Scotia grew up on a small family farm in Minnesota where her passion for agriculture was nourished from an early age. She earned her B.A. in Biology from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, focusing her studies in marine biology, aquatic ecology, aquaculture, and sustainable resource management. During her university studies, Scotia found a passion for water law, taking as many classes as possible in the government and policy department. It was here that she discovered the intersection of her passions for science and law, writing her senior thesis on sustainable aquaculture practices and the future of food security.
Scotia was inspired to become a first-generation lawyer and enrolled at Vermont Law and Graduate School to study water and environmental law, earning her J.D. in 2025. During her summer internships, Scotia explored the many directions that law school can lead and spent a fulfilling summer in a policy internship at the National Farm Medicine Center. Under the mentorship of Dr. Florence Becot, PhD., Scotia stayed true to her roots and synthesized research findings to provide policymakers with a better understanding of the factors that shape farm parents’ childcare decisions and how childcare intersects with safety, family and community wellbeing. During her third year of law school Scotia clerked at a small business firm where she performed legal research, drafted motions and memoranda, and reviewed discovery across a wide range of legal matters including business, real estate, employment, and intellectual property.
Admitted to the Oregon State Bar, Scotia will use her background in science and law to support the needs of western water users. She is an active member of the Gus J. Solomon Inns of Court and the Young Lawyers Division of the Multnomah Bar Association and is passionate about community outreach.
Education
J.D., Vermont Law and Graduate School, VT, 2025
- Dean’s List
- Academic Excellence Award Recipient in Appellate Advocacy
- Executive Board Member, Women’s Law Society
B.A. Biology, Lawrence University, WI, 2021
- Dean’s List
- Research Assistant, Dr. Bart De Stasio, PhD
- Executive Board Member, Scientista: Women in Science
Personal
After earning her J.D., Scotia relocated to Portland, Oregon following her husband’s career path with the United States Air Force. As a military spouse, Scotia has lived all over the country experiencing the vast disparity in needs from the water-rich Great Lakes and the tidelands of South Carolina, to the dry deserts of the Colorado River Basin. Now permanently settled in the Pacific Northwest, she is excited to explore the beautiful state of Oregon with her dog and husband. Outside the office, you can find her riding horses, camping at the coast, or planning her next international trip.
Bar Admissions
- Oregon State Bar, 2025
Scotia’s Posts
