resources law. Shelby currently serves as a Judge Advocate for the Oregon Air National Guard. In this role, she gives general legal advice to command staff, specifically in areas such as disciplinary and government ethics matters. She also provides legal assistance to individual service members. Shelby also served on the Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board (2010-2013) and the Oregon Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability (2006-2010; Chair, 2010). She is a member of the Oregon City Attorneys Association Executive Board, the Oregon Women Lawyers Association, and served as a past board member for the Oregon Women's Political Caucus Campaign School.
