Written by: Hannah Huston

Growing up in Marshalltown, Iowa, 3L Liz Vargas Perez never doubted she would one day go to law school. Some of her earliest memories took place not on a playground or in a classroom, but in the back of a courtroom—brought along as a young child while her father worked to interpret Spanish for the Marshalltown Juvenile Court.

“As a little four-or five-year-old, I would ask a lot of questions like ‘what do the people do that are up there?’” she remembers. “My dad told me, ‘They keep the good people out of jail and put the bad people in jail.’ I thought that was so cool.”

As she grew older, Vargas Perez became more aware of the deeper significance of those interactions. Her family had immigrated from Mexico, and seeing so few attorneys who shared her background left a strong impression.

“None of the lawyers looked like me,” she says. “That made me a little sad. But then my dad told me, ‘No, you can do whatever you want.’”

Academically ambitious and driven to write

Her father’s encouragement laid the foundation for her law school journey. Driven and academically ambitious, she earned her associate’s degree in high school, completed her undergraduate degree at Drake University in just two years, and arrived at Iowa Law in fall 2023 after spending a year working at Hitchins & Thronson PLC in Marshalltown, Iowa. 

Today, she is the senior online editor for the Journal of Corporation Law (JCL)—a role that has become one of the most defining experiences of her legal education.

Long before she stepped on campus, Vargas Perez knew she wanted to be part of a journal.

“When I was deciding between law schools, I spent a lot of time researching,” she says. “I noticed Iowa Law had four journals, and the Journal of Corporation Law stood out because I was interested in business.”

During her 1L spring semester, conversations with current JCL members sealed the deal. She joined the journal as a student writer during her 2L year and quickly realized she wanted to take on a leadership position.

“I’ve always been self-driven, so applying for a board role felt like the natural next step,” she says.

Stepping into journal leadership

In her role, Vargas Perez oversees nearly every step of JCL’s digital publication process—from coordinating with authors to guiding articles through edits, production, and final review. The role has refined her skills in precision, organization, and collaboration, but for her, the position’s greatest value lies in the benefits it offers. 

As part of her journal experience, Vargas Perez had the opportunity to write a “note” during her 2L year, which was selected for publication in JCL in July 2026. A note is a scholarly article that focuses on an unresolved legal issue through research, analysis, and proposed solutions.

“I was fortunate to write about a topic that’s very meaningful to me—workplace protections (and the lack thereof) for immigrants in the U.S., as well as the hostile political climate surrounding these issues,” she says.

Working for JCL has also widened her network far beyond Iowa Law, connecting her with notable authors and judges across the country. It has simultaneously transformed the way she reads and writes.

“It’s like a blessing and a curse. I can’t read anything without redlining in my brain,” she says.

JCL’s influence extends far beyond the journal itself, shaping the rest of her law school experience.

“In my externship working at the Northern District of Iowa federal courthouse, I have to write concisely, and journal really strengthened that skill. It also helped me in moot court,” she says. “I’d even say it played a big role in helping me land my clerkship after graduation.” 

Vargas Perez’s journal experience has also helped refine her career path.

“It gave me insight into different areas of business law and helped me identify what interests me most. I’m leaning towards litigation, though I haven’t completely ruled out transactional work,” she says. “Journal has exposed me to so many practice areas, and it’s helped me build a huge network of support.”

Ready to clerk after graduation 

After graduation, Vargas Perez will clerk for Justice Edward M. Mansfield on the Iowa Supreme Court—a role that aligns with her growing passion for litigation. Looking ahead, she hopes to stay close to family in Iowa, build a career in the courtroom, and incorporate pro bono work into her practice.

Her advice to future students is simple: “Everyone is in the same boat. Three years go by extremely fast, so work hard but enjoy it. You’ll never regret trying your best—you’ll only regret it if you don’t.”

For Vargas Perez, the Journal of Corporation Law has been more than a line on a resume—it has been a catalyst for growth, confidence, connection, and it has provided a clearer vision for her future.