We will list projects and volunteer opportunities as they come in. Check back here to see how you can get involved!
The following projects welcome additional volunteers. Please click the link in the project description to volunteer or register.
Sponsored by Drake Law's "If/When/How" team
YWRC is in need of diapers in all sizes, but mostly newborn, 5, 6, 7, and pull ups.
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 22 - Friday, Oct. 25.
Location: Porterhouse Lounge - Located in Drake Law School's Cartwright Hall (2621 Carpenter Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50311).
Time frame:
Donations can be dropped off in Porterhouse Lounge from Tuesday, October 22 to Friday, October 25, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Contact name: Casey Middleswart
Contact email address: casey.middleswart@drake.edu
Sponsored by Christian Legal Society
Oct. 21-Oct 25
Drop off items in box in Porterhouse Lounge
Needs include cleaning products, wipes, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, etc.
Sponsored by Iowa Attorney General's Office
The Iowa Attorney General’s Office is collecting backpacks and small suitcases as well as care package items to fill them with for the almost 4,000 children in Iowa’s foster care system. Many foster children use trash bags for their belongings—backpacks help ease the transition and give them the dignity they deserve.
Drop off any new backpacks and new small luggage from today until October 24th, 2024 at:
Location: Hoover Building Des Moines Office of the Attorney General of Iowa 1305 E. Walnut Street Des Moines IA 50319
Please take donations to the front desk - (first left as you enter) and tell the person there they are for Jordean Stein or Sarah Jennings.
In addition, here are the items we need the most to stuff the backpacks with:
New items needed (besides backpacks):
- Notebooks
- Recordable books
- Post-It notes
- Small pillows
- NOTES OF ENCOURAGEMENT!
- Adult coloring books
- Colored pencils
- Instant film (“Polaroid”) camera
- Photo albums
- Caitlin Clark T-shirts (#22)
- Iowa State items
Please contact Sarah Jennings sarah.jennings@ag.iowa.gov or 515-587-5243 for more information.
Sponsored by Belin McCormick
Friday, Oct. 25
9:30 am - 11:30 a.m.
Belin McCormick attorneys and staff will be assisting with packaging meals at Meals from the Heartland. If you would like to join, volunteers can sign up directly on Meals from the Heartland's website - https://mealsfromtheheartland.org/volunteer-registration/
Location: Meals from the Heartland
357 Lincoln St.
West Des Moines, IA 50265
Contact Megan Langreck for more information: mlangreck@belinmccormick.com
Bergmann Law Firm P.L.L.C. is looking for 4 volunteers to assist with their upcoming charity drive.
Please contact Megan Wettach Bergmann for more information at megan@bergmannlawfirm.com
or 319-385-8527
They are asking for donations of diapers, winter coats, and new toys to benefit the Cradle of Hope Pregnancy Resource Center in Mt. Pleasant, IA: 1400 East Washington St Mt. Pleasant, IA Inside E3 Building
Please drop off your donations between 10 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. October 23-25
Sponsored by the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association
Through Friday, Oct. 25
APALSA is collecting new or used LSAT prep materials. A donation box will be set up in Porterhouse Lounge.
Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC are looking for help with preparing care packages and providing dinner to the residents of "Hope Lodge" - Russell and Ann Gerdin American Cancer Society located in Iowa City https://facilities.uiowa.edu/named-building/hope-lodge
If you are interested in helping please contact Juli Gotto, jgotto@spmblaw.com or 319-896-4096
The Russell and Ann Gerdin American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Iowa City provides 28 rooms for cancer patients and their caregivers, offering free, non-medical lodging, and convenient access to the UI Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. Fostering a home-like environment, the Hope Lodge is equipped with a community dining room, kitchen, family room, library, exercise area and laundry facilities. The Lodge also offers guests a wide variety of cancer programs and services free of charge that provide information, resources, and support to ease the cancer journey.
Sponsored by Christian Legal Society
Oct. 26; 9 a.m.
2507 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311
Sign up here.
Sponsored by the Hon. Colin J. Witt Victory Running & Walking Club at Drake Law (Victory Club)
Thursday, Oct. 24, 4:30 p.m.
Meet in front of Cartwright Hall
The Victory Club is sponsoring a 1 mile Fun Run/Walk around the Drake Campus in honor of Cady Day of Service.
Participants should bring a canned or dry good to contribute to the Law School's food drive.
Please sign up here.
Sponsored by the Drake Youth Law Society and Business Law Society
Oct. 25, 3 p.m.
Cartwright Hall, Kern Commons
Members of the Youth Law Society and Business Law Society are partnering to paint rocks and make cards for local nursing homes. All are welcome to join!
Sponsored by Iowa Legal Aid
**3 Volunteer attorneys needed in Sioux City!**
Iowa Legal Aid in partnership with Iowa Workforce Development is hosting an expungement clinic. We pair volunteer attorneys with ILA clients that need advice and assistance on getting the record expungement process started. In addition to expungement, we train volunteer attorneys to advise on issues related to driver’s license reinstatement, background checks, and court debt management.
The training itself takes about one hour and we will be facilitating it via Zoom on Monday, October 21st at noon, which will count as one hour of diversity CLE credit.
During the clinic October 24, 2024, meetings with clients typically last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. Following the clinic, ILA will handle all follow up, case management, and representation. We just need help day-of!
Date: October 24, 2024
Location: Iowa Workforce Development, 2508 4th St Sioux City, Iowa 51101
Time frame: 10am - 2pm
Who should people contact to get more information or to volunteer?
Name Arianna Eddy
Email address aeddy@iowalaw.org
Phone number (319) 409-9204
Sponsored by Wells Fargo and Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Friday, Oct. 25th
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Location" DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP, 801 Grand, Suite 4100, Des Moines, IA 50309-2790
or
Wells Fargo Legal Café, 206 8th Street, 4th Floor, Des Moines, IA 50309
On-site (and virtual) pro bono opportunity to learn about ABA Free Legal Answers website and answer legal questions submitted through the ABA Free Legal Answers website with others. Participants break up into groups of 3-4, consisting of a Wells attorney, a Dorsey attorney and 1-2 legal professionals from either or both organizations and answer questions based on complexity and topic.
Contact name
Kirk Schuler and Karin Gregor
Contact email address
schuler.kirk@dorsey.com and karin.gregor@wellsfargo.com
Contact phone number
(515-697-3622 or (515) 720-6743
Sponsored by the Iowa Court of Appeals and The Iowa State Bar Association
Friday, Oct. 25, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
The Iowa Court of Appeals and The Iowa State Bar Association are partnering with LifeServe for a blood drive at the Sheraton in West Des Moines on Friday, Oct. 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., during the ISBA Family Law Seminar. All are encouraged to participate in this blood drive to honor the late Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady
Register for the blood drive here.
For more information and to register for the Family Law Seminar click here.
Sponsored by Drake Law Review
Monday, Oct. 21 - Friday, Oct. 25
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Porterhouse Lounge
Drake Law Review will collect canned goods and nonperishables for West Des Moines Human Services. A donation box will be set up in Porterhouse Lounge Monday, Oct. 21 through Friday, Oct. 25 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. each day.
Questions? Contact Johnny Nguyen.
Sponsored by Maynard Nexsen P.C.
October 24th 9:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Food Donations can be dropped off at: 801 Grand, Suite 100 Des Moines, IA 50131
Contact name
Angel West
Contact email address
awest@maynardnexsen.com
Contact phone number
515-686-8223
In honor of Cady Day of Service, the Journal of Agricultural Law is teaming up with DAELA to host a meal packaging event at Meals from the Heartland:
Friday, Oct. 25, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
The event will be held at the Meals from the Heartland Packaging Center, 357 Lincoln St., West Des Moines.
Register here: Google Form
Sponsored by Dorsey & Whitney LLP and Wells Fargo
Friday, Oct. 25, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Meals from the Heartland 357 Lincoln Street West Des Moines, IA 50265
We are partnering with Meals from the Heartland to help the hungry here at home and around the world! Meals from the Heartland has been actively and successfully battling hunger for over 15 years, delivering nourished food and hope. We will package Meals from the Heartland that will be sent out to people in our neighborhoods, people across our nation and people around the world.
Contact name
Kirk Schuler or Karin Gregor
Contact email address
schuler.kirk@dorsey.com or karin.gregor@wellsfargo.com
Contact phone number
(515) 697-3622 or (515) 720-6743
Sponsored by Nyemaster Goode PC
Oct. 21; 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Nyemaster is partnering with LifeServe for a blood donation drive at the LifeServe Blood Center on Oct. 21 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
LifeServe Blood Center is located at 700 Walnut Street in Des Moines.
Sign up here.
Sponsored by Polk County Bar Association, Calculist, and Drake Law School
Friday, Nov. 1; Two sessions: 10 a.m.-noon and 1-4:30 p.m.
Polk County Courthouse
Attorneys will pair with law students to volunteer for a morning or afternoon session to help pro-se litigants with family law issues.
Key Features:
• No experience required (online training provided)
• In person experts to help guide you
• Forms and materials provided
• Opportunity to mentor law student
• Help clients with basic questions
• Attorneys will file a limited appearance and a withdrawal the same day
• Malpractice insurance provided by the VLP
Attorney volunteer positions are filled.
STUDENTS: CONTACT TERRI HOWARD TO VOLUNTEER.
Name and brief description Semi-annual highway cleanup
Location 3 mile stretch of Hwy 9 west of Decorah
Time frame Saturday Oct 26th
Contact name
John Noel
Contact email address
noeljohn53@gmail.com
Contact phone number
5634192163
Sponsored by Dickinson Bradshaw
Tuesday, Oct. 22, 6:30 p.m.
Plymouth Place, 4111 Ingersoll Avenue, Des Moines
Dickinson Bradshaw and Drake Law School will present a clinic for residents of Plymouth Place on advanced directives and simple wills as part of the Cady Day of Service.
Click here to volunteer.
Sponsored by Dickinson Bradshaw
Wednesday, Oct. 23, 4 p.m.
Elsie Mason Manor, 430 Grand Ave, Des Moines
Dickinson Bradshaw and Drake Law School will present a clinic for residents of Elsie Mason Manor on advanced directives and simple wills as part of the Cady Day of Service.
Click here to volunteer.
Sponsored by Dickinson Bradshaw
Friday, Oct. 25, Three sessions - 9 a.m., Noon, or 4 p.m.
Drake Law School, Cartwright Hall, Room 201
Dickinson Bradshaw and Drake Law School will present a clinic on advanced directives and simple wills as part of the Cady Day of Service.
Volunteer opportunities available for attorneys and law students.
Click here to volunteer.
Sponsored by Whitfield & Eddy
Birdland Marina, Des Moines
Friday, Oct. 25
9 a.m. - noon
*ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEERS WELCOME**
Whitfield & Eddy attorneys, staff, and other volunteers will clean up litter at Birdland Marina and area trails.
Contact Marc Hollander at hollander@whitfieldlaw.com or 515-288-6041 for more information or to volunteer.
Photo from 2023 clean-up event
Sponsored by Dorothy's House and Drake Law School
Thursday, Oct. 17
6:00 p.m.
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
8301 Aurora Avenue, Urbandale
Volunteers will work with project leader DeAnn McCue to package, label and put finishing touches on craft items for Christmas with a Cause!
Learn more about Dorothy's House.
Interested in volunteering? Contact Theresa Howard.
Check out this list of projects submitted by other organizations and groups. While they do not need any additional volunteers, they might offer some inspiration for your own Cady Day of Service project!
Sponsored by The Iowa State Bar Association, Iowa Legal Aid, and Polk County Bar Association
Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2-3 p.m.
Webinar
Join former Iowa Supreme Court Justice Michael Streit, The Iowa State Bar Association (ISBA) Independence of the Judiciary Committee Chair Guy Cook, Justice Not Politics President Connie Ryan, and Des Moines Register editorial board member Rox Laird in conversation on the purpose Iowa’s judicial retention elections and what a “yes” or “no” vote means.
This free, virtual event will include opening remarks from ISBA President Melvin Shaw and be moderated by ISBA Past President Bob Waterman, Jr.
Learn answers to these questions and more:
1. What are Judicial Retention Elections?
2. Why Does Iowa Have Retention Elections?
3. What does a “yes” or “no” vote mean in a retention election?
SPEAKERS
Guy R. Cook is past president of The Iowa State Bar Association, chair of the association's Independence of the Judiciary Committee, and a former member of the State Judicial Nominating Commission. He has served as counsel in more than 1000 litigated matters and has tried more than 200 jury trials. Cook is a double-board certified trial lawyer by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Follow this link to learn more about attorney Guy Cook.
Rox Laird is a retired Des Moines Register editorial writer and an emeritus member of the Des Moines Register's editorial board. Laird’s work has been recognized by many including the Iowa Supreme Court. Follow this link to learn more about editorial writer Rox Laird.
Connie Ryan is president of Justice Not Politics (JNP), the state’s leading coalition on judicial independence. She was instrumental in establishing the JNP in 2010 to protect Iowa’s courts from politicization and attacks by special interest groups. Connie has served on several non-profit boards including One Iowa, Iowa Safe Schools, Iowa Citizen Action Network (ICAN), Friends of Iowa Legal Aid, and Iowa Immigration Education Coalition. Follow this link to learn more about Justice Not Politics.
Melvin O. Shaw is the The Iowa State Bar Association’s 138th President. He has been a member of the ISBA Board of Governors since 2019. He is chair of the Iowa Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) and was appointed as member of the Iowa JQC by the late Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady in 2018. Shaw is chair-elect of the American Bar Association’s General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division. Follow this link to learn more about attorney Melvin Shaw.
Honorable Michael J. Streit served for over 27 years on the bench in Iowa District Court, the Iowa Court of Appeals and the Iowa Supreme Court. Former Justice Streit received the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award for his role in the Iowa Supreme Court decision recognizing marriage equality. Follow this link to learn more about former Justice Streit.
Robert V.P. Waterman, Jr. is a past president of The Iowa State Bar Association and remains active in numerous law related organizations. He has focused his civil litigation practice for the defense primarily in the areas of professional malpractice, product liability, and insurance coverage litigation for 40 years. Follow this link to learn more about attorney Bob Waterman Jr.
RESOURCES
Follow this link to the 2024 Iowa Voter's Judicial Directory, prepared as public service by the Iowa Judicial Branch, August 2024. The directory contains biographies of each judge on the ballot. These biographies include information about each judge's background and education, career, and professional activities. The directory also contains information about Iowa's judicial retention process, as well as factors voters may want to consider when deciding whether to retain a justice or judge.
Follow this link to the 2024 Iowa Judicial Performance Review, released by The Iowa State Bar Association. This evaluation by Iowa lawyers provides Iowa voters with additional information about judges on the ballot. The evaluation asks members of the association to rate judges on several issues, including knowledge and application of the law, temperament, communication skills, timeliness of rulings, and impartiality. The performance evaluation also asks lawyers to state whether each judge should be retained.
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