::Peterson, Rosanna

Biographical Information

Rosanna Peterson graduated from the University of  North Dakota where she was Editor-In-Chief of the North Dakota Law Review. She was elected to the Order of the Barristers and selected as the outstanding graduate. Following graduation from law school, Professor Peterson clerked for the Honorable Fred Van Sickle in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. Professor Peterson practiced general litigation, employment and education law, as well as criminal defense at several private law firms in Spokane, before becoming a partner in Rodgers & Peterson. 

Professor Peterson received the Smithmoore Myers Professionalism Award in 2006.  She served as president of the Federal Bar Association for Eastern Washington, president of Washington Women Lawyers State Bar Association, president of the Spokane County Washington Women Lawyers Bar Association, and has served on the board of directors for the Center for Justice and as the Eastern Washington representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference and Criminal Justice Act Attorneys Conference.   Currently, Professor Peterson serves on the board of directors for the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute, the Board of Directors for the Eastern District of Washington Federal Court Historical Society, and the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute. 

In 2002, Professor Peterson became director of the Externship Program at Gonzaga University School of Law, where she also teaches Evidence, Federal Jurisdiction, and Trial Advocacy.

Teaching Areas

• Evidence
• Federal Jurisdiction
• Trial Advocacy

Presentations

• Co-chaired "Externship4 - A Bridge to Practice," a national conference for externship directors and faculty at Seattle University. Served as moderator for the Gonzaga Hosted Lunch discussion "The Stuckey Challenge: How Externships Serve the Best Practices Model of Legal Education." Also moderated a panel discussion on "Externship Programs and ABA Accreditation Issues", and presented at repeated speed-sharing sessions on "Using Externships to Increase Diversity in Legal Communities." February 15-16, 2008.
• The Real Story about Client Relationships, WSBA CLE for new admittees, November 7, 2007
• Thinking Legally and Strategically about Culture and Diversity, Washington State Bar Association's CLE on diversity, October 18. 2007
• Aristotle in the Courtroom, Gonzaga University School of Law Thomas More CLE program, January 19, 2007
• Liability and Ethical Considerations for Using Interns, Spokane County Bar Association CLE program, December 8, 2006
• Tools and Insight to Maximize Your Practice at Every Stage of Your Career, Washington Women Lawyers Annual Leadership Symposium, November 17, 2006.
• Leadership and Women in the Law:  The Changing Profile of the 21st Century Attorney, Washington Women Lawyers Annual Leadership Symposium, November 17, 2006.
• Ethical Dilemmas for the Practicing Lawyer, Washington State Bar Association CLE, October 3, 2006.
• Improving Your Speaking Skills, Spokane County Bar Association's Trial Techniques CLE, January 27, 2006.

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