J.D. - University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Ph.D. - University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Professor O'Hara primarily teaches law and economics. When teaching law and economics he stresses the Institutionalist perspective, not merely the Neo-Classical perspective. Professor O'Hara has authored the textbook Introduction to Legal and Economic Analysis. Professor O'Hara is quite welcoming to mentoring student research projects (e.g., thesis) related to his own research agenda.

Professor O'Hara's research agenda is focused upon forensic economics. Currently, he is Co-Editor of The Earning Analyst that is jointly published by the American Rehabilitation Economics Association (www.A-R-E-A.org) and the Collegium of Pecuniary Damage Experts (www.CPDE.info) as well as Book Review Editor of Economics & Business Journal published by the Nebraska Business and Economics Association (ecedweb.unomaha.edu/neba). He has served as the Editor of the Journal of Legal Economics published by the American Academy of Economic and Financial Experts' (www.AAEFE.org); he is an active member of National Association of Forensic Economists (www.NEFE.net); and a Founding Member of the Collegium of Pecuniary Damages Experts. Currently, Professor O'Hara is most interested in optometry, but prior interests include honey bees. Dr. O'Hara's prior research has included forensic economics, intellectual property, alternative dispute resolution (e.g., mediation), and Canadian studies. Professor O'Hara has provided his services as a reviewer of academic manuscripts seeking publication for a number of professional organizations, including the Academy of Legal Studies in Business (www.ALSB.org). Professor O'Hara provides consulting services as an expert witness related to forensic economics.

Professor O'Hara has served on dozens of College and University-wide committees and councils, most notably the UNO Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee and UoN's system wide Executive Graduate Council. Currently, his public service includes the Nebraska Board of Optometry and the Board of Directors of the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (www.ARBO.org). He has served on the Board of Directors of several not-for-profits, including the Concord Center (mediation services) (www.Concord-Center.com). In his service to the profession, has served on the Board of Directors of AAEFE, CPDE, and NEBA. In Nebraska's electric industry, Professor O'Hara served by gubernatorial appointment on the Nebraska Power Review Board (www.nprb.state.ne.us) and then was elected by the citizens of Omaha to serve on the Board of Directors of the Omaha Public Power District (www.oppd.com).