06/15/2026
Follow along as we get to know the new faces at our firm’s Summer 2026 – Associate Program!
We’re ecstatic to welcome our five summer associates who will receive hands on training with our clients, partners, and staff, that will benefit their remaining law school experience. The firm’s Summer Associate program offers law students practical legal experience following their first and second years of law school. During this program, Summer Associates engage in active client matters, and assist by, among other things, drafting briefs and transactional documents; participating in depositions, arbitration, and mediation sessions; attending client meetings; and observing courtroom procedures. We sat down and ran a “discovery” session with each associate to learn about their interests both within and beyond the legal field.
Say hello to, Eddy Lopez! He is currently attending the University of Iowa College of Law as a rising 3L. Fun fact – Eddy grew up in Quito, Ecuador until the age of 12. Every time he visits, not only does he eat great food, but comes back with noticeably faster mile times. Thanks to training at an altitude of more than 9,000 feet.
- What is the best-kept secret or hidden gem at the University of Iowa College of Law?
"I’m not sure it qualifies as a secret, but it’s a resource most students don’t take advantage of. "The Community Empowerment Law Project" is one of Iowa Law's clinics, and through it we represented the Judiciary of the Northern Mariana Islands. We took ownership over every aspect of the representation, from leading client meetings to drafting model jury instructions. Our client was about 7,000 miles away, so meetings happened over Zoom rather than on a beach in Saipan, but we handled the matter from start to finish, just as we would in practice."
- Reflecting on your law school experiences so far - what do you value as important tools to learn within this summer program? Building interpersonal skills with clients & staff, growing your law expertise? Or both?
"I’m grateful that Lane & Waterman has given me the chance to grow in two ways at once. I've worked on assignments that directly shape the firm's relationships with its clients, from drafting closing checklists for deals to researching topics as varied as HIPAA compliance and copyright. I even got to attend a deal closing, the kind of experience you rarely get in law school, and sometimes not even in your first few years of practice. Here, you learn by doing. Just as valuable has been getting to know the attorneys and staff, who are welcoming and genuinely care about the summer associates".
Continue to follow along as we introduce the rest of our summer associates!
