The 2025 state-wide Mark S. Cady Day of Public Service (Cady Day) will take place on Friday, Oct. 17. This will mark the 6th year that members of the Iowa legal community have come together to perform public service or pro bono work to honor the legacy of the late Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady. Cady’s career as a public servant spanned nearly four decades and was marked by his devotion to the pursuit of justice for all Iowans.
The Cady Day of Service brings together hundreds of volunteers who give back to their communities through legal clinics, service projects, and educational initiatives. These collective efforts have made a meaningful difference in the lives of tens of thousands of people across Iowa and beyond.
“During the Cady Day of Service, we honor the legacy of Chief Justice Cady not only with words, but with action,” said Iowa State Bar Association President Kathy Law. “The Cady Day of Service reminds us that justice lives not just in our courtrooms, but in our communities—in the hands of those who serve, volunteer, and lift others up. As Iowa lawyers, we are proud to carry forward his belief that the law should be a force for good in every corner of our state.”
Drake Law School Dean Roscoe Jones, Jr., emphasized the impact of the event within the legal community: “Justice Cady’s legacy continues to inspire our entire community—students, staff, faculty, and alumni—to use their legal education in service of others and as a force for good,” he said. “The Cady Day of Public Service embodies the best of Iowa’s legal tradition: self-less service and civic commitment. I’m proud that Drake Law continues to play a leading role in honoring that legacy and advancing it for future generations.”
Cady Day of Service is sponsored by Drake University Law School, The Iowa State Bar Association, Iowa Legal Aid, and Polk County Bar Association. Visit the Cady Day of Public Service website for more information and to register your event or project: www.drake.edu/law/alumni/events/markscadydayofpublicservice/. Projects planned in honor of Cady Day, even if they do not occur on Oct. 17, will be recognized as a Cady Day of Service project and your efforts will be celebrated.
For more information contact Taylor Johnson at taylor.johnson@drake.edu.