Category: Law School News

Drake University Law School is pleased to announce the new Director of the Criminal Defense Clinic, Colleen Cullen. Professor Cullen will bring a strong background of both teaching and criminal law practice to Drake Law School. Professor Cullen previously served as a fellow in the Criminal Defense Clinic at the University of Denver and has...

Drake University Law School’s Legislative Practice Center (LPC) was awarded a subgrant from the Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association (LAPPA) to develop a model state drug law addressing involuntary commitment for substance use disorders. The subgrant is part of a grant to LAPPA from the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Executive Office of...

Drake University Law School has been named among the best legal writing programs in the country in U.S. News and World Report’s 2024 rankings of accredited law schools. This year, Drake’s legal writing program is ranked eleventh in the nation and tied with the University of Michigan for best in the Midwest. The Law School is often...

Two student attorneys from the Drake Children’s Rights Clinic, Payton Kitterman, 3L, and Taylor Thomas, 3L, argued a case before the Iowa Supreme Court on April 10. This case centered on a child’s right to meaningful access to expert assistance at State expense when defending against waiver to adult court. Payton skillfully argued the Supreme...

Following a rigorous selection process, Drake University Law School is pleased to announce the appointment of two distinguished professors. The decision comes after careful consideration and consultation with the faculty committee on professorships. The newly appointed distinguished professors are as follows: Dwight D. Opperman Distinguished Professor: Natalie Lynner Natalie Lynner has compiled an exceptional record...

Drake University Law School was ranked among the top law schools in the nation in the newly released U.S. News & World Report 2024 Best Law School rankings. The latest ranking at #82 reflects a six-point advancement in placement from the previous year. The annual rankings evaluate institutions on their graduate job placement, faculty resources, academic...

The Drake Constitutional Law Center will host the 2024 Constitutional Law Symposium on Saturday, April 13, from 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. The program will be delivered in Cartwright Hall, room 213, or virtually via Zoom. The annual Constitutional Law Symposium invites scholars, judges, and lawyers from across the country to discuss a timely constitutional...

The Drake University Constitutional Law Center is pleased to announce Ronald Krotoszynski as presenter of the spring 2024 Distinguished Lecture. His lecture titled “Free Speech as Civic Structure: A Comparative Analysis of How Courts and Culture Shape the Freedom of Speech” will be delivered in-person and virtually on Thursday, March 21 at 3:00 p.m. at Drake University...

Drake University Law School is proud to announce this year’s alumni award honorees. Hon. Romonda D. Belcher, LW’95, is Alumna of the Year; Nawi Ukabiala, LW’11, is Recent Alumnus of the Year; and Dr. Deborah Turner, LW’07, will be recognized posthumously with the Alumni Distinguished Public Service Award. We will honor award winners at the...

Drake Law School earns the sixth-place ranking in preLaw Magazine’s 2024 list of “Best Law Schools for Practical Training” with an impressive grade of A+.  Law schools are graded based on key offerings such as clinics, externships, simulation courses, and moot court participation. The annual rankings were featured in the Spring 2024 issue of the magazine.   “Drake...