Professor Guernsey wanted to give her students a firsthand encounter with the grand jury process. Collaborating with Richard Barker, the First Assistant to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, she proposed and successfully implemented an immersive grand jury simulation at Iowa Law.

For the third year running, the University of Iowa College of Law was cited as one of the top three law schools in the nation for human rights law by preLaw Magazine, a popular digital magazine that helps prospective students search for and apply to law schools.

The University of Iowa College of Law is delighted to announce that Barbara Rodriguez (22JD) is a recipient of the 2024 Skadden Fellowship, marking the first time an Iowa Law graduate has received this esteemed honor. Skadden Fellowships, recognized as the most prestigious and competitive awards for public interest lawyers, grant recipients two years of funding to dedicate themselves to full-time public interest law pursuits.

Katrina Crouch has wholeheartedly embraced her love for writing. She was a member of the Journal of Gender, Race, and Justice and is further honing her writing skills as a tutor in the Writing and Academic Success Center for the second consecutive year. Her role as a tutor, where she offers guidance, support, and feedback on various writing tasks, is an aspect of her law school journey that she deeply cherishes. “It’s truly my pride and joy,” says Katrina.

When Dane Beaulieu graduated from college, he knew he wanted to go to law school to study Indian Law, the field that regulates the complex legal relationships between Native American nations, the United States, and the states. As he checked out law schools looking for a good program, he came upon the University of Iowa Law School.

This year, HELI created and launched the first environmental moot court team in Iowa Law’s history. For the first time ever, the three-person Iowa Law team is competing in the Jeffrey G. Miller National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition (NELMCC) at Pace University’s The Elisabeth Haub School of Law.

For the 10th consecutive year, the University of Iowa College of Law is named a Best Value Law School by the National Jurist's PreLaw Magazine. Iowa Law has consistently been among the top contenders, and this year is no exception, earning the 12th spot in the nation. The 2023 Best Value report includes 52 ABA-accredited public universities and ten private law schools. These institutions have collectively earned cumulative grades of B+ or higher for their commitment to providing students with an exceptional return on investment.

Researchers at the University of Iowa have received a $6 million grant for a five-year project focused on collaborative research and community engagement in climate adaptation planning. This initiative, funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), aims to enhance climate resilience efforts in the Central Midwest region.

For more than 30 years, Reinert served as a prosecutor, trial judge, and commander in the Army JAG Corps, rising to the rank of two-star general; he retired in 2018. And he’s been an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa since 1990, still serving today as senior litigation counsel and prosecutor.

The University of Iowa College of Law proudly announces the appointment of eight outstanding professors to named faculty positions. Three faculty have earned professorships and one has been renewed as a distinguished chair and four faculty members have earned faculty fellowships. “Named professorships advance the College of Law in transformative ways. These professors have continuously excelled in their teaching, scholarship, and service. Private endowments like this recognize exceptional faculty and thereby help us to reward and retain the best of them,” said Dean Washburn.

Outlaws is a student organization that started almost 35 years ago at Iowa Law, playing an important role in supporting LGBTQ+ students and allies. Outlaws describe their group as a sanctuary of acceptance, a catalyst for change, and a beacon of hope for LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies within the law school.

The College of Law’s alumni awards program recognizes alumni who have made significant achievements in their careers and in their service to the College of Law. The program features four award categories: Emerging Leader, Iowa Law Review Distinguished Alumni, Alumni Service, and Alumni Achievement.

These individuals, consisting of both current students and recent graduates, have earned a place on the distinguished honors society list through their dedicated commitment to serving others and cultivating the skills and values essential for a life of public service.

“The Hubbell Initiative has been an important opportunity for stakeholders to exchange information, talk about solutions, and explore how folks can better collaborate to work toward common goals,” Mandelbaum said, explaining that he has engaged in multiple conversations about how HELI can help advance the field of environmental law."

The Writing and Academic Success center is a centralized hub for student support. It offers one-on-one consultations with writing specialists, feedback on written work, and workshops designed to address specific writing and academic challenges that many law students face.

Students working in the Law Clinic gain essential practice skills across the legal spectrum. The most recent wins include tackling complex challenges in healthcare, representing clients in federal court, creating resources to drive social change, and helping individuals navigate the U.S. immigration system.

The Wunderlich brothers of Mason City, Iowa, are all in on their home state—and the University of Iowa College of Law is all the better for it. “I love Iowa,” Elias says. “I’m a very proud native Iowan. I’ve been all around the country, and there’s something special about Iowa. I feel like you can do something here and get noticed for it. Iowa’s an easy place to live, an easy place to realize your dreams, and the people are amazing.”

During Hispanic Heritage Month, a compelling narrative has unfolded at Iowa Law where passionate individuals with multicultural backgrounds intertwine their legal aspirations and desire to create change within the legal community. Patricia Linninger, a second-year law student and president of the Hispanic and Latinx Law Students Association, has nearly four years of experience in immigration, discovering that her diverse background helped her facilitate trust and communication with clients.

Zachary Sides is a second-year law student and vice president of Iowa Law's Hispanic and Latinx Law Students Association (HLLSA). Zach is extremely proud of his heritage and through HLLSA he’s working to help promote, encourage, and increase the number of Hispanic and Latinx individuals in the legal field and to enhance their legal education.  

First-gen student, Bry-Tanny Weaver talks about her inspiration to study law, the programs and people who helped her along the way, and how her heritage shaped her goals and desire to give back. As a child she loved watching Law & Order with her mom and, as she grew up, she saw the real world impacts of having a skilled attorney on your side in times of need. Her experiences shaped her future in law.

“No one in my family has been to law school, so I didn’t know what to expect. The image I had in my head was that you’re on your own, and no one will help you. I did not want a school like that—especially since I was used to the warm and friendly environment of a small liberal arts college,” says Anelisa. “I knew when I went to law school that I wanted to feel at home, and when I visited Iowa Law, I definitely felt that.” 

rowing up in the town of Nichols, Iowa, Isaac Sarinana found himself on an extraordinary path that led him to Iowa Law. Isaac’s interest in pursuing a legal education began after he hired an immigration attorney to sponsor a family member. It was during his final year of college that he had a life-changing encounter with an immigration attorney and Iowa Law alum.

This year’s One Community, One Book (OCOB) program features "The Farm" by author Joanne Ramos. This program, hosted by the UI Center for Human Rights (UICHR), an affiliated center with the College of Law, has become a cherished tradition.

Events and programing made possible by the Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative (HELI) engage the College of Law with some of today’s most pressing environmental law issues. Events this fall feature discussions on land use in the Midwest, biodiversity, wildfire management, prescribed burns, and water in the Western United States.

The Iowa Law School Foundation (ILSF) is proud to announce the election of three new alumni board members: Mark Steffensen (92JD), Lonnie Johnson (91JD), and David Sindt Day (77JD).