-+
Overview
Paul is an associate in Tonkon Torp’s Litigation Department. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law in 2020, where he was the Senior Articles Editor of Ecology Law Quarterly and Treasurer of the Election Law Society, as well as a volunteer with the Tenants’ Rights Workshop at the East Bay Community Law Center.
While a law student, Paul worked at Tonkon Torp as a Summer Associate. He also worked as a judicial extern for the Honorable Kathleen Banke at the California Court of Appeal and the Honorable Trina Thompson at the Alameda County Superior Court.
Prior to law school, Paul worked for several years in the Washington, D.C. office of Congressman Earl Blumenauer, focusing on transportation and urban livability policy.
A product of Portland Public Schools, Paul graduated from Pomona College, where he double-majored in Politics and Middle East Studies and was captain of his NCAA Division III cross country and track teams. Paul is a competitive marathoner and enjoys spending time outside in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and dog and working in the garden.
While a law student, Paul worked at Tonkon Torp as a Summer Associate. He also worked as a judicial extern for the Honorable Kathleen Banke at the California Court of Appeal and the Honorable Trina Thompson at the Alameda County Superior Court.
Prior to law school, Paul worked for several years in the Washington, D.C. office of Congressman Earl Blumenauer, focusing on transportation and urban livability policy.
A product of Portland Public Schools, Paul graduated from Pomona College, where he double-majored in Politics and Middle East Studies and was captain of his NCAA Division III cross country and track teams. Paul is a competitive marathoner and enjoys spending time outside in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and dog and working in the garden.
-+
Featured Work
The Ramos Project
In April 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down non-unanimous jury convictions in criminal cases in Ramos v. Louisiana. A shameful carryover from the Jim Crow era, Louisiana and Oregon were the last two states that allowed non-unanimous criminal convictions when as many as two jurors believed a defendant was innocent. Overnight, more than 260 cases in Oregon became eligible to seek post-conviction relief for unconstitutional non-unanimous convictions. Housed in the Criminal Justice Reform Clinic (CJRC) at Lewis & Clark Law School, the Ramos Project is a statewide pro-bono initiative providing legal assistance to those seeking redress.
-+
Professional Memberships
Multnomah Bar Association
-+
Awards & Recognition
-+
Recent News
11.11.2020
Paul Balmer Joins Tonkon Torp Litigation Department
Attorney Paul Balmer has joined Tonkon Torp LLP as an associate in its Litigation Department. Balmer works with regional and national businesses and individuals to resolve challenges in and out of court, including contract disputes and administrative…