Blake Edwards feels very fortunate to have found a community of students at Iowa Law who not only share his interests but have also helped promote his growth as a student and as a person.
Blake’s path to Iowa Law was shaped by a combination of family influence, community ties, and an inherent desire to help people. Growing up in West Des Moines, Iowa, with a mother who works as a high school teacher and a father who serves as a police officer, Blake quickly realized that he too wanted to pursue a career in the service profession.
“Seeing both of my parents in service professions and working with people is part of what drew me to the legal field. I wanted to do something in the people service profession like them, but at the same time, I wanted to then be able to reach into businesses and corporations a little bit more. Becoming a lawyer really seemed like the perfect way to combine those two desires, so I decided to try it out.”
After graduating from the University of Iowa with a degree in political science, Blake knew that he wanted to stay in the community and continue his career as a Hawkeye. “When it came time to choose a law school, I honestly did not really see myself going anywhere else. I love Iowa City, and I wanted to stay here and be able to build on what I had already created here as a Hawkeye.”
Over the past three years at Iowa, Blake has immersed himself in both academic and extracurricular pursuits. During his 1L year, Blake became involved with the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) at Iowa, which has been an incredible source of mentorship and camaraderie for him. Blake now serves as President of BLSA and credits his involvement with the organization for allowing him to develop meaningful relationships with his fellow students and professors beyond the classroom setting. His involvement in the organization reflects his commitment to both his education and his community, ensuring that his legal career will be rooted in service to others.
“I was very fortunate to meet other students that looked like me in the law building during my 1L year, and they kind of brought me under their wing. I became 1L Representative during my 1L year, after talking to a couple of the people on the board and discussing with some of the other student body members that were in BLSA at the time. They said that it would be a good opportunity not just for me to connect with other students, but also to connect with other student organizations and the professors in the building.”
Blake credits BLSA for opening so many doors for him, including the chance to attend the Midwest Regional Convention for BLSA. The convention exposed him to the experiences of Black attorneys in Chicago, providing valuable insights that would influence his professional development.
"There are many things that go on in the law, so it's been nice to take some more of those procedural courses that allow you to just get into the courtroom and experience the performative part of the law, and not just the reading and the studying. Iowa Law has given me the opportunity to expand on my interests and open up different avenues for down the road."
-Blake Edwards
Along with his role in BLSA, Blake has also combined his love for sports with his law school curriculum as a member of the Sports Law Society. “I really love sports law, and a dream of mine is still to be able to work in sports law at some point in my career. I want to be able to defend athletes, handle their contracts, and become involved with every aspect of the sports world.”
During his time at Iowa Law, Blake has regarded Professor Dan Matheson, who teaches several sports law classes at the Iowa College of Law, as a key mentor. When speaking about Blake, Professor Matheson shared a deeply insightful reflection on his student’s abilities:
“Blake thrives in my courses because they all involve real-world simulations that fit his vision for serving sport industry clients in his future law practice. When I put students in role-playing exercises that simulate a negotiation or representation of an athlete or other challenge a sports lawyer would face on the job, Blake immerses himself in those opportunities to apply what he’s learned to realistic scenarios. Blake is extremely personable. His outgoing, friendly nature will help him succeed in the sport industry where so much of what we do is based on relationships, and attorneys and executives frequently work with and across from the same people. I’m excited to see where his career takes him and am eager to support him as he graduates and goes forward in the industry.”
While Blake’s career trajectory was set early on, it was not until he began his legal studies at Iowa Law that he discovered his specific area of focus in insurance defense, workers' compensation, and municipal defense. Though he had little prior knowledge of this area before law school, Blake’s interest grew after a pivotal internship during his 2L summer at Smith Mills Law in West Des Moines, which specializes in workers’ compensation defense and municipal defense. The practical, high-volume nature of this work appealed to Blake, especially since it allowed him to acquire essential experience in the courtroom early in his career.
“What I liked about it is that it's very practical hands on and high volume, so there's always going to be a lot of work to go around. It's nice because I'm able to be in the courtroom a little bit faster and get my hands on cases sooner. What really interests me is being able to have a little bit of skin in the game because I want to be hands-on. That's my personality, and so being able to do that this past summer really sparked my interest in that area.”
Blake credits the diverse and supportive environment at Iowa Law for helping him discover new areas of interest. One of the most rewarding aspects of his education has been his involvement in practical courses, such as the mediation course he took with Professor Josephine Gittler. “A lot of attorneys use mediation on a weekly basis,” Blake reflects. “My interest in mediation has really grown because of that class, and I can see myself doing that as a side job in the future.”
After graduation this spring, Blake will head off to Ganan & Shapiro in Chicago, where he will be doing insurance defense and municipal defense. With the experience gained at Iowa Law, Blake will be able to enter the courtroom confident in his ability to perform excellent services for his clients. His final piece of advice for students beginning their own law school journey in the near future highlights the importance of making time for your hobbies and passions outside of the classroom.
“If you're the type of person that has a lot of interest outside of the law, stick with them. Do not let those interests fade. Make time for your passions and hold yourself to prioritizing your time and your needs and interests. Make sure to take time to take care of yourself and be willing to talk to people about how you feel. You're never alone in this. Ensure that you're keeping track of yourself and stay true to your passions.”