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ATTORNEYS AND STAFF The Office of Counsel includes three attorneys and two support staff. A portion of the attorneys' time (0.5 FTE) is committed to teaching responsibilities. While the attorneys have areas of emphasis (research, contracts, student affairs, etc.), any of them may be contacted by UAH personnel for assistance. Please feel free to call on any member of the office if you need any kind of job-related legal services.
Robert W. Rieder
University Counsel
mailto:riederr@email.uah.edu
- Received his undergraduate degree from Williamette University (B.A. summa cum laude, 1964) in Salem, Oregon and his law degree from Duke University (J.D., 1967)
- Served three years in the U.S. Navy as Operations and Legal Officer. Graduate, Naval Justice School, Newport, Rhode Island, 1968
- Began the practice of law in Huntsville, Alabama in 1971 with local firm
- In 1976, accepted the position of University Counsel at UAH and has served the University in that capacity since then
- Taught part-time in the College of Administrative Science since 1984, holding an appointment as Clinical Assistant Professor
- Co-author of Campus Legal Guide, with Mike Spearing and Bill Woodward, and author/co-author of several published legal articles
- Frequent speaker on legal topics
John O. Cates
Legal Counsel
mailto:catesj@email.uah.edu
- Received his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama (B.A., 1972), and law degree from Cumberland School of Law, Samford University (J.D., 1978), where he was on the Law Review and inducted into Curia Honoris
- Served as Legal Counsel at UAH from 1984 to 1988, returned to the position in 2004
- Practiced law in Huntsville, Alabama for many years with local firms
- Teaches in the College of Administrative Science, holding an appointment as Clinical Assistant Professor
William B. Woodward, Jr.
Legal Counsel
mailto:woodwaw@email.uah.edu
- Received his undergraduate degree from University of North Alabama (B.A., 1965), law degree from Cumberland School of Law, Samford University (J.D., 1968) and graduate law degree from New York University School of Law (LL.M., 1973)
- Served 24 years on active duty with the Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Army. Completed Field Artillery Officer Basic Corps, 1965; Judge Advocate General's Basic Officer Course, 1968; Judge Advocate General's Advanced Officer Course, 1974; and Command General Staff College, 1981. Served as Instructor/Assistant Professor in the Law Department, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY, 1970-73; Chief, Military and Medical Jurisprudence Branch, Health Care Administration Division, Academy of Health Sciences, Ft. Sam Houston, TX 1981-1984; Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea, 1984-86
- Joined Office of Counsel in January 1989
- Taught part-time in the College of Administrative Science since 1989, currently holding an appointment as Clinical Assistant Professor
- Served as Acting Chair, Department of Accounting and Business Legal Studies, AY 1995-96
- Co-author of Campus Legal Guide, with Bob Rieder and Mike Spearing
Kerry Short Elmore
Administrative Assistant
mailto:elmoreks@email.uah.edu
- Hired as Legal Secretary for the Office of Counsel August 1995
- Promoted to Legal Assistant November 1999
- Notary Public for State of Alabama at Large
- Prior experience: Employed as Office Receptionist for one year and Administrative Assistant to the Executive Vice President of Askew's Office Supply for two years
Patti A. Weldon
Legal Secretary
mailto:weldonp@email.uah.edu
- Graduate of Auburn University Montgomery (AUM), B.A.,1977
- Paralegal Certificate, Huntingdon College, Montgomery, Alabama, 1985
- Prior Experience: Legal Secretary, Kaufman & Rothfeder, P.C., Montgomery, Alabama, 1994-1998; Legal Secretary, Law Offices of John N. Pappanastos, Montgomery, Alabama, 1982 - 1994
- Joined Office of Counsel staff in July 2005 as Legal Secretary
- Notary Public for State of Alabama at Large
