Subscribe to our email list
Share this:
eLaw - Winter 2016
Drake Law News
Drake named top 12 Best Value Private Law School
Drake Law School was ranked in the top 12 Best Value Private Law Schools by preLaw magazine. This marks the fourth year in a row Drake was included in the list, which is based on factors including tuition cost and scholarships, employment and bar pass rates, average debt at the time of graduation, and cost of living.
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, LW’74, selected as China ambassador
President-elect Donald J. Trump picked Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, a 1974 Drake Law alumnus, to serve as ambassador to China. Branstad was selected due to his decades-long history with China, which includes a recent meeting with 29 Chinese law students from the Southwest University of Political Science & Law who were visiting Drake Law School.
Drake National Moot Court team wins regional competition
Drake Law School’s team of James Duff, Christopher Kreuder, and Julia Steggerda-Corey placed first at the Region 14 National Moot Court Competition Nov. 17-19. The team remained undefeated throughout the tournament to advance to the National Moot Court Competition finals in New York City on Jan. 30-Feb. 2.
Drake places second, third at regional ABA Arbitration Competition
Drake’s two arbitration teams placed second and third at the regional American Bar Association Law Student Division Arbitration Competition on Nov. 18-19. The second-place team of Manuel Cornell, Jordan Garrison-Nickerson, Nicholas Rauch, and Monika Sehic will advance to the national finals in Chicago on Jan. 20-21.
Weresh receives distinguished legal writing award
Professor Melissa Weresh was named the winner of the 2017 Thomas F. Blackwell Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Legal Writing. The prestigious award is presented annually to a person who has made a significant contribution to improve the legal writing field.
Weresh will be honored at the Blackwell Award Reception on Jan. 4.
Read more news on Drake Law School’s news webpage.
Features
Drake 3L tries six felony jury trials
When Thomas Tolbert graduated from Drake Law School this December, he felt confident about entering the legal profession. After all, he has already tried six felony jury trials through his internship with the Polk County Attorney’s Office.
Drake Law alumna balances military, law practice
In 2003, Kristina Stanger was sitting in Professor Matthew Doré’s class when she got a phone callshe was being deployed to Iraq. Stanger returned to finish law school; today, she continues to serve while practicing law and raising a family.
Professor Shontavia Johnson has big plans for IP Law Center
Shontavia Johnson has only been director of Drake’s Intellectual Property Law Center for less than six months but is already working to make the center a hub for agriculture, biotechnology, and entrepreneurship.
Alumni Notes
Erica Nichols Cook, LW'09, was named director of Iowa's new wrongful conviction unit by the State Public Defender's Office.
Hayley Hanson, LW'00, partner at Husch Blackwell LLP, was featured in the Kansas City Business Journal as a "newsmaker."
Mark Lowe, LW'93, was appointed interim director of the Iowa Department of Transportation.
Amy J. Hanley, LW’01, was appointed 7th District Court judge by Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback.
Jennifer Zwagerman, LW’04, was named president-elect of the American Agricultural Law Association.
Mike Traxinger, LW’12, was honored with the American Agricultural Law Association's Excellence in Agricultural Law Award.
Storrs W. Downey, LW'82, was named to the American Academy of Trial Attorneys.
Steven R. Parrish, LW'81, was named supervisory administrative law judge in the Kansas City regional office of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals.
Beverly Dureus, LA'83, LW'86, co-wrote a children's book titled Holiday Island.
Sean M. Callison, LW'16, was welcomed as an associate attorney at Whitfield & Eddy Law.
Jessica Reynolds, LW'04, was appointed the new county attorney for Story County, Iowa.
Anjela A. Shutts, LW'96, was named vice chair of the Iowa Access to Justice Commission.
See more on Drake Law School's alumni notes webpage. Send your promotions, awards, and achievements to law-alumni@drake.edu.
Upcoming Events
March 2, 2017
Constitutional Law Center Distinguished Lecture Series featuring Kurt Lash, University of Illinois Law School
3-4 p.m., Cartwright Hall, Room 213
March 24, 2017
Drake Law Real Estate Transactions CLE
8 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Neal & Bea Smith Law Center
March 29, 2017
Federalist Society Lecture featuring former U.S. Solicitor General, federal appellate judge, and special prosecutor Ken Starr
Noon-1 p.m., Cartwright Hall, Room 206
March 30-April 1, 2017
80th Annual Supreme Court Celebration
April 8, 2017
2017 Constitutional Law Symposium: "President Obama's Constitutional Law Legacy"
8 a.m.-1 p.m., Cartwright Hall, Room 213
Find more events on Drake Law School’s online calendar.
eLaw is the official electronic newsletter for Drake Law alumni and is published quarterly. Stay up to date on Drake Law news between issues by bookmarking our news webpage and following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and LinkedIn.
Have you recently moved, changed jobs, or married? Update your information.
Twitter Facebook Instagram YouTube
Drake Law School 2621 Carpenter Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50311
T 515-271-2824 or toll-free 1-800-44-DRAKE (37253) x2824 W www.drake.edu/law
unsubscribe