Alumni Spotlight: How Curiosity and Courage Shaped Scott Morris ’76’s Legal Career

Scott Morris ’76 serves as in-house counsel at Trilogy Equity Partners and co-chairs the UC Law SF Seattle Alumni Chapter.

Scott Morris ’76 is in-house counsel at Trilogy Equity Partners, a Seattle-based early-stage venture capital firm. He previously served as chief legal officer for several wireless telecom companies and was inspired to pursue law after working at a nonprofit focused on housing equity and civil rights.

Scott serves as a committee co-chair on the UC Law SF Foundation Board of Trustees and co-chair of the UC Law SF Seattle Alumni Chapter. The Seattle chapter heads to T-Mobile Park on July 1 to watch the Seattle Mariners take on the Kansas City Royals.

As a UC Law SF graduate, Scott’s career has spanned government, litigation, public affairs, and corporate law. He encourages future lawyers to stay curious, take risks, and embrace unexpected twists that can lead to the most rewarding experiences.

His conversation with the UC Law SF Alumni Association follows.

Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in law, and what drew you to UC Law SF specifically?

A: I took time off from college just before my senior year. I planned to design my own major, focusing on 19th-century German philosophy. That would have required my staying in school an extra year, and I’m sure that it would have been a miserable slog. Fortunately, I found a job during my break at a nonprofit that focused on promoting affordable housing and combatting racial discrimination in housing. The work inspired me to ditch my plans to major in philosophy and to apply to law school instead. I wanted to live in San Francisco, so UC Law SF (then Hastings) was the perfect choice.

Q: What did you most enjoy about your experience at UC Law SF?

A: I enjoyed getting to know classmates who were serious about learning the basics of legal practice, open to collaborating with other students, and didn’t spend time posturing about their own cognitive gifts. It was often a grind, but the atmosphere was refreshingly collegial, and the courses were intellectually stimulating.

Q: Can you share a favorite memory or a defining moment from your time at UC Law SF?

A: Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg visited the school during my final year and judged several moot court appellate arguments. I can’t recall what issue I argued, but I do remember that although I was scared witless, I enjoyed the challenge of presenting my side of the case. The episode taught me that with good preparation, you can perform well under pressure.

Q: How do you stay connected to UC Law SF and your fellow alumni?

A: One of my best friends in law school, Nell Newton, asked me to join the UC Law SF Foundation many years ago when she was dean of the law school. Shortly after I signed up, Nell left to serve as dean at another law school. She left me high and dry! But I have enjoyed reconnecting with the school and meeting other alums on the Foundation who are accomplished, have had interesting careers, and are motivated to help UC Law SF thrive as a leading institution of legal education.

Q: What advice would you give to current students or young alumni navigating their careers in today’s legal landscape?

A: Be curious, be open to taking risks, and get accustomed to operating outside your comfort zone. My career has meandered from working in the government to tort litigation to public affairs and, ultimately, to international corporate law as a general counsel. It’s not a path I anticipated. But I found that when an opportunity arose to try something new and interesting, and I took the chance, I was almost always rewarded with an enriching experience—or at least one that brought lessons that served me well later in my career. Looking back, I realize that my tax and corporations classes—which I didn’t think would be relevant to my career at the time—proved invaluable when I had to sort through proxy battles and transactional work.