Written by: Blake Etringer

“I would not be where I am right now without him.”

For 3L Lauren Keating, that simple statement signifies not only her gratitude for Professor Dan Matheson, but also her academic trajectory at the University of Iowa College of Law. What began as a high school constitutional law class has grown into a focused pursuit of a career in sports law—one shaped by mentorship, hands-on experience with Iowa Athletics, and an upcoming postgraduate role with the NCAA.

Staying in Iowa City for law school

Keating, an Illinois native, attended the University of Iowa for her undergraduate studies, majoring in English and political science. When it came time to apply to law school, Iowa Law stood out—not only for its ranking and curriculum, but also for the scholarship support that made pursuing a legal education financially feasible.

“I got to stay in Iowa City, which is great, because I wasn’t quite ready to leave,” she said. “I’m also getting a great education for an excellent price.”

Though she entered the Boyd Law Building unsure of exactly which type of law she wanted to pursue, a conversation with Matheson quickly helped clarify her path.

“He described sports law at Iowa Law as being a small fish in a big pond,” Keating said, explaining that while sports law programs at larger schools can be crowded with students competing for limited opportunities, Iowa offers something different. “Because we have Professor Matheson, there is an abundance of opportunity for those of us who are here.”

That dynamic—fewer students pursuing sports law, paired with strong faculty support—enabled Keating to immerse herself in an emerging and rapidly evolving field. 

Building a foundation in sports law

From her first year, Matheson encouraged her to take chances.

“He took me as a 1L and said, ‘Hey, I have this NCAA infractions competition I do each year. Would you be interested in it?’” she said. “I had no idea what I was doing at that point, but he gave me that experience. And from there, everything I have done is because of him.”

She credits Matheson not only for opening doors, but for pushing students toward them—connecting them with professionals in the industry, recommending externships, and helping them think strategically about long-term goals. 

Likewise, Matheson praises Keating's hard work and commitment to bettering the sports law program at Iowa Law for her peers. "Working with Lauren throughout law school has been a highlight of my teaching career," Matheson said. "She has eagerly pursued every sports law opportunity presented to her through classes and competitions and was largely responsible for developing and executing programs for our student Sports Law Society the past two years."

Keating has leaned into every available opportunity. She competed in the NCAA Infractions Competition three times under Matheson’s guidance. Her team earned second-best brief last year and reached the semifinals in oral arguments this year, experiences that sharpened her writing and advocacy skills while deepening her understanding of NCAA enforcement processes. 

Externship with the Iowa Athletics Department

One of Keating’s most transformative experiences was her year-long externship with the University of Iowa Athletics Department. In this role, she participates in rules education meetings with coaches and staff—sometimes even presenting portions herself. She works closely with the compliance office, helping track ongoing litigation, researching NCAA bylaws, assisting with financial aid cases, and contributing to reports and waiver submissions.

“I’ll be given something to research and figure out the bylaws, and then discuss my findings,” she explained. “That’s been really helpful because it strengthens my writing skills in a different way than traditional legal paperwork.”

Beyond practical training, the externship has also provided valuable exposure. Keating has spoken with nearly every department within Iowa Athletics, gaining insight into how administrators, compliance officers, and legal professionals collaborate. She has also built connections beyond Iowa, leveraging introductions to attorneys and professionals across collegiate athletics.

Postgraduate role with the NCAA

This summer, Keating will take the next step in her sports law journey as a postgraduate intern with the NCAA, serving from June 2026 to May 2027 in governance and member services. In the role, she expects to handle compliance and policy work, manage her own caseload, and collaborate with the NCAA’s legal department.

“Being at the national office is an incredible opportunity,” she said. “Whether I end up working at a conference, an institution, a professional team, or a law firm after this, I not only have connections to get me where I want to go, but I also have experience that few other people can say that they have.”

The one-year NCAA Postgraduate Internship Program is extraordinarily selective, receiving about 2,000 applications for 35 positions that work at the NCAA national office in Indianapolis. During her experience, Keating will learn from and collaborate with those that are helping lead the college athletics industry into a future that’s being influenced by seemingly endless litigation, and she will have a front-row seat for the industry’s continued efforts to engage the legislative and executive branches of the federal government in search of solutions.

Learning and looking ahead

Keating admits that one of her biggest surprises about law school has been the culture.

“You hear stories about people ripping pages out of books,” she said with a laugh. “I have never experienced that level of competition and fear at Iowa.”

Instead, she found a cohort defined by collaboration and camaraderie. Whether sharing notes, offering outlines, or helping one another prepare for cold calls, her classmates have reinforced the supportive environment that initially drew her to Iowa Law.

Keating’s roles as president of the Sports Law Society and executive editor of the Journal of Corporation Law illustrate her willingness to give back to the community that has been so supportive of her for the past three years. The JCL published Keating’s note on the House v. NCAA settlement back in November, titled “From Amateur Hour to Prime Time: How Athlete Compensation is Changing the Game,” further emphasizing the growing relevance of sports law at Iowa Law and beyond.

As she prepares to graduate and step into her role with the NCAA, Keating reflected on the unpredictability of her journey.

“If you had told me as a 1L that I was going to be doing this internship after law school and be working in sports, I don’t think I would have believed you,” she said.

Her advice to incoming students, particularly those interested in sports law, is simple: seek mentorship, seize opportunities, and don’t be afraid to try something new.

“Just go and do it,” she said. “You never know what’s going to happen after the fact.”