Academics
Academics
About the Center
Faculty
Program
Advisory Board
About the Center
As the spectrum of law opportunities expands, more students are exploring careers in government service at the federal, state and local levels where legislative and administrative policies are set. Recognizing this, the Center for Legislative Practice combines classroom study and hands-on experiences to help students understand law-making processes. Equipped with a thorough background of the legislative process, students are prepared to work for administrative or government agencies, to research and draft legislation, to represent businesses and organizations with government interests, or to work in a variety of other public policy-making positions.
Faculty
The director of the Center for Legislative Practice is Lawrence E. Pope, law professor, legislative lobbyist and former majority leader of Iowa's House of Representatives. Professor Pope draws on his considerable background and legislative experiences to guide students through the CLP program, as well as establish the center's goals and promote its growth. He earned his law degree from Drake University and his master of law degree from New York University.
The Legislative Practice Center's Associate Director is Julie Smith, legislative lobbyist, attorney, and former Legislative Service Bureau legal counsel. Ms. Smith monitors the third-year lobbying internships at the State Capitol and teaches the legislative drafting portion of the Legislative Practice course. Her extensive experience as a legislative drafter for the General Assembly and her years as a lobbyist make her uniquely qualified for this position. Ms. Smith received her law degree from the University of Iowa.
Neil Hamilton, the Ellis and Nelle Levitt Distinguished Professor of Law and director of the Agricultural Law Center, oversees the legislative internship program. He is one of the nation's leading authorities on the role of law in shaping agriculture and has extensive expertise in policies regulating legislative affairs. Professor Hamilton received his law degree from the University of Iowa.
