Category Archives: News & Achievements Archive

News & Achievements Archive

Drake Law School named finalist In Bloomberg Law’s inaugural Law School Innovation Program

Drake University Law School announced today that it has been named a finalist in Bloomberg Law’s inaugural Law School Innovation Program. Drake Law School is one of 10 finalists recognized for implementing and leading innovative programs into their curricula that advance new methodologies and approaches to student instruction, legal technology implementation and usage, experiential learning, and other facets of legal education.

More information about Bloomberg Law’s Law School Innovation Program and the inaugural class of honorees is available at http://onb-law.com/qyV150MpaRF.

“Innovation in legal education is key to keeping up with the demands of the legal market, and Drake University Law School demonstrates its commitment to the future of the industry with the First-Year Trial Practicum,” said Joe Breda, President, Bloomberg Law. “Bloomberg Law recognizes Drake Law School for its performance by naming them as a Law School Innovation Program finalist.”

“For the last twenty-five years, Drake students have witnessed real trials involving murder, child endangerment, robbery, and vehicular homicide,” Steve Foritano, Practitioner in Residence and Director of the First-Year Trial Practicum, said. “After the verdict, the students can question the judge, the attorneys and the jury about their strategy and decision making. This program truly gives Drake law students an unprecedented look into the American justice system.”

“The Trial Practicum furthers Drake’s philosophy of teaching ‘Law in Action,’ which goes back to our founding,” Drake Law School Dean Jerry Anderson said. “By witnessing a real trial from start to finish, students not only gain insights on trial practice and procedure, they also obtain a profound understanding of the power of the law. The Bloomberg recognition highlights how unique that Drake Law experience is.”

Bloomberg Law received nearly 90 applications from 60+ schools across 25+ states that were evaluated by a panel of experts that included Bloomberg Law staff and those from outside the organization.

Innovations submitted for consideration were grouped into six categories: technology, business, justice, experiential learning, pedagogy, and student development. In addition to the 10 finalists, honorable mentions were identified in each category.

The 2023 Law School Innovation finalists were recognized based on the criteria of innovation, impact on students, ability to advance the legal industry, and replicability.

About Drake Law School

For over 150 years, Drake Law School has helped launch successful careers, providing a legal education that emphasizes experiential learning backed by a solid foundation in legal theory. As the only law school in the capital city of Des Moines, students gain unparalleled access to internships, externships, and clerkships. Drake Law graduates leverage the experience gained from hands-on learning and are ready to put the law in action from day one, joining an alumni network of 6,000+ who use their law degree in all 50 states and across the globe—in every facet of the legal profession. Learn more about a legal education at Drake.

About Bloomberg Law

Bloomberg Law combines the latest in legal technology with workflow tools, comprehensive primary and secondary sources, trusted news, expert analysis, and business intelligence Our deep expertise and commitment to innovation provide a competitive edge to help improve attorney productivity and efficiency. Bloomberg Law is the only legal research provider to include continuous enhancements to its platform at no cost to existing subscribers. For more information, visit pro.bloomberglaw.com.

— Taylor Johnson, Law School

News & Achievements Archive

Drake’s Legal Clinic courtroom named in honor of founding director Daniel L. Power

Drake University Law School is pleased to announce the naming of the courtroom in the Neal and Bea Smith Law Center as the Daniel L. Power Courtroom. This naming honors the founding director of Drake’s Legal Clinic, Professor Emeritus Dan Power. The recognition is made possible through a lead gift from members of the Drake Law Class of 1981 to honor Power’s legacy and impact on generations of Drake Law alumni.

Dan Power served as director of Drake’s Legal Clinic from 1971 to 1994. He was a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice when he joined the Drake Law faculty as the first Director of Clinical Programs. Power’s vision and dedication helped develop the clinic into the nationally recognized program it is today. His partnership with the late Congressman Neal Smith led to funding to build the Neal and Bea Smith Law Center that now houses the clinic programs. His kind and generous mentorship inspired and shaped countless successful Drake Law alumni.

The naming was initially announced at the Drake Legal Clinic’s 50th anniversary celebration banquet in late October. Power and members of his family, along with many friends and clinic alumni, were there to celebrate the honor.

Funds raised through this initiative will be used to maintain the clinic facility and is programs. For more information about making a gift in honor of Professor Power, please contact Senior Advancement Officer Thomas Smith at thomas.smith@drake.edu.

Learn more about Drake’s Legal Clinic programs here.

— Terri Howard, Law School

News & Achievements Archive

Drake University Law School advances to National Moot Court Competition

Not one but two Drake Law National Moot Court teams rose to the top of their recent regional competition to compete against each other in the final round. Both teams demonstrated their hard work and excellence in written and oral advocacy but only one could win and move on to compete in the National competition in New York City early next year. The Drake Law team of Elizabeth Boyer, Ben Wolf, and Catherine Dukelow narrowly beat the second Drake team of Steffi Lee Dwyer, Caleb Piersma, and NaRayah Runyon in the finals to advance to nationals. Both teams are coached by Louis Sloven, LW’15.

The regional competition was held virtually and hosted by Drake Law School on Nov. 7. This event invites two competition teams from each participating law school, including Drake, the University of Iowa, the University of Minnesota, and the University of South Dakota.

The Drake Law teams excelled throughout the competition. During preliminary rounds, Piersma, Dwyer, and Boyer ranked in the top five best oralists. Elizabeth Boyer was recognized as best oralist in the final round and named best oralist of the overall competition. The team of Dwyer, Piersma, and Runyon won best brief honors for the competition.

When asked about the preparation process leading up to the team’s win, Catherine Dukelow said, “It has been stressful, but I can tell it has helped improve my persuasive writing and oral advocacy … Elizabeth has been an absolutely amazing team captain and it is wonderful to work with and learn from her.”

“It was a great opportunity to learn from experienced advocates and judges, including justices from the Iowa Supreme Court,” Ben Wolf said. “I’m truly grateful to all the people who invested their time and energy into our team.”

Drake Law School is recognized as a Top School for Trial Advocacy by preLaw magazine, due in part to the strength of our Moot Court programs. Drake Law offers numerous opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience and hone their trial and advocacy skills through moot court and mock trial team participation, in addition to intra-school competitions. These experiences help students learn to work well under pressure and think on their feet and gives them the self confidence they need to become successful advocates.

Please visit our website for more information.

— Taylor Johnson, Law School

News & Achievements Archive

Drake Theatre’s Carrie the Musical selected to perform at regional festival

Drake University Theatre Arts Department to remount Carrie at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Region 5 Festival held in Des Moines in January.

Carrie, the musical version of the Stephen King novel, explores the senior year of Carrie White, a teenage outcast who longs to fit in. At school, she’s bullied by the popular crowd, and virtually invisible to everyone else. At home, she’s dominated by her loving but cruelly controlling mother. What none of them know is that Carrie’s just discovered she’s got a special power, and if pushed too far, she’s not afraid to use it.

The Drake Theatre Department’s production ran Oct. 27–30 to a sold out crowd. The show was adjudicated by a team from KCACTF and then was chosen as the only musical to perform out of many schools for this great honor.

“The trust the KCACTF Festival leadership has placed in Drake Theatre is a testament to our students’ commitment and skills,” shared Adam Yankowy, assistant professor of theatre and director of Carrie. “Our students will have the opportunity to bring this show back to life, sharing it with over one thousand college theatre students and professors. This is one of the greatest collegiate theatre honors.”

The show will be presented as part of the KCACTF Region 5 Festival with the performance at the historic Hoyt Sherman Place on Jan. 25, 2023.

— Adam Yankowy, Theatre Arts

News & Achievements Archive

Drake named a top law school in the nation for human rights law

The Law School earned an A ranking for human rights law in preLaw magazine, placing Drake among the top twenty-four law schools in the nation for this field.

The publication based the rankings on law schools’ offerings in human rights law, including clinical programs, certificates, externships, partnerships, and courses. The results are reported in preLaw’s Back to School 2022 issue.

The issue highlights Drake Refugee Clinic’s efforts to assist the large number of Afghan parolees who came to Iowa as part of Operation Allies Welcome, led by Allison McCarthy, co-director of the Refugee Clinic, and Suzan Pritchett, Director of Clinics and Experiential Education, in collaboration with Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, Polk County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, and Iowa Legal Aid. The Refugee Clinic held information sessions and screening clinics to help Afghan families understand their options for applying for more permanent immigration status. This effort led to the development of pro se asylum application workshops and ongoing mentoring and training to volunteer attorneys. The Refugee Clinic and its student attorneys have increased their capacity for direct representation of Afghan asylum seekers and are also working to develop a virtual help desk for unrepresented noncitizens in Iowa to obtain general information about immigration issues.  These efforts are part of the Law School’s response to the recently announced ALL Iowa partnership.

McCarthy believes these initiatives will strengthen the community’s response to the legal needs of asylum seekers in Iowa, as well as serve as an important education opportunity for Drake students. “Drake Law students will have the opportunity to practice community-focused and culturally competent lawyering while strengthening our response to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan,” McCarthy said.  Other offerings in human rights law include a certificate in Social Justice and Public Interest Lawyering, course offerings such as Race, Law and Social Change, work with the Drake Institute for Justice Reform and Innovation, and internship opportunities.

— Taylor Johnson, Law School

News & Achievements Archive

The Ray Center receives 3 Prairie Meadows grants for 2022 initiatives

Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino has awarded The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University three grants totaling nearly $62,000 to support initiatives that impact Iowans.

  • The largest award was a Youth Sports and Recreational Grant to provide funding for the Pursuing Victory with Honor Summit, featuring Iowa native Chris Norton. The Summit was held on October 7 at Bondurant-Farrar High School. attended the event. The grant enabled 15 Iowa schools to bring more than 500 middle/high school students to attend a presentation of Chris Norton’s documentary, 7 Yards. Chris was present to answer students’ questions and schools received the 7 Yards CHARACTER COUNTS! curricular resources.
  • A Community Betterment was awarded to support CHARACTER COUNTS! for Early Childhood so that Iowa’s youngest students can begin to learn about good character.
  • A Community Betterment was awarded to support 2022 Iowa Character Awards. The Ray Center annually presents the Iowa Character Awards to individuals and organizations who exemplify good character. Award recipients were honored at an event in July 2022.

“We’re proud of our longstanding partnership with Prairie Meadows. These grants provide valuable resources to Iowans and help promote good character, civility, and ethical leadership.” said Scott Raecker, executive director of The Ray Center. “We are grateful for Prairie Meadows dedication to transform lives and strengthening communities.”

Prairie Meadows supports Iowa nonprofit organizations that support arts and culture, education, economic development, and human services. In central Iowa, a nonprofit partnership between Prairie Meadows and Polk County has generated over $2.0 billion in funding over 30 years for projects that improve, strengthen, and beautify central Iowa.

Through public awareness and programming grounded in research, The Ray Center helps create strong, vibrant communities that value positive, healthy relationships and respectful behavior. Our initiatives benefit people of all ages and are easily adaptable for families, schools, workplaces, and athletic organizations.

— Amy Smit, Robert D. & Billie Ray Center

News & Achievements Archive

New partnership will provide immigration legal assistance to Afghan nationals in Iowa

Drake University Law School Legal Clinic, The University of Iowa College of Law’s Center for Human Rights, and Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice (Iowa MMJ), with funding support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, are partnering to create ALL Iowa, a new collaboration to provide immigration legal assistance to Afghan nationals in Iowa who came to the United States as part of Operation Allies Welcome. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services will administer the funding for this effort.

Following the Taliban seizure of power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the U.S. airlifted thousands of Afghans seeking safety from immediate threats of violence via a program called Operation Allies Welcome. The U.S. granted a temporary status called “humanitarian parole” to most Afghans who entered the U.S. through Operation Allies Welcome. Over 1,000 Afghans arrived in Iowa through the program.

ALL Iowa will aid in addressing the critical need for immigration legal services for this population and help to secure the safety of Afghans in Iowa who remain under threat if they return to Afghanistan. “Many people do not realize that our evacuated Afghan allies have no direct path to permanent protection in the U.S., making high-quality low-cost legal immigration services of utmost importance. This funding will increase access to these much-needed services throughout Iowa,” states Ann Naffier, managing attorney and co-legal director at Iowa MMJ.

Services to be made available through this collaboration will be diverse and engage communities statewide. Drake University will create and operate a virtual help desk to answer general questions and provide limited general advice and referral services. Iowa MMJ, the University of Iowa College of Law Legal Clinic and the Drake University Legal Clinic will directly represent many Afghans, as well as expand clinics in communities around the state, to provide Afghan families with assistance in filing the most common applications available to Afghans, such as Temporary Protected Status, Special Immigrant Visas, and asylum. The University of Iowa Center for Human Rights will help coordinate and administer the collaboration.

ALL Iowa will also engage with attorneys, organizations, and pro bono programs throughout the state already aiding Afghans through their work, to enhance and support existing efforts and to help facilitate legal assistance for Afghan individuals.

Amy Weismann, assistant director for the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights, highlights that the collaboration “will address urgent needs and enhance and elevate the vital work of our law school clinics.” UI students, along with Drake students will participate in a “legal corps” to support the work of immigration legal service providers in communities throughout Iowa.

Students at both the University of Iowa College of Law and Drake University Law School will have the opportunity to engage in direct representation of Afghan nationals before federal immigration agencies, as well as aid in development of pro se materials, intake processes and needs assessment, and conduct research into best practices, under the mentorship of licensed attorneys.

Professor Suzan Pritchett, director of Clinical and Experiential Programs at Drake Law School,  articulates the initiative’s potential and goals: “We are excited by the potential of this partnership to meet immediate legal needs while creating a culture of commitment to pro bono legal service and a new generation of attorneys prepared to serve our increasingly diverse communities here in Iowa.”

For more information, visit www.alliowa.org.

For more information on the role of Drake University Legal Clinic, contact Suzie Pritchett, Drake Law School Director of Clinical and Experiential Programs at suzan.pritchett@drake.edu

For more information about the role of Iowa MMJ, contact Ann Naffier, Managing Attorney and Co-Legal Director at anaffier@iowammj.org.  To make an appointment with Iowa MMJ, call 515-255-9809.

For more information about the role of the University of Iowa, contact Amy Weismann, Assistant Director of the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights, at amy-weismann@uiowa.edu .

For more information on the role of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, contact Alex Carfrae, Public Information Officer, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, at acarfra@dhs.state.ia.us or call 515-281-4848

— Taylor Johnson, Law School

News & Achievements Archive

Law student organizes food pantry to battle food insecurity in Law School

While lots of students were heading home for the holidays in the fall of 2020, current Drake Law third-year student Jack Schuler was thinking about those who could not. He purchased a $25 Hy-Vee gift card and asked Assistant Dean for Student Services Erin Lee Schneider to give it to a student who could not travel home due to financial limitations. He also suggested that Drake Law faculty and staff might want to contribute to the effort to help as many students as possible. They responded and Dean Lee Schneider collected additional gift cards to help brighten the holiday for many.

This sparked a larger conversation regarding food insecurity among students at Drake Law. Schuler noted that due to the cost and time commitment of law school, there were likely individuals that were unable to meet their basic needs. Subsequently, a nationwide survey revealed that 43% of all law students reported food insecurity concerns during the pandemic. Drake Law Dean Jerry Anderson found this unacceptable. “For many of us, it didn’t cross our minds that there could be Drake Law students sitting in class who may not be eating properly due to a lack of funds,” said Dean Anderson. “This study revealed, though, that may absolutely be the case. We just found that intolerable.”

Funding for a food pantry in Kern Commons began immediately, organized by Schuler and Dean Lee Schneider. The food pantry is now up and running, allowing Drake Law students more security in finding their next meal.

As news about the food pantry spread within the Law School community, adjunct Professor Tyler Coe stepped up to help. As a shareholder with Dentons Davis Brown, P.C., Coe has a strong network of colleagues who understand the mindset of law students and the extreme commitment that comes with varying financial situations and course workload. Coe remembered when he was in law school and noted the times when he needed help.

“I remembered the time I needed help in law school. Without the extreme kindness and generosity of Drake Law graduate Janet Galloway Huston, LW’83, I would not have been able to continue my studies, let alone have food and shelter during law school,” Coe said. “In exchange for helping me, she asked me to pay her generosity forward in every way conceivable. When I learned Drake Law students and law students across the nation face food insecurity, I looked at my students and realized I had to help.” Within a matter of days, Coe collected food donations and raised $800 for the food pantry from other members of his firm.

The food pantry is in Cartwright Hall, Kern Commons, and is available to all Drake Law students. The pantry stocks canned foods and dry goods, frozen meals, and fresh produce. Gift cards for groceries are available as well. As the pantry gains traction, Coe is confident that donations will continue to come in, stating, “This is certainly not the last act of generosity my firm and I make for Drake Law.”

From a simple start with a $25 gift card donation to a fully functional food pantry, Schuler is proud of the effort the Drake Law community has put toward the success of the pantry. Schuler said, “Law school is hard enough, and students need to be able to focus on their courses rather than if they can eat today or not.”

To donate to the Drake Law School food pantry, contact Dean Lee Schneider at erin.schneider@drake.edu.

— Taylor Johnson, Law School

News & Achievements Archive

CBPA Honor Roll for Social Impact wins the 2022 Innovation in Business Education Award

The Mid-American Business Deans Association has recognized the College of Business and Public Administrations’s Honor Roll for Social Impact with first place in its 2022 Innovation in Business Education Award in the New Ways to Achieve Student Engagement track. Dean Hernandez attended the association’s conference in Chicago to accept the award on behalf of the students, faculty, and staff who have made community service a priority at Drake.

As noted in the submission that generated this award: “To encourage, recognize, and celebrate the development of a social impact mindset and related service work, Drake University’s College of Business and Public Administration developed the CBPA Dean’s Honor Roll for Social Impact.” For a glimpse into the impact students are making across campus, see our group on DUgood, Drake’s online community engagement platform.

— Alejandro Hernandez, Dean, CBPA

News & Achievements Archive

Drake Black Law Student Association awarded the Iowa National Bar Association’s Journey Award

Drake University Law School is pleased to announce that the Drake Law School Black Law Student Association (BLSA) is a 2022 recipient of the Iowa National Bar Association’s (INBA) Journey Award. The Journey Award is presented to organizations or individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in Iowa’s legal community. The award was presented at the fourth annual Meeting at the Monument: A Celebration of Diversity within the Iowa Legal Community on Sept. 29, 2022. Marcus Coleman, immediate past-president of BLSA, accepted the award on behalf of BLSA.

BLSA was recognized for outstanding programming and initiatives that enhanced the experience of Black students at the Law School, and strengthened connections and commitments to the greater legal community. Some of the specific programs noted include increasing the availability of free and low cost textbooks to BLSA students and the student body through the BLSA Lending Library; hosting nationally acclaimed attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons for a presentation about his fight for victims of the Tulsa race massacre; maintaining representation with students in positions on the executive boards of the National and Midwest Black Law Student Associations; and increasing collaboration with the Law School Office of Admission and Financial Aid to improve efforts to recruit black students to Drake Law School.

Kaleb McKinnon, current president of BLSA, said, “I am proud of the accomplishments of the Drake BLSA in working to build relationships with the community and across campus. We are honored to accept The Journey Award, as it symbolizes all of the hard work we have done over the years. It is an honor for me and the current executive board to continue to move the needle forward for black law students at Drake Law.”

Dean Jerry Anderson, dean of Drake Law School, said, “BLSA has been a wonderful leader in enriching the fabric of Drake Law’s community in so many ways and supporting other students of color. I am really proud of the work they’ve done and pleased to see those efforts recognized by the Iowa NBA.”

— Taylor Johnson, Law School