Meet the Waterman Family
View a video of the Waterman family by clicking on the link below.
Outgoing student government leaders focus on outreach
UI President Sally Mason commends Michael Appel, ’13, President of the Executive Council of Graduate and Professional Students. Also, check out the YouTube video about Iowa Law within the story.
http://now.uiowa.edu/2013/04/study-teamwork
Meet The Honorable Mary Tabor, ’91
View a video of The Honorable Mary Tabor, ’91 by clicking on the link below.
Meet Angela Wolfe Kelley, ’07
Just six years after graduating from the UI College of Law, Angela Wolfe Kelley, ’07, has had three career changes in three very different types of legal practice: large law firm, government, and corporate counsel. “My experience is one of adaptation and gradually finding the career that best fits my skill set and personality,” says the Dubuque, Iowa native.
She started working at the Minneapolis office of one of the Midwest’s largest firms, Faegre & Benson, now Faegre Baker Daniels, right after graduation. “I did big real estate law, working on large commercial transactions like office buildings, hotels, and sports stadiums,” she says. “Then the real estate market crashed.”
Next, Angela and her fiancé relocated to Des Moines where she served as an Executive Officer of the Iowa Office of Energy Independence, directing the distribution of $50 million in federal stimulus funds to advanced energy projects across the state. Finding her skills to be better suited to private practice, she quickly returned to the Des Moines office of Faegre Baker Daniels, where she practiced commercial litigation, working primarily in the areas of financial services and securities.
In June 2012, Angela returned to her hometown and is now Associate General Counsel for Heartland Financial USA, Inc., a five billion dollar financial services company providing banking, mortgage, investment, insurance, wealth management and consumer finance services to individuals and businesses in locations across the Midwest and Western United States, including Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, and Minnesota and loan production offices in California, Wyoming, Idaho, North Dakota, and Nevada.
At every turn, Angela says her Iowa education has served her well. “Iowa really taught me how to process questions,” she says. As Associate General Counsel of a large financial institution, “it’s important to be able to spot issues because a lot of things cross my desk every day. Iowa prepared me well for that.”
Angela easily could have ended up at another law school. Since she attended the UI as an undergrad, she looked forward to a change of scenery. After graduation, she traveled extensively for her national sorority, living in Dallas and visiting all of the law schools to which she was considering applying. “I kept waiting for something to jump out at me,” she recalls. “I thought I’d find something that I couldn’t get here, but it never happened.”
Ultimately, she was accepted by a top-ranked law school but didn’t feel that its reputation or the education she’d receive there was worth the hefty price difference as compared to Iowa Law. She’s never regretted the decision.
“I interviewed for jobs in several large cities, and I’d always be there with applicants from Stanford, Harvard, and Columbia. I’d laugh to myself, ‘Isn’t it funny that we’ll end up at the same firm, but I’ll be $100,000 less in debt and I’m just prepared as you are?’ In many ways, Iowa has given me the ability to be flexible in my career decisions.”
Today, Angela loves living in her hometown, and enjoys providing counsel for a large, national company. And she’s especially proud of where she’s chosen to live: “I was an Iowan by birth, but now I’m an Iowan by choice.”
Meet Joe Fraioli, ’13
Hometown: Islip Terrace, NY
Undergraduate Institution: Ithaca College
What is the best part of being a law student at the University of Iowa?
I think the atmosphere is the best part of Iowa law. The work is just as challenging and demanding as at any other law school, but the sense of collegiality and community is unique to Iowa. We are all classmates, and we are all friends.
When you began your first year, what pleasantly surprised you about Iowa Law?
I was very impressed with the emphasis that the faculty and staff place on getting out of the classroom, getting to know students, and getting involved in the community. I’ve been to several professors’ homes for dinner, and all of the professors have an open-door policy, so I’m able to chat with them outside of class. Further, I have had various opportunities to apply my legal skills in a practical environment through programs like the Citizen Lawyer Program.
What is life in Iowa City like?
Iowa City provides a truly ideal environment for balancing your work with your social life. It is just big enough to have a thriving downtown and there is always something new to try, but it is small enough to not be too distracting. Save for those two or three frosty weeks in late January/early February, the weather is beautiful!
What made you decide to attend the University of Iowa for your law degree?
A number of factors contributed to my decision. In addition to its low cost and excellent academic reputation, the size of the school is ideal—class sizes are relatively small and discussion is intimate and engaging, and as I mentioned before, professors are easily accessible. Overall, Iowa provides an incredibly rich learning environment that appealed to me over the rest.
How do you like the size of your classes?
Lectures, even the larger ones, are small enough that students can engage with the professor and the material without feeling like they are lost in a sea of people. Many of the courses in your later years are fewer than 50 people—something not common with most law schools.
Do you feel you are being well prepared for a law career?
I feel that Iowa provides more than enough opportunities to experience the various facets of the legal profession. I feel that my research, writing, and advocacy skills are proficient enough to make me a valuable asset to any future employer.
Are there opportunities for practical experience?
Within my first few weeks at Iowa Law I was downtown assisting the Johnson County Attorney’s office with the implementation of an alcohol diversion program for first-time alcohol offenders. Just last semester, I spent three days a week in Cedar Rapids clerking for a federal judge as part of the clinical program. The ability to work with professors as research assistants, take part in extracurricular activities, and participate in moot court and journal offers students the ability to apply what they have learned in a practical setting.
If you are involved in many extracurricular activities, how does this enhance your Iowa Law experience?
Class is only a small part of what law school is all about. I have been able to thoroughly explore my interests with support of the law school through a number of clubs and organizations. It has given me an opportunity to apply my legal knowledge in a fun setting outside of the classroom. Specifically, my involvement with the Iowa Law Review has certainly been challenging, but also incredibly fulfilling!
Meet Brian Hook, ’99
Brian Hook, (’99), has been surrounded by law and politics for as long as he can remember. As a child growing up in a family of lawyers and elected officials, he admired their many accomplishments. After receiving his undergraduate degree, his own experience in politics began when he worked at the White House, followed by stints on Capitol Hill, and with the governor of Iowa. Eventually, he realized that a law degree was the missing piece to a better career in public policy.
“My early experiences made law school far more worthwhile and meaningful than going straight from college,” said Hook. “I enjoyed everything about law school, and what I learned there has been valuable at each point in my career.”
Since 2009, Hook has been helping corporations and nonprofits expand their operations into new countries. He has also been active in humanitarian projects, working mostly in sub-Saharan Africa to reduce deaths caused by cervical and breast cancer. “We launched the Pink Ribbon-Red Ribbon Partnership last year after raising $85 million, and we’re already saving lives through increased screening and early detection efforts,” said Hook. He is also working to create innovation centers within UN refugee camps to improve the lives of people displaced by wars and natural disasters.
Meet Lauren Hansen, ’09
Approximately 46 million people in America live in poverty, struggling to access affordable health care, secure employment, and find housing. Lauren Hansen, ’09, is acutely aware of the burdens of poverty because she lived it—growing up poor in rural, northern California, Hansen knows what it is like to sometimes lack the basic necessities.
Now Hansen is beginning a two-year fellowship with the Public Interest Law Project (PILP). She works as an attorney fellow representing impoverished clients, all of whom lack jobs, housing, and health care they can afford. Her cases are rooted in impact advocacy designed to fix the systemic problems that keep people poor.
“Not having employment, an affordable place to live, and health care are the three biggest barriers to our clients being able to move out of poverty. A lot of misinformation exists about poverty programs and there is a lack of understanding about the problems of the poor,” says Hansen. “I feel like if more people truly understood what it is like to be poor, the conversation would change.”
Hansen’s personal experiences have helped her to connect with her clients who are dealing with problems similar to those that she and her mother faced while Hansen was in high school.
Like many families, Hansen’s family was not always poor. When her mother, a paralegal, saw the need for middle- and lower-income people to have access to low-cost basic legal information, she opened her own business. New businesses can strain family finances, so Hansen helped out as a file clerk. They could not afford to purchase health insurance. When her mom unexpectedly became ill, all of their savings, including the money for Hansen’s college education went to pay hospital bills. They turned to food stamps, welfare, and Medicaid benefits to survive.
“Essentially, we became part of the community my mom was initially trying to help. I do not know what we would have done if we had not had government assistance as a safety net. We could have become homeless. I may have had to drop out of school,” says, Hansen. “Eventually, I became dedicated to helping poor people, and determined that the law is the most effective tool for social change.”
While a student at the UI College of Law, Hansen immersed herself in social justice work. Financial support from the Equal Justice Foundation and the Iowa Law School Foundation allowed her to work both summers in public interest law. After her first year of law school, she worked at the East Bay Community Law Center in Berkeley, California, providing direct legal services to clients whose welfare benefits had been discontinued or denied. During her second summer of law school, she did impact advocacy at New York Lawyers’ for the Public Interest in New York City, where she worked on health law, disability rights, environmental justice, and police misconduct.
“Grants made it possible for me to work for free during the summer so I could gain valuable experience in the field. The public interest community hires people who demonstrate commitment,” says Hansen. “You cannot demonstrate commitment if you do not work in the field.”
She also worked as a research assistant for the COL’s Associate Dean Linda McGuire, who had just started the Citizen Lawyer Program. “Working for the Program energized me, provided great experience, and has contributed to my success as a public interest lawyer,” says Hansen. “Dean McGuire is a great mentor.”
After graduating from Iowa Law, Hansen worked for Legal Services of Northern California for three years, where she represented clients in public benefits, housing, and health law before starting her fellowship with the PILP.
“PILP created the fellowship program to train the next generation of poverty lawyers in California,” says Hansen. “I split my time between the housing and public benefits groups—in housing, I do land use and affordable housing; in public benefits, I work to ensure access to a number of different benefits programs including health, welfare, and food stamps.”
With Hansen’s excellent legal education, a career path that has allowed her to gain useful experience, and a personal understanding of poverty, public benefits, and public interest law, she has made an immediate contribution to PILP.
“I am happy to continue my work and look forward to working with the experienced staff at PILP to address the difficult issues that our clients face,” says Hansen.
Meet Samantha Rollins, ’13
Hometown: Rockford, IL
Undergraduate Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
What is great about being a law student at the University of Iowa?
If I had to pick my top three, they would be: 1) going to school in a truly collegial environment, where you can develop a lifelong network of friendships, 2) living in Iowa City, which has a great selection of restaurants, night life, and other fun things to do when you are not studying, and 3) getting a first-rate education for a really reasonable price.
When you began your first year, what was one thing that pleasantly surprised you about the Law School?
It is a truly collegial environment. People do not let their pursuit of academic excellence get in the way of forming lasting friendships, and it is nice to go to school with people you genuinely care about, and who care about you!
What do you like to do when you are not studying or in class?
I love Hawkeye football! The atmosphere on campus during game weekends is amazing, and it is a great outlet when you have been working for classes all week.
What made you decide to attend the University of Iowa for your law degree?
A lot of factors played into my decision to come to Iowa, but two of the most important were the “feel” of the law school and the cost-benefit analysis of an education here. The “feel” first—Iowa Law has an incredibly welcoming atmosphere, and the College goes out of its way to make sure students have the resources they need to succeed. The faculty also contributes by being incredibly open and accessible. As for the cost-benefit analysis, you can go to Iowa and get a fantastic legal education without spending an inordinate amount of money doing it. Even out-of-state students can almost always get research assistant positions in their second year to bring tuition down to the in-state level.
Is the faculty accessible?
The faculty is incredibly accessible at our school. In addition to their established office hours, almost all of the professors have an open-door policy, and encourage us to stop by any time we want. It is also common to be invited to a professor’s home for dinner – three of my professors in my first semester alone invited the entire class into their homes for great food and conversation.
Do you feel you are being well prepared for a law career?
I am always amazed at the quantity, quality, and variation in the programs put on by Career Services, the Academic Achievement Program, and student organizations. From programs that give you tips on how to study successfully to panel discussions on the different careers available to a law student, there is always a way to get more information about a career in law.
Are there opportunities for practical experience?
The College offers great opportunities to get practical experience. First, the College runs a law clinic, where first- and second-year students can work with clients in the community on solving real legal issues. Second, students can participate in externships for credit with local practitioners. And last, the College provides ample support for students who are seeking legal internships during the summers after their first and second years.
You are involved in many extracurricular activities, how does this enhance your Iowa Law experience?
Most importantly, being involved in extracurricular activities allows me to meet and interact with law students outside of class. They also provide important perspective – there is more to life than going to class, and it is important to take advantage of all the great student-run organizations both at the Law School and the University.
Meet Meghan Gavin, ’06
Some people go to law school because it is the family thing to do. With a brother and sister who were already lawyers, Meghan Gavin had the opposite reaction as an undergraduate. “I was pretty sure I didn’t want to go law school,” she recalls. While studying history and political science, first as an undergraduate at DePaul University and then in a master’s program at the University of Chicago, Gavin looked forward to working on political campaigns and “participating in the world”—not just studying it.
It only took time, though, before she was bitten by the law school bug. The decision to study at the University of Iowa’s College of Law was an easy one: “I didn’t know where I wanted to end up, whether it would be Chicago or elsewhere, so I decided on Iowa because its national reputation and central location would maximize my options. Also, the price is right—especially for its rankings.”
Six years out of law school, Gavin has no regrets, noting the multiple benefits of her legal education: “Iowa Law makes you an incredible legal writer in a way that other law schools cannot touch. You also learn how to really break down arguments and how to look at every level of a case. Iowa taught me to always second guess and question my initial impression.”
Iowa Law also opened the door to one of her best teachers and learning opportunities. After graduating in 2006, Gavin became a clerk for Iowa Supreme Court Justice Brent Appel, who she calls her ideal mentor; “Justice Appel is very much the type of lawyer I want to be.”
Working with Appel for three and a half years, Gavin had the opportunity to read the Iowa Constitution at least a half dozen times and engage in a very high level of legal abstraction. “I relied on the analytical skills I learned at Iowa every day while working for the Court,” she says.
In late 2010, Gavin became an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Iowa, gaining the interesting distinction of representing her past employer, Iowa’s judicial branch, if and when it is sued. The Dubuque native says that Iowa is a good place for lawyers hoping to pursue governmental work: “There are a lot of opportunities in Iowa with fewer job candidates—as compared to Chicago or Washington, D.C., and you can progress relatively quickly here.”
Recently, she defended the judicial branch in Carlson v. Wiggins, a case challenging the merit selection system for selecting judges. The U.S. Supreme Court recently denied certiorari after the State’s victory at the Eighth Circuit. She also argued her first case last year to the Iowa Supreme Court—Iowa Right to Life v. Tooker. The case challenged the constitutionality of Iowa’s campaign finance scheme post-Citizen’s United. Gavin is well aware that she is doing exactly the kind of “real” work to which she once feared a law degree would not lead. But it did—leading her home and to some of the state’s highest offices.
Meet Joe McFarlane, ’13
Hometown: Spokane, Washington
Undergraduate Institution: Brigham Young University
What’s great about being a law student at the University of Iowa?
Everyone at the College of Law makes the experience very welcoming and comfortable. From the faculty to the students, the people here are friendly. I am happy I chose Iowa because of the quality of education I am receiving and the great environment we have here.
When you began your first year, what was one thing that pleasantly surprised you about the Law School?
I was surprised at how well the College of Law helps first-year students assimilate to law school. It is hard to know what to expect during your first year, but the College did a great job helping us with informative and entertaining events.
What do you like to do when you are not studying or in class? What is life in Iowa City like?
I really enjoy exercising and playing intramural sports at the various campus facilities. The fields and the workout facilities at Iowa are phenomenal, and there is never a shortage of intramural competitions. The College of Law is in a great location. It is a short walk from Kinnick Stadium, the restaurants in downtown Iowa City, and the workout facilities on campus.
What made you decide to attend the University of Iowa for your law degree?
I was looking for a school to attend in the Midwest, and Iowa provided the best education for the price, along with the comfortable environment that I needed in a law school.
Do you feel the faculty is accessible? How do you like the size of your classes?
Most of the professors I have had for classes have open-door policies. They are also quick to respond to any questions that students may have. Most class sizes are conducive to learning, and I always feel that I can ask professors questions.
Do you feel you are being well prepared for a law career?
I felt very prepared for my two summer associate positions and will be prepared to start my law career after graduation in 2013. Our professors do a great job helping students to learn to think critically and analyze legal issues. Furthermore, the College’s Career Services staff has done a great job helping me in my job search.
Are there opportunities for practical experience?
The College of Law has four excellent student-run journals. I have been able to be a part of the Journal of Corporation Law for two years. Working on a journal helps Iowa law students improve their writing, research, and analytical skills, while introducing them to the rigors of the legal profession. Our journals also offer a great opportunity to students who want to become well versed in various areas of the law.
You are involved in many extracurricular activities, how does this enhance your Iowa Law experience?
Extracurricular activities help me feel a part of the Law School community and give me meaningful experiences outside of the classroom setting. It is a great way to get to know classmates while serving others and gaining experience. There are literally hundreds of different activities.
