Written by: Blake Etringer

Theresa Eckel chose to pursue law for a very specific reason. Throughout high school and as a college student at the University of Notre Dame, she developed a passion for service while working as a waitress at the nursing home where her grandparents lived.

“I loved my time there, it was my favorite job," Eckel shared. "You really had an opportunity to be a gift to somebody in those moments. Residents looked forward to dinner all day long—so much that they lined up three hours early. I had a lot of fun getting to know them.”

As Eckel learned more about the complexities of the elder care system and the growing challenges nursing homes are facing, she realized that a career in elder law and healthcare compliance could be a good fit for her interests and goals.

“As I learned more about the different types of nursing homes, I realized that there is an opportunity and a need to increase the standards of care. That inspired me to get into compliance and advocate for higher standards of care,” she said. 

Upon her graduation from Notre Dame in 2021, with degrees in philosophy and political science, she headed west to Washington to teach on the border of the Yakama Reservation. There, she taught nearly 100 high school students religion and world history while earning her master’s in teaching.

Eckel knew that she eventually wanted to go to law school, and when it came time to decide where to attend, returning to the Midwest felt right. 

“I knew I wanted to come back, and Iowa was one of the best schools in the region,” she said. “But what really drew me was its reputation as The Writing Law School. I’ve always loved to write, and I wanted to use that skill as a force for good.”

Finding her passion through writing and research

Now a legal writing tutor for the Iowa Law Writing Center, Eckel’s passion for writing has come full circle.

“I’ve really cherished my role at the writing center. Professor Anderson is our selfless leader. Her commitment to excellence, kindness, and joyful service to others is admirable and worthy of imitation. To be able to accompany others as they develop and refine their papers is such a gift and is so energizing. I have learned a lot from each of my students, and I look forward to every appointment,” she added. 

Eckel has also found fulfillment through faculty research and community involvement. She will soon publish a paper with Professor Anya Prince, Joseph F. Rosenfield Fellow in Law, on factors legislators should consider when regulating insurance companies’ use of genetic information in setting premiums.

Eckel finds the work fascinating, and Prince appreciates her enthusiasm and work ethic. 

“Theresa is a student with incredible drive and determination to become the best lawyer that she can be, but with a profound sense of community and support for her classmates, peers, and future clients,” Prince said.

Dedication to service beyond the classroom

Eckel co-founded the Roman Catholic Law Association at Iowa Law with her classmate, Megan Wessels, offering a channel for meeting new people and discussing their shared faith. The group has grown to nearly 40 members since its founding. 

“I like that it brings the community together in a different way, and you get to meet people that you wouldn't otherwise know were Catholic,” she added.

Beyond the classroom, during her 1L summer, Eckel interned at the Center for Disability and Elder Care Law (CDEL) in Chicago through the Public Interest Law Initiative scholarship. The center offers free legal service to disadvantaged communities in Cook County, and she remains connected to the organization—even running the 2025 Chicago Marathon on its behalf.

The next summer, she interned with the Office of the Indiana Attorney General as a data privacy and identity theft law clerk, where she drafted memorandums to evaluate whether businesses had violated the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and/or or the Indiana Code.

An abundance of support at Iowa Law

When reflecting on her favorite part of Iowa Law, Eckel did not hesitate in answering: “The people,” she said. 

“It’s such a collegial atmosphere. Law school is hard in general, but the small class sizes at Iowa Law allow you to get to know everyone, so you really can build genuine bonds with your peers. Everyone is helpful and supportive, and I love learning from my classmates—they bring perspectives I’d never think of on my own."

Beyond her classmates, Eckel also found support from the faculty. She considers Professor Joseph Yockey, who holds the F. Arnold Daum Chair in Corporate Law, an important source of encouragement—and he shared similar sentiments.

"In my courses and beyond, Theresa pairs academic excellence with uncommon warmth and endless generosity," Yockey said. "She makes the law school community better every single day."

Though her post-graduation plans are still taking shape, Eckel’s path is guided by the same sense of purpose that has carried her since working at the nursing home—a commitment to service.

When asked what advice she would offer to future Iowa Law students, she emphasized the importance of giving yourself grace, even when it feels overwhelming.

"Realize that you've made it this far, and you'll likely make it through,” she said. “Work hard, find the things that matter to you—your non-negotiables—and stick with them. Everything will work out how it's meant to be.”