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Jane Paulson is one of Oregon’s most respected and accomplished trial lawyers. A Portland personal injury lawyer with decades of courtroom experience, she represents individuals and families throughout Oregon and Washington in medical-malpractice, catastrophic-injury, wrongful-death, product-liability, and other complex civil cases.
Jane has secured multimillion-dollar jury verdicts and settlements for clients facing devastating consequences from medical negligence, unsafe practices, dangerous products, and corporate wrongdoing. A four-time recipient of Best Lawyers’ Portland “Lawyer of the Year” recognition, she has earned a national reputation for excellence in the courtroom and for maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.
Jane is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers—two of the legal profession’s most selective trial-lawyer organizations. She is also a longtime leader in Oregon’s trial bar. In 2015, Jane became the first woman to serve as president of the Oregon Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
Jane’s practice is built on preparation, persistence, and a willingness to take difficult cases to trial. Drawing on decades of courtroom experience—including her early work representing defendants—she understands how corporations, insurance companies, healthcare institutions, and their attorneys evaluate and defend significant claims. She uses that insight to uncover the truth, present complicated evidence clearly, and ensure that her clients’ voices are heard.
Jane has obtained substantial verdicts and settlements in medical-malpractice, wrongful-death, motor-vehicle, construction-accident, and catastrophic-injury cases. Her featured results include:
Each result reflects Jane’s ability to master complicated medical and factual issues, explain them clearly to juries, and demonstrate the full human consequences of preventable harm.
Jane has repeatedly been recognized by her peers for excellence in trial advocacy, professionalism, leadership, and service to the legal community.
She has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs. Best Lawyers has named Jane its Portland “Lawyer of the Year” four times:
Jane was selected to Oregon Super Lawyers every year from 2006 through 2025. Her additional Super Lawyers recognition includes:
In 2021, the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association honored Jane as its Distinguished Trial Lawyer.
Jane received the Multnomah Bar Association’s Professionalism Award in 2017. The award recognizes attorneys who demonstrate the highest ethical standards and exemplary conduct in the practice of law.
In 2015, Jane received the Oregon Women Lawyers Justice Betty Roberts Award, which honors an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to promoting women in the legal profession and the community.
Jane has also been recognized as one of Portland’s best lawyers by Portland Monthly.
Jane has held leadership positions in several of Oregon’s most important trial-lawyer organizations.
In 2015, she became the first woman president of the Oregon Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. ABOTA is a national, invitation-only organization of experienced trial lawyers and judges dedicated to preserving the right to a civil jury trial and promoting professionalism and integrity in the legal profession.
Jane served as president of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association in 2004–2005 and as a member of its board from 1995 through 2006. From 2000 through 2004, she was one of only two Association of Trial Lawyers of America delegates representing Oregon.
In 2012, Jane was invited to become a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. At the time, she was one of only five women attorneys in Oregon belonging to the organization. Her election also made Jane and her father, respected trial lawyer Chuck Paulson, one of the College’s few father-daughter Fellows.
Jane is also a member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, a highly selective organization limited to 500 active trial lawyers from the United States. She belongs to the Summit Council as well, a national organization of accomplished civil-justice attorneys committed to excellence, integrity, and the advancement of the civil-justice system.
Jane earned her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. After graduation, she served as a judicial law clerk to United States District Judge James M. Burns.
Jane then practiced for several years at a well-regarded defense firm. That experience gave her valuable insight into how defendants, corporations, insurance companies, and their lawyers assess and defend complex civil cases. She now draws upon that knowledge when representing injured people and their families.
Jane later served as an adjunct professor of Advanced Trial Advocacy at Lewis & Clark Law School, where she helped prepare future lawyers to advocate persuasively, effectively, and ethically for their clients.
Jane believes trial lawyers have a responsibility to serve both their profession and their community. She has served on numerous local and state bar committees and has devoted her time to organizations working to expand access, opportunity, and justice.
For many years, Jane served on the board of Habitat for Humanity Portland Region. She also served on the boards of the Center for Women’s Leadership at Portland State University’s Hatfield School of Government and the Campaign for Equal Justice.
Away from her law practice, Jane values spending time with her family and giving back to her community. She is also a devoted—and highly competitive—pickleball player and fan.
At Paulson Coletti, “liberty and justice for all” is more than just a phrase – it is our mandate. Our team of trial lawyers is driven to pursue justice for the injured, ensuring that the responsible parties are held accountable. With a high success rate both in and out of the courtroom, you can trust our Oregon personal injury lawyers to be the legal advocates you need so your voice can be heard.
(503) 226-6361 