Learn more about why Rempel Fisher chose Iowa Law, how he secured his internship, and the lessons learned this summer in this Q&A.

Why did you choose Iowa Law?

I chose Iowa Law for a couple of practical reasons: it was close to family, and it offered the best value. I was also interested in environmental law, and when I learned about the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative, that was really exciting. Before law school, I worked in immigration law for three years, and I knew Iowa Law had two excellent immigration clinics.

How did you secure this opportunity?

Iowa Law has a strong relationship with the Sierra Club, which helped me learn about the opportunity. My passion for environmental justice and serving vulnerable populations aligned with Sierra Club’s mission and culture. I believe my background in immigration law and my undergraduate degree in Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies helped demonstrate that commitment.

What are the skills that you’ve learned in law school that are helping you the most?

I didn’t expect to have to find cases that relate to specific statutes or rules of procedure so soon, but here I am working on a memo to appeal an air permit based on a niche state code. Learning how to navigate Lexis and Westlaw, getting from statutes directly to related cases, is essential for this research.

What surprised you most about this experience?

I’ve been surprised by how laid back but tenacious the attorneys I’ve worked with have been. They know what they’re doing, but they also treat their colleagues, including interns, with respect; not just as working professionals but as humans. They trust me to get my work done and are there to answer questions when I need assistance. From working in nonprofits before, I’m familiar with the type of people those organizations draw, but it was nice to have the experience again. I feel like I’ve been welcomed with open arms in a healthy work environment.

What do you enjoy most about this experience?

So far, I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to dig deeper into legal research. I worked on two big assignments at a time with some other learning opportunities and meetings, but mostly I can do research in the manner I want. That means I have time to go down rabbit holes looking for relevant information that might be buried, and that an attorney with a much busier schedule may not have time to find.

What advice would you give students looking for summer opportunities?

At some point, you have to make a decision about what type of work you want to pursue. You can’t do everything, so find something that piques your interest and jump into it to see if it sustains you. If not, there’s always time to pivot.