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Cady Law Opportunity Fellow Program
Drake Law School's Cady Law Opportunity Fellow Program provides internships, mentorship, and leadership training for high-achieving students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Drake Law School selects up to six qualified students each year to participate in the Cady Law Opportunity Fellow Program, formerly known as the Law Opportunity Leadership Program. The program is named in recognition of the late Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady, LW'78, and his commitment to diversifying the legal profession.
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"The program allowed me to make connections with local attorneys and mentors very early in my legal career and introduced me to different areas of practice. The program also led to an internship offer at a firm for my 2L summer. I definitely appreciated the opportunities provided throughout my time in the program." |
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- Jenny Chavez-Rivera, Class of 2020 |
Guaranteed Paid Internships
Each student is placed in two five-week internships with Des Moines-based sponsor employers (one company and one law firm) during the summer after their first year of law school. Both are paid positions.
The internships provide students the opportunity to gain legal experience and an understanding of each employer's culture. Drake Law School attempts to match each student with the company and law firm that most closely aligns with his or her interests.
2022-2023 Sponsor Employers
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"We are proud to partner with the Cady Law Opportunity Fellow Program. A diverse workplace is important to the firm and expected by our clients. Additionally, working with high-achieving students in our profession only helps to improve the practice of law." |
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- Anjela A. Shutts, Member Attorney, Whitfield & Eddy Law |
Law Firms:
- Ahlers & Cooney, P.C.
- Bradshaw, Fowler, Proctor & Fairgrave, P.C.
- BrownWinick Law Firm
- Dentons Davis Brown Law Firm
- Nyemaster Goode, P.C.
- Whitfield & Eddy Law
Companies:
- EMC Insurance Companies
- Dotdash Meredith
- Principal
- Sammons Financial Group
- Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
- Wells Fargo
Eligibility
The program seeks students whose enrollment will significantly contribute to the diversity of the Drake Law student body or who have overcome a significant disadvantage. Drake University is commited to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Students must achieve at least a B- grade in the Legal Research and Legal Writing courses in the first semester of law school to be eligible for the internship portion of the program.
Apply
Drake Law School selects up to six students from underrepresented groups for the program each academic year. Students will be chosen by Drake Law School’s Admissions Committee based on superior academic credentials, information contained in their Drake Law JD application and diversity statement, and a personal interview (to be conducted on campus or remotely).
To apply, follow the steps to complete the Drake Law JD application on the Application Instructions webpage.
As part of the application, students must also submit a diversity statement. Instructions can be found on the Drake Law JD application under "Diversity or Disadvantage."
Questions? Contact our Office of Admission at 515-271-2782 or lawadmit@drake.edu.
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