Iowa Law Viewbook 2020–21

Be the
lawyer
the world
needs.

Stella Burch Elias (front cover)
Professor and Chancellor William Gardiner
Hammond Fellow in Law
We’ve flipped
the script
on law school.

Today’s complex legal issues require not only a deep understanding of
legal doctrine, but also the ability to build partnerships and coalitions
among colleagues, clients, experts, and stakeholders.
We’ll show you how to do it all at Iowa Law.
Because we’re a small school within a Big Ten university, you’ll
learn in an environment that values community and civility, maximizes
collaboration, and encourages exploration across disciplines.
Iowa Law graduates: They’re grounded, collegial, and sought-after
team members. They are the future of law.

Intellectual rigor.
Wide-ranging
opportunities.
DEFINE THE FUTURE ON YOUR TERMS.
Your years at Iowa Law are designed to
make the most of your ambitions. Our
bar exam pass rate is one of the best in
the United States, and we have alumni
in every major American city.
More on pages 6–11
2

A distinctive culture
of success.
WE MODEL AND PRACTICE AN EXEMPLARY
LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM—and it will
become your personal hallmark. In and
out of the classroom, you’ll experience
how collaboration can be as exhilarating
as competition.
More on pages 12–15
Todd Pettys (right)
H. Blair and Joan V. White Chair
in Civil Litigation
3

Enduring connections
with great minds.
OUR FACULTY’S LETTERS OF
RECOMMENDATION ARE MEANINGFUL
and effective because we know
students as individuals. Iowa has one
of the best student-faculty ratios
of any law school in the country, and
an open-door policy is the norm.
More on pages 18–21
4
John Allen
Herschel G. Langdon
Clinical Professor of Law

Mastering effective
legal communication.
OUR REPUTATION FOR PRODUCING
GIFTED LEGAL WRITERS OPENS DOORS.
Iowa is one of the few top-tier law
schools with a full-time writing faculty.
We ensure you have the skills you need
to launch your career.
More on pages 22–27
5

A degree
to match
your
ambitions.
6
On a bluff overlooking the Iowa River, our
Boyd Law Building is a center of intellectual
engagement. Here, your years of study will
ready you for your first steps after law school
and all the subsequent paths your career can
take. According to ABA data on national law

98.5%
Grads employed within
10 months of graduation
Class of 2019
11th highest employment
rate for full-time jobs
Law.com, 2020
92.5%
National bar exam
pass rate
2019
#15 nationally for
first-time passing rates
National Jurist, 2018
school classes, Iowa has a consistently strong
record for placing the highest percentage of
new graduates in full-time, long-term jobs that
require bar passage. And more than half of
our graduates work outside Iowa—part of a
global alumni network of 10,500+ members.
7

140
Annual hiring visits from
firms, government
agencies, corporations,
and courts
(plus 59 employers
doing résumé collects)
29th
on the 2020 Go-To Law
Schools list
Law.com
(based on percentage of
2019 graduates at the nation’s
250 largest firms)
First Iowa. Then anywhere.
An alumni
network that’s
10,500+
strong
International
U.S. Territories
Where our students (Classes 2020–22) come from
Where the Class of 2019 is working
425 total
140 total
8

CAREER SERVICES.
Iowa Law students come
from all over–and with the
support and guidance of
our Career Services team,
they work all over, too. We
take the time to learn your
interests, strengths, and
goals so we can provide
individualized advice.
Rather than prescribe a
narrow range of options,
we’ll ask questions that help
us match your talents and
ambitions to a wide range
of possibilities throughout
the nation: law firms of all
sizes, policymaking
organizations, clerkships,
government agencies, and
prominent nonprofit
organizations. We also
provide a variety of ways
to connect in person and
virtually with our global
network of alumni, who
work in an array of practice
areas and locations.
This commitment to you
doesn’t end at graduation—
we work with our alumni
throughout their careers.
FIELD PLACEMENT
PROGRAM. Our field
placement program lets
you hone your legal
skills by working with
experienced attorneys
in state and federal
government agencies,
judges’ chambers,
nonprofit organizations,
and the offices of selected
in-house counsel. This
hands-on experience will
help you take the legal
knowledge and analytical
skills you gained in the
classroom and apply them
to real-world situations. A
complementary seminar
explores the contours
of legal practice, examines
legal ethics, and develops
professional judgment.
Student Matthew Bergs
(JD ’18, MHA ’18) (left)
completed a field
placement at the University
of Iowa Hospitals
and Clinics.
9

Practice makes practitioners.
Through experiential learning—in moot court competitions,
in our law clinic, in our Citizen Lawyer Program—students
develop the habits of mind that serve them well when they leave
to become serious, practicing lawyers around the world.
“MENTORING IS A HALLMARK of our
law school. We take a lot of pride in our
students and enjoy taking an active role
in helping to prepare them for a career
in law. We do that in a variety of ways,
from coaching moot court teams to
having one-on-one conversations about
their career goals to helping them find
great jobs after graduation.”
—Christina Bohannan
Professor; Lauridsen Family
Fellow in Law; Director of
Master of Studies in Law program
10

MOOT COURT.
In 2019, Iowa Law’s
national moot court
team placed among
the top four in the
United States and
claimed second place
for its brief. Only 28
teams out of 200 get
to compete at the
national level, and
in recent years Iowa
has routinely been
represented among
these contenders.
CITIZEN LAWYER
PROGRAM.
Iowa Law is committed
to civic engagement
and public service.
The Citizen Lawyer
Program prepares you
for this role beginning
as early as the first
semester of your
first year. You’ll be
connected to a wide
range of pro bono
service and learning
opportunities, with
a special focus on
ensuring equal access
to the justice system.
THE CLINICAL LAW
PROGRAM.
The “Bullpen,” where
the student lawyers
work (bottom right),
is the heart of the
legal clinic. Under
the supervision of
Iowa Law’s clinical
professors, these
students take the lead
on cases involving
underserved
communities. It’s an
active educational
setting that reflects
modern law practice
in areas including:
• Community empowerment
and development
• Disability rights
• Estate planning and
guardianship
• Federal criminal defense
• General civil litigation
• Immigration
• Law and policy
• Workers’ rights
“IOWA’S CLINIC gives students the
experience of lawyering as
collaborative problem-solving.
Students practice law in teams, work
cooperatively with individual and
community clients, and consult
outside their practice group and with
experts around the country. They
learn to harness multiple tools and
minds to get the best results for
their clients.”
—Daria Fisher Page
Clinical Associate Professor of Law
11

12
Analyze
issues from
all angles.

Sheldon Kurtz
David H. Vernon Professor of Law
At Iowa Law, you’ll find a faculty invested
in the trajectory of your career. You’ll
get cutting-edge legal theory and many
opportunities to put that theory into practice.
And you will observe and absorb an exemplary
level of professionalism that will distinguish
you throughout your legal career. Come with
high expectations—for us and for yourself.
13

1L
A foundation for
your career
Our students: Ready for the challenge.
2L
Specialize in
your interests
NAME: Dylan
HOMETOWN:
Los Angeles, CA
MOST MEMORABLE 1L
EXPERIENCE: On my first
legal writing and research
group project, I worked
with two classmates
who had very different
personalities. But it was
a great collaboration—
a lot of good memories,
and friendships I know
will last.
NOW: Serving as a
managing editor for
the Iowa Law Review.
Next? A full-time
associate position at
Fredrikson & Byron.
NAME: Nathan
HOMETOWN:
Des Moines, IA
MOST MEMORABLE 2L
EXPERIENCE: A classmate
and I were clerking on
opposite sides of a case.
It made me realize that
whether you’re a defense
attorney or a prosecutor,
we’re all coming from
the same place—we all
want the truth and
justice. And we went out
for a beer afterwards,
which says a lot about the
culture of collegiality at
this school.
NOW: Studying for the
bar and preparing for a
clerkship with a federal
district judge.
3L
Turn concepts
into experience
NAME: Andrea
HOMETOWN:
Ames, IA
MOST MEMORABLE 3L
EXPERIENCE: Seeing the
pride in my family’s eyes
at graduation really
brought home my
accomplishments over
the last year: the
community outreach
programs, the juvenile
justice reform panel
I helped convene, the
legal insight I gained.
NOW: Working in the
labor and employment
practice group for
Dorsey & Whitney’s
Minneapolis office.
14

15

When you’re in a
Top Literary
City,
world-renowned authors
come to you
Yes,
there’s life besides
studying
World-famous Prairie Lights bookstore.
There’s something special about Iowa City.
It’s a rare combination of cosmopolitan
pleasures (UNESCO has named it a City of
Literature) and affordable tree-lined
neighborhoods. With plenty of things to do
when you need to take a break from the
16
Taking a break downtown.

This is what
Hawkeye
Game Day
looks like
law books, Iowa City has a distinct
civic spirit—community matters here.
It’s an ideal place to get involved in
government, politics, or social justice
issues. Plus, you never know when you may
run into a presidential hopeful.
Kinnick Stadium and 70,585 fans.
1 lively downtown:
festivals, gallery walks,
live music, and more
75+ restaurants,
bistros, and bars
50+ miles
of multi-use trails
Photo Credit: Summer of the Arts
Friday Night Concert Series.
17

“IOWA LAW produces
leaders who can work
together amicably even
while disagreeing. Our
country needs this kind
of leader now more
than ever.”
Kevin Washburn
N. William Hines Dean and
Professor of Law
“IT’S EXCITING as a
teacher to see the
beginnings of a
transformation,
even by the end of
the first semester.”
Thomas P. Gallanis
Associate Dean for
Research; Allan D. Vestal
Chair in Law
Collegiality in action: A sam
FIND A COMPLETE LIST OF FACULTY
“DOING CLINICAL
TEACHING gives you
an intense level of
engagement with
the students on a
day-to-day basis.
We’re committed
to preparing our
students to be
lawyers.”
John Allen
Herschel G. Langdon
Clinical Professor of Law
18

“THE MIX OF PEOPLE
is quite wonderful, among
both faculty and students,
and it enriches the
classroom experience.”
Adrien Wing
Associate Dean for International and
Comparative Law Programs; Bessie
Dutton Murray Professor of Law
pling of Iowa Law faculty.
BIOGRAPHIES AT law.uiowa.edu/faculty
“TEACHING STUDENTS
is energizing. Each
semester, a student
turns an analysis a
new way and we all
see something we
didn’t see before.
The students never
cease to amaze me.”
Emily Hughes
Associate Dean for Academic
Affairs; Professor and
Bouma Fellow in Law
“YES, we’re colleagues
with a wide range
of viewpoints and
back grounds, but we’re
also close friends.
That goes a long way
in setting a tone for
our students.”
Todd Pettys
H. Blair and Joan V. White
Chair in Civil Litigation
19

Study the world.
INTERNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVE LAW. Our interdependent
world demands lawyers who can think beyond immediate
geographic boundaries and understand a bigger picture. We
offer a number of opportunities for broadening perspectives and
gaining a deeper understanding of international law and foreign
20

Courses include:
• Advanced Topics in International Law:
Survey of Current Trends
• Comparative Law
• European Union Law
• Family Law in the World Community:
Global Childhood
• Foundations of International Law
• Human Rights and the World
Community
• Immigration Law and Policy
• International Commercial
Arbitration
• International Environmental Law
• International Trade Law:
Basic Norms and Regulation
• Terrorism, ISIS, and
International Criminal Law
STUDY BEYOND CAMPUS.
Like all universities, our study
abroad and immersive learning
programs are on hold because
of COVID-19. But we plan to
restart them as soon as it’s
safe to travel again.
In past years, our students
have studied in Austria, China,
France, Ireland, South Korea,
and more. We also offer a
semester-long field placement
program in Washington, D.C.
PHOTO ABOVE: Iowa Law
students enjoy firsthand access
to the headline-making legal
environment of Washington,
D.C. PHOTO BELOW: Students
spend their two-week “winterim”
in London learning about the
British legal system.
legal systems. Many of our faculty teach courses or conduct
research on legal processes in nations outside the United States.
Our community is global as well: You might share a first-year class
with a Chinese judge or a young German lawyer, or take an upperlevel
seminar with students from Brazil, Nigeria, or Poland.
21

University
of Iowa
Law Library.
22
An unparalleled
resource.
Iowa Law has a library collection of the
highest order—one of the three largest
academic law libraries in the United
States. Our holdings in American, foreign,
comparative, and international law are
all exceptionally strong. Iowa’s professional

One of the
largest
law school libraries
in the United States
1,655,718
titles (and rising
every day)
Over
76,500
square feet
of intense quiet
One of the
very best places
in the world
to do on-site
legal research.
research librarians assist in the Legal
Analysis, Writing, and Research program,
teach courses in advanced legal research,
and pride themselves on being available to
help you learn the research skills to succeed
as a student and as a lawyer.
23

“LEGAL WRITING requires
a completely different
way of thinking and expressing
yourself. And it’s the defining
skill when the time comes
to get that first job.”
—Dawn Anderson
Professor of Legal Analysis,
Writing, and Research
A SKILL THAT DEFINES
YOU. Language is the
principal tool of the
legal profession. The
ability to use that
language to form
concise, compelling
legal writing is an
essential skill—your
clients’ livelihoods
and freedom, even
their lives, depend on
it. But legal writing
isn’t just another
form of expository or
persuasive writing.
This is why, unlike
many other law
schools, Iowa Law
has invested in a
full-time writing
faculty—professors
who are dedicated
to your growth as a
legal writer.
24

Caroline Sheerin
Professor of Legal Analysis, Writing, and Research
INTENSIVE,
INDIVIDUALIZED
ATTENTION. Our
writing faculty will
help you develop
analytical habits of
mind that deepen your
understanding of the
law and equip you to
be an effective legal
communicator.
25

Start the presses.
Iowa is home to four student-edited journals.
Most students write for a journal during second year,
and many of them accept board positions third year.
26

IOWA LAW
REVIEW
Ranked among the
nation’s top 15 law
reviews, the Iowa Law
Review is widely cited
and recognized for its
legal research, theory,
and analysis.
THE JOURNAL OF
CORPORATION
LAW
This journal is ranked
among the top 10 of all
specialty journals, and
second among journals
in corporation and
business law.
TRANSNATIONAL LAW
& CONTEMPORARY
PROBLEMS
This journal presents
subjects not commonly
found in other law
journals, “living history”
interviews with
international figures,
and symposia that are
guest-edited by renowned
legal scholars.
THE JOURNAL OF
GENDER, RACE
& JUSTICE
The Journal is known
for its innovative
analysis of how race,
gender, economic
class, sexual identity,
and other labels
influence the law.
“THE IOWA LAW
REVIEW has given me
a command of legal
scholarship, an affinity
for written exactness,
and an ever-widening
circle of colleagues
around the country.”
—Hannah Shirey
Class of ’18
27

Visit us.
Attend a class, tour the building, see Iowa Law
in action. Our current law students lead tours
during the academic year, and self-guided tours
are available at any time.
Call or email us for an appointment.
28

DEGREES THAT FIT YOUR ASPIRATIONS
Juris Doctor (JD)
Master of Laws (LLM)
Master of Studies in Law (MSL)
Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD)
Advanced Standing Juris Doctor
(for foreign-trained lawyers)
3+3 Programs (with partner institutions)
Joint degrees include but are not limited to:
JD/MA or MS
JD/MAC (Accounting)
JD/MBA
JD/MD
JD/MHA (Health Administration)
JD/MPH (Public Health)
JD/MSW
JD/PhD
The University of Iowa prohibits discrimination in employment, educational programs,
and activities on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex,
pregnancy, disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S.
military, sexual orientation, gender identity, associational preferences, or any other
classification that deprives the person of consideration as an individual. The University
also affirms its commitment to providing equal opportunities and equal access to
University facilities.
For additional information on nondiscrimination policies, contact the Director, Office
of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, the University of Iowa, 202 Jessup Hall, Iowa City,
IA, 52242-1316, 319-335-0705 (voice), 319-335-0697 (TDD), diversity@uiowa.edu.

For more information:
College of Law Admissions Office
The University of Iowa
280 Boyd Law Building
Iowa City, IA 52242-1113
Email: law-admissions@uiowa.edu
Telephone: 319-335-9095
law.uiowa.edu 2020–21