U.S. Copyright Office welcomes ASU Law graduate Elizabeth J. Porter as new Ringer Honors Fellow

Elizabeth J. Porter has joined the U.S. Copyright Office as a fellow in the Barbara A. Ringer Copyright Honors Program. Since September, she has worked primarily with the Office of Policy and International Affairs, the Office of the General Counsel and is expected to gain exposure in all parts of the office. Overall, Porter will obtain insight into the U.S. copyright system to utilize in her future career aspirations. 

Porter graduated from the Sandra Day O’Connor College School of Law at Arizona State University in 2024. She was the student executive director for The McCarthy Institute for Intellectual Property and president of Law Students for the Arts.

"The Ringer Fellowship program’s namesake, Barbara Ringer, was appointed by the Librarian of Congress as the eighth Register of Copyrights and the first woman to lead the U.S. Copyright Office,” explained Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter. “The Office honors her legacy through this paid fellowship, which offers a unique public service opportunity for early-career attorneys who demonstrate a strong interest in copyright law and a record of achievement in law school or practice.”

“Liz Porter knew she wanted to be a copyright lawyer from the day she entered ASU Law,” said McCarthy Institute Executive Director David Franklyn. “In all things, Liz has shown great promise as a future copyright lawyer, and we are thrilled with her being honored with this esteemed fellowship at the U.S. Copyright Office.”

Porter credits her studies at ASU Law for helping her land the position. 

“The Intellectual Property program at ASU is top-notch. I had fantastic professors who ensured I had the requisite knowledge base to enter a competitive field of law,” she said. “The McCarthy Institute provided even greater opportunities to expand my knowledge of copyright law. Through the McCarthy Institute, I had the opportunity to plan symposia and network with some of the greatest minds in the copyright and IP law field.”

Porter’s ultimate goal is to have a fulfilling career where she can advise both creatives and companies on how to best protect their intellectual property portfolios and eventually help out other students just like her.

“I am thrilled to be able to carve a pathway for future ASU students who want to be law clerks and Ringer Fellows. I benefited from the wisdom and experiences of my mentors and it’s important to me to pay it forward,” Porter expressed. “I hope to mentor many ASU students.”

For more information about the Ringer Copyright Honors Program, visit the Ringer Fellowship webpage. The Office is accepting applications for the next fellowship term through December 31, 2024.

Written by Crystal Jimenez