Written by: Blake Etringer

Carwina Weng joined the University of Iowa College of Law in August 2025 as a visiting professor and acting director of the Field Placement Program. A first-generation U.S. college and law graduate, Weng has built her career around legal education consulting and assessment of experiential learning programs. We asked Weng a few questions to learn more about her background, scholarship, and what excites her about being part of the Iowa Law community. 

Tell us a little about yourself, where you are from, and your journey to Iowa Law.

I am a first-generation U.S. college and law graduate. I served as a legal services attorney in New York City and Boston before switching to clinical law teaching in 2001. As a law professor, I have taught in all facets of the curriculum, from legal analysis, writing and research, to doctrinal courses, to experiential courses. Most of my teaching has been in in-house clinics, in which faculty serve as field supervisors as well as classroom instructors for students who practice under faculty supervision. Over time, I became more interested in the professional identity development of law students, based on whole identity, values, and strengths alignment.

Consequently, I became more interested in externship teaching as a primary site for reaching more students earlier in their education. When the remote visiting position opened at Iowa Law, I jumped at the opportunity to work in a program headed by Professor June Tai, whom I knew from the broader clinical legal educator community. The opportunity has been fantastic! I enjoy working with Iowa students about their externship and career interests. I also love being in the classroom with students and having the opportunity to observe and implement the program while Tai is on sabbatical. I am excited to be able to teach both the general (first time externship) and advanced (second time externship) students this academic year, as that provides the opportunity to participate in a longer period of student development.

Can you share a little about your scholarship and current work?

My research interests focus on experiential pedagogy and the development of inclusive teaching and lawyering expertise and proficiency. I co-wrote a teaching textbook on experiential pedagogy to assist clinicians in designing courses with clear learning objectives that aligned with JD program outcomes. I also developed a teachers’ workshop that I ran for many years at the annual AALS Clinical Legal Education Conference. My articles and book chapters focus on the classroom and professional development of lawyers. Indeed, one of the reasons I know Professor Tai is through her work as a co-editor of the seminal externship textbook Learning from Practice (4th ed.), for which I am currently updating a chapter on navigating cultural differences.

Currently, I am working with three Iowa Law students on a research project about using generative AI chat features to develop simulations that will help law students to practice basic legal skills such as interviewing, cross-cultural communication, and counseling.

What drew or attracted you to Iowa Law?

The strength of its externship program. As noted, I have known Professor Tai for many years, and the opportunity to work with her in a teaching capacity was irresistible. I know that she and I share similar values in student-centered, outcome-based teaching. I therefore anticipated it would be easy to slot into her program during her professional development leave.

Can you tell us a little about what you enjoy doing outside of your work?

I love to bake, especially with chocolate; travel; walk; and read mysteries (no hard boiled) and science fiction. I recently finished Louise Penny’s Black Wolf and Dennis Taylor’s We Are Legion. 2025 was a banner year for travel. I was able to visit friends and family in England and Taiwan and take trips to Greece and Denmark.

What are you most looking forward to this academic year?

As a visitor, I have only this academic year to look forward to and reflect on! I most wanted student engagement, as my focus has been on professional identity development and preparation of prelaw students for legal education. The opportunity as the acting externship director has given me lots of interaction with students through counseling and classroom work. I have loved learning where Iowa Law students come from, where they are headed, and what drives them as nascent legal professionals, and what interests the current cohort of students.