Category: Law School Spotlights

Judicial clerkships provide invaluable, behind-the-scenes insight into how judges think, write, and decide cases – an experience that has proven pivotal for several recent Drake Law graduates. As some alumni reflect on how these roles have shaped their legal careers, the newest graduates are eagerly preparing to begin clerkships of their own. Conner Greene, JD’24,...

The Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA) at Drake Law School has been a powerful source of community and connection for its members. Under the leadership of 3L student, Terumi Wayne, APALSA was revived several years ago with the goal of providing a space for Asian American law students to bond, collaborate, and network....

Each year, first-year law students at Drake Law School step out of the classroom and into the courtroom through the First-Year Trial Practicum (FYTP) at the Drake Legal Clinic. This unique program immerses students in a real-life trial, allowing them to observe the legal process from voir dire to final conviction. Classes pause for the...

Two Drake Law School students, Ankit Pal and Payton Rochford, were among a select group chosen to attend the highly competitive Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference, hosted by The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C. The conference brings together distinguished jurists and future judicial law clerks from around the country...

Will Keck’s journey to law school started with a spark of curiosity. None of his family or friends were lawyers but watching the 2008 and 2012 political campaigns he became interested in how laws shape society. This curiosity led him to explore law and policy through student government, a prestigious internship with Senator Chuck Grassley...

The C. Edwin Moore Moot Court Competition is a hallmark event at Drake Law School, offering first-year students a platform to hone their oral advocacy skills. From navigating complex legal arguments to presenting compelling cases before panels of seasoned judges, this competition serves as a stepping stone for aspiring legal advocates. Today, we spotlight some...

Drake Law’s supportive legal community—including alumni, mentors, and other practicing attorneys—opens doors that set students apart. Drake Law students graduate with exceptional hands-on experience, taking the lead in real-world trials even before earning their degrees. This year alone, as interns with the Polk County Attorney’s Office, students have: These experiences are more than practice—they are...

Darbi Spellman’s first week interning with the Drake Wrongful Convictions Clinic (WCC) didn’t start with paperwork or orientation—it began with a high-stakes courtroom observation. She watched as Erica Nichols Cook, director of the Wrongful Conviction Unit for the Iowa State Public Defender’s Office and WCC supervisor, argued for a new trial in the case of...