Each year, a significant share of Iowa Law graduates choose to begin their legal careers in Iowa — and many of them are not originally from the Hawkeye State. Iowa is consistently the top destination for employment for recent Iowa Law graduates, drawing dozens of newly minted attorneys to stay in Iowa to build their professional and personal lives. 

More recently, among the 176 graduates in the Class of 2024, 57 accepted positions in Iowa, with nearly half coming from outside the state. The trend was nearly identical for the Class of 2023, when 45 of 167 graduates stayed in Iowa, split almost evenly between in-state and out-of-state students.

What inspires so many non-Iowans to put down roots here after law school? Through conversations with recent alumni from both classes, learn what shaped their decisions to stay and why they chose to make Iowa home.  

Patrick Streit (24JD) 

Where are you originally from, and what was your path to Iowa Law? 
I am originally from the South Suburbs of Chicago. Palos Hills, IL specifically, but I usually just say Chicago, or near Oak Lawn or Orland Park.. I’ve only met one person in Iowa who knew where Palos Hills was, but that’s because he was from there. 

What initially drew you to the University of Iowa College of Law? 
I went to Iowa because it was close to home, it was the best law school I was accepted to, and it was more affordable to go to Iowa out-of-state than in-state at Illinois schools. 

What experiences during law school most influenced your decision to stay in Iowa after graduation?  
The biggest influence was just living in Iowa. Chicago is just so fast-paced; everyone feels like they’re always in a rush, driving takes forever, and I always felt like I was in a rush. My favorite time in Chicago was during COVID, because there was no one around. It’s just claustrophobic to live in a big city. In Iowa, everyone is so genuine. If I really wanted to, I could go up to most people and have a 30-minute conversation about anything. Iowa nice is also a true expression. I genuinely feel that nearly everyone in Iowa will help you out if you ask. And it’s so much slower, which is great.  

Where are you working now, and what does your current role involve? 
I work for Moore, McKibben, Goodman, & Lorenz LLP in Marshalltown. I am basically in general practice. Everyone has to do some taxes, so I do tax returns. Otherwise, the only specialty areas I’ve developed so far are mental health commitments, misdemeanor criminal defense, and a splash of family law. 

What advice would you give to current Iowa Law students who are considering building their careers in Iowa? 
Iowa is well worth living in. If you want the big city experience, Des Moines is great. It feels like a big city without the congestion, traffic, and crowding. Cedar Rapids and Dubuque are great medium-sized cities. Want to live in a college town? We have three. Or if you want to live in a much smaller city, we have several.

For me, Marshalltown is the perfect size. It’s got all the essentials for a city and is just an hour or so from Ames, Waterloo, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City. As for rural practice, the opportunities are endless. For the smaller cities and rural practice, you also have the privilege of being “a big fish in a small pond.” Anywhere in Iowa, people will look to you for help, not just with legal issues. You will be respected for your work. And there will be so many opportunities to give back to the community, both with your work and outside of work.

The legal community has also been incredibly kind, patient, and helpful to me as a recent grad. Help is always available if you ask. It also helps that Iowa is relatively affordable. 

What surprised you most about living and working in Iowa? 
I did not realize just how little I knew about farming. There are five different types of cattle: bulls, steers, cows, heifers, and calves, and I always forget the difference. 

Elisabeth Hoeper (23JD) 

Where are you originally from, and what was your path to Iowa Law? 
I am originally from Rock Island, Illinois. In high school, when I began searching for colleges to attend for undergrad, I focused on applying to schools that had law schools. During a college fair in my junior year of high school, I learned about the 3+3 program which would allow me to complete only three years of undergrad at the University of Iowa and then begin law school during my senior year. I attended the University of Iowa for undergrad, and I was then accepted into the 3+3 program. 

What initially drew you to the University of Iowa College of Law? 
As mentioned above, the 3+3 program was very appealing because I could obtain my law degree a year sooner. Additionally, during undergrad, I competed for the University of Iowa Mock Trial team, and we met at the law school twice a week. I would see law students in the building when we had practices, and it seemed like a tight-knit community. Many of our  coaches had attended or were attending law school at Iowa Law, and they all spoke very highly of their professors and of the law school. It solidified my decision to attend law school at Iowa. 

What experiences during law school most influenced your decision to stay in Iowa after graduation? 
During my 1L internship, I worked for Boffeli & Spannagel, P.C. in Dubuque, Iowa. I really enjoyed handling personal injury and workers’ compensation cases, and I developed a great working relationship with the partners and office staff. At the end of my internship, the partners extended an offer to return during my 2L summer and to join the office as an associate after I graduated and passed the bar exam. I stayed in Iowa because I could not pass up an offer to work at a law firm where I felt like an important member of a team and that provided me with the opportunity to work on personal injury cases from beginning to end.

Where are you working now, and what does your current role involve? 
I am still working at Boffeli & Spannagel, P.C. as an associate attorney. I am primarily a plaintiff’s attorney practicing in the areas of personal injury, employment law, and workers’ compensation. I handle cases in any stage of litigation, including pre-suit litigation, discovery, and trials/hearings.

What advice would you give to current Iowa Law students who are considering building their careers in Iowa? 
Iowa can be a great place to practice law. We have a significant need for attorneys in Iowa, which means there are more job opportunities, and your earning potential can be quite high, especially if you are passionate about law, hard-working, and organized. Practicing in Iowa might not seem as exciting as practicing in Chicago or Minneapolis, but people need lawyers no matter where you practice, and you can really make a difference for your clients and build a great reputation in your community. 

What surprised you most about living and working in Iowa? 
What surprised me the most about working in Iowa was the opportunities for professional growth in the legal practice because of the exposure I was able to get to various areas of law. Although I primarily practice personal injury, during the first two years of practice, I was able to handle some contract dispute cases, work comp defense cases, estate disputes cases, aesthetic nuisance cases, and criminal cases.

What surprised me the most about living in Iowa was the cost of living. Although this profession can require significant hours, I have been able to afford the lifestyle I want while working 50 hours or less a week. I also don’t work weekends unless necessary for trial or deposition preparation.