Our newest associate, Maegan Gorham, recently graduated from University of Iowa Law School. We sat down with her to learn more about her career trajectory and her plans at our firm.

1. You have your masters and PhD. What made you decide to pursue a degree in law?

I was interested in law school for many years, but everything aligned back in 2014 for me to seriously pursue this path. I was writing my dissertation on a legal issue in higher education, my dissertation chair/mentor is a J.D., Ph.D. who practices education law, and I was ready for a career change. Most importantly, I still didn’t feel “done” with my education. Throughout both graduate programs, I researched legal issues in non-profit leadership and higher education, but I knew just enough to recognize I didn’t know much at all about the law. Luckily, the University of Iowa is an excellent law school within commuting distance from my home in Bettendorf, so I was able to attend without too much disruption to my family life.

2. Why have you chosen to practice the areas of law you’ve chosen?

I am most interested in areas of law where I can bring perspective from my experiences in past careers. I spent over a decade in higher education administration, and I really enjoy working on legal issues arising in education at any level. As a former director and supervisor, I understand how employment issues can affect productivity and office dynamics, so advising employers is very satisfying. During my time as the former executive director of a national not-for-profit organization, I learned how rewarding these organizations are to work with, and I look forward to providing assistance to local non-profits.

3. Why choose Lane & Waterman for your law career?

Immediately upon starting law school, I began attending local events like the Dillon Inn of Courts where attorneys and judges gather for continuing education and networking. I knew I would be looking for employment in the Quad Cities in just three short years, and I wanted to learn as much as possible about the firms here. Lane & Waterman stood out to me right away because of the firm’s involvement in education law in the community. Additionally, the attorneys I met were welcoming, helpful, and informative. I had the opportunity to clerk here after my second year in law school, and after that experience, I had no doubts this was the right place for me. I have the opportunity to specialize in my areas of interest and explore many new areas of law while learning from excellent attorneys.

4. What’s something we wouldn’t guess about you?

We have 350 lbs of dog in our house. I’m not even sure how we ended up with three giant dogs, but they’re great and my daughter, an only child, loves them like siblings. Leinus is a French Mastiff, Shandy is an Italian Mastiff, and Georgia is an American Bulldog. Needless to say, no one would ever successfully break into our house!