Wapello County Lawyers

Shayla McCormally is a problem solver. Whether it's helping clients navigate difficult family issues, untangle tax problems, or recover after being injured, Shayla devotes herself to creating the best possible solutions for her clients. She knows the issues her clients are facing are stressful and confusing. She offers solutions and reaches outstanding results for clients

Jefferson Fink, the founder of The Law Office of Jefferson Fink, is a legal professional with years of experience in the Capitol and in front of the Courts. His academic experience started as a Senate Page, then later at Iowa State as a Senate intern, which allowed him to gain valuable insight into the legislative process. Jefferson's dedication to his education is evident in his simultaneous pursuit of a Master of Arts in Political Science from Iowa State University, writing his thesis - Law, Politics, and the Creation of Public Policy: How the Two Can Come Together and Create Better...

At Arenson Law Group, PC, you will find forward-thinking, progressive, and open attorneys who work hard with your best interests in mind. At our law firm you will find modern art, sleek brushed aluminum, and lots of light, unlike the traditional law office. Arenson Law Group, PC attorneys handle cases throughout Iowa and focus on practices such as: Business Law, Corporate Law, Family Law, Criminal Law, and Bankruptcy.

Some lawyers dabble in many different areas of the law. Not so for Tom Wertz. Shortly after moving into private practice, he turned his focus to workers' compensation and representing injured workers. Wertz quickly recognized the need for experienced attorneys in this specialized field. His commitment has resulted in a legal practice representing injured workers for more than 35 years. His record before the Iowa Supreme Court has led to major legal changes on behalf of injured workers. These changes include: Compensation benefits for tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and acute psychological injuries. Home medical care for out-of-state injured workers. These workers no...

Josh is an Iowa native and grew up on a farm outside Sac City, Iowa. He attended Drake University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, with honors. In 2014, Josh received a Juris Doctorate with honors from Drake University Law School. Josh was admitted to the Iowa State Bar and United States District Court, Southern and Northern Federal Districts of Iowa, in 2014. Josh serves on both the Board of Governors and Defense Update Board of Editors for the Iowa Defense Counsel Association. In 2018, Josh was awarded the Iowa Defense Counsel Association’s Rising Star Award....

Michael Boomershine grew up in Des Moines, Iowa. He attended Drake University for his undergraduate studies, majoring in Political Science and English while minoring in Philosophy. After developing an interest in law during his time at Drake University, Michael decided to pursue a legal education at Drake University Law School.

During law school, Michael was a member of the Drake Journal of Agricultural Law, where he served as a Note Editor. He was published in the Spring of 2017 for his writing on the topic of family farming operations and Iowa law. Michael also participated in the Drake University Legal Clinic;...

Athena Farmakis was born and raised in the Chicagoland area, graduated with a B.A. from Northwestern University, and received her law degree from DePaul University College of law. With over 25 years of litigation experience, Athena has tried 67 jury trials and hundreds of bench trials in complex and media-sensitive cases. Athena currently practices in all areas of personal injury including motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, product liability, construction accidents, animal attacks, negligent security, wrongful death, nursing home abuse and medical malpractice.

As a former prosecutor, Athena dedicated much of her legal career to serving the public for over 20 years...

My practice primarily deals with estate planning, tax, and corporate formation/governance, though my law firm can help with almost any business need you may have.

I typically deal with individuals, families, and small business owners to (a) protect and arrange themselves during life, (b) provide guidance to loved ones upon their passing, especially for minor children, and (c) transition businesses and wealth from one generation to the next in an organized and tax-efficient manner.

Originally from Fort Dodge, Iowa (north central Iowa), my practice takes me all across the state of Iowa. I'm proud that my family has been providing...

Since 1982, J. Keith Rigg has provided legal advice and representation to clients in state and federal courts throughout Iowa, including Des Moines and Polk County. His practice is limited to criminal law and the defense of those accused of crimes such as: * White Collar Crimes * Fraud * Conspiracy * Homicide * Battery, Assault, and other Violent Crimes * Drug and Narcotic Sales and Possession * Theft ...

Celena graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Law with a criminal law concentration. During law school, Celena worked for the Cuyahoga County Public Defender's Office where she defended clients against a variety of charges, including numerous OWIs in the City of Cleveland. Celena also worked in the Juvenile Division and has experience with emergency custody situations and juvenile delinquency. At the Federal Public Defender's Office for the Northern District of Ohio, Celena gained additional experience with complex drug charges and crimes against children.

Celena graduated from Indianola High School and Simpson College. She majored in International Relations and Political...

Melvin O. Shaw is a solo, general practicing attorney at The Law Office of Melvin O. Shaw, P.LC., located in Coralville, Iowa. His general practice areas include real estate, estate planning and probate, and business law. Melvin graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2004. Melvin earned an M.A. from the University of Iowa in 1997 and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Melvin is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association (Probate, Real Estate, Business Law, and Family Law committees). He...

C. Eric Bodo grew up in Mundelein, Illinois, and attended Carmel High School in the northern suburbs. Eric graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts. He went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law in Chicago in 1996 and was admitted to the Illinois Bar.

Before coming to VanDerGinst Law, Eric was a partner in his own firm with offices in Chicago and Northbrook, Illinois where he represented seriously injured individuals and their families. Before starting his firm in 2014, Eric worked for a large, high-volume personal injury firm...

Partner at Cray Law Firm.

I am a licensed Attorney, certified Mediator and certified Collaborative Law Attorney in the State of Iowa and am passionate about providing quality client service through competency, communication and compassion. I am a part of the general practice firm, Nelson Law Firm, PLLC, where I provide legal services at our main office in Waterloo, Iowa and branch office in Grundy Center, Iowa. My practice areas include but are not limited to, business law, real estate, mediation, family law, including collaborative family law, creditors' rights law (including subrogation, collections and foreclosure), estate planning, probate, guardian/conservator law, and guardian ad litem services....

My name is Pressley and I am a trial lawyer. The only thing I am before that is a father of my two sons. I have worked hard to live authentically in all aspects of my life. I always try to grow and learn. This has been true in my lawyering as well as my personal life – they are, in many ways, one in the same – because I am who I am, whether at home, meeting with clients, or in the courtroom.

CHRISTINE L. CRILLEY is a General Practice Attorney and Collaborative Lawyer with over thirty years of experience in a variety of legal areas such as family law, adoptions, business law, litigation, construction law, probate and wills.

In Addition to her law practice Ms. Crilley is also an accomplished Mediator and Arbitrator as well as a nationally approved Mediation Trainer. She offers basic Mediation training and advance Mediation training as well as Collaborative Law Training, and Parent Coordinator Training. Christine is also a Parenting Coordinator and Parent Coach.

After earning her B.A. degree at the University of Northern Iowa in 1979, Christine...

For many years, Ward (Sam) Rouse has represented people who have been injured in some way, whether through damage to their health, property, financial situation, or reputation. If you have been wrongfully deprived of a right, health, property, or even your good reputation, Mr. Rouse can help. Even if your opponent is a huge entity - the government, a major corporation, or an insurance company, Mr. Rouse can level the playing field.

I have been a practicing patent attorney for over 15 years with a background in physics and engineering. I run my own firm Patwrite Law that specializes in working with private inventors and small businesses. I taught high school physics for many years before going to law school I build and fly RC airplanes for fun.

William was born and raised in Northeast Iowa in the town of New Hampton. He has followed both his father’s and his brother’s lead, receiving a degree in both accounting and law. While in law school he participated in many groups and was fortunate enough to be the Treasurer of the Student Bar Association and the Managing Editor of the Drake Journal of Agricultural Law.

William practices out of the Marion office of Pearson Bollman Law. His practice focuses on estate planning, elder law, probate/trust administration, and taxation.

Clarissa Rietveld was born in Iowa and raised in Rushville, Indiana. She received her Associate’s Degree in Nursing in 2009 and worked as a registered nurse in operating rooms across the Midwest and on the East Coast. While working as a nurse, Ms. Rietveld had a patient whose medical history documented that he did not have regular access to food and was starving. Ms. Rietveld spent the afternoon working with hospital social services to arrange for her patient to gain access to regular meals and was shocked to learn that he didn’t qualify for any of the available programs. She...

My name is Scott Shoemaker, and I am your Personal Family Lawyer. I grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. My youth and young adulthood were spent pursuing my dream of becoming a classical musician. I went so far as to earn degrees in music from Coe College, University of Nebraska, and the University of Iowa. I even spent a few years teaching at a couple of different institutions of high education. Along the way, I realized my real passion was helping other people bring about their dreams. So I ended up in law school. While I was a student at Nebraska Law,...

Growing up I learned how to serve client interests from my father and grandfather, who are both attorneys in northeast Iowa. They taught me to take a hands-on approach to learning and to work hard to understand the underlying causes of a conflict, not just address the immediate problem. I applied that philosophy throughout my academic and professional education by learning the construction industry beginning as a carpenter and then architectural intern at OPN Architects, SOM, and Kahler Slater Architects. After I earned my Bachelors of Architecture from Iowa State University and my Juris Doctorate from the University of Iowa,...

Jessica Malott is the owner and managing partner of Malott Law, PLC, and practices primarily in immigration. Jessica earned her Juris Doctor, with honors, in 2006 from Drake University Law School in Des Moines, Iowa. During law school, she worked as an intern at the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) and was Editor-in-Chief of the Drake Law Review. Since graduating, Jessica has worked as a law clerk, federal government attorney, law school career advisor, and private practice attorney.

In her current practice, she focuses primarily on removal defense in Immigration Court and family-based immigration; however, she also takes an assortment...

Attorney JoAnn Barten Bigelow has been offering full-service U.S. immigration legal services since 1999. Barten Law Office, P.C. partners with clients to achieve their U.S. immigration goals through creative and workable strategies. Full-time Spanish language services are available. Our office represents individuals and employers with employment based issues, family immigration, consular processing, complex citizenship, and removal cases to name a few. We prepare applications for filing with Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Department of Labor (DOL), and Department of State (DOS) and defend individuals in the Omaha Immigration Court. La abogada JoAnn Barten Bigelow ha estado ofreciendo servicios completos de Inmigracion...

Facing the threat of criminal prosecution or a lawsuit can be daunting. Colt Moss will bring energy and verve to your situation. He takes great satisfaction in helping his clients solve problems that they cannot solve on their own. Colt wants to help you navigate whatever problems life has created for you and is determined to be there with you every step of the way. “I stress the importance of communicating with my clients throughout the process,” Colt says. “I want to help them find hope and optimism in an otherwise challenging time.” Using creativity and hard work, Colt will...

Gary has been working with individuals and families to help with their estate and tax planning for almost thirty years. He has a robust tax practice, preparing both individual and fiduciary returns. With this background, he also advises his clients on their estate planning, bringing his areas of expertise together to draft comprehensive plans that accomplish their goals. Gary also facilitates trust and estate administration, and so further helps families carry out their plans. In his career, Gary has worked with multiple generations, providing guidance and counsel on issues relating to finances, taxes, wealth transfer, and almost everything in between.

Originally...

Born and raised in Dubuque, Iowa, I graduated from Dubuque Senior High School in 1998. I went on to Knox College where I obtained my B.A. in History, graduating in 2002. I then went to Drake University School of Law, graduating in December 2004. I have lived and practiced in Linn County since 2005, practicing in 40 counties throughout Eastern Iowa.

Allison’s practice focuses on criminal defense, criminal defense for immigrants, criminal appeals, family-based immigration, removal defense, immigration benefits for victims of domestic violence and other crimes (Violence Against Women Act and U-visa), Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), immigration benefits for juveniles (Special Immigrant Juvenile visas and related guardianships), immigration appeals, and family law cases. Allison is proficient in Spanish, and many of her clients are Spanish-speaking only. Allison is also currently a Clinical Teaching Fellow at Drake University Law School’s Refugee Legal Clinic.

Allison McCarthy is a May 2007 graduate of the University of Iowa. During her undergraduate...

Ryan prides himself in listening carefully to his clients' needs and responding to them honestly and thoroughly. Most family law clients in Iowa will go through mediation prior to going to court. With Ryan's experience creating excellent outcomes during the mediation process, his clients often save both the financial and the high emotional costs of going to court. Ryan is also an experienced litigator and he vigorously represents his clients in the courtroom when necessary. Ryan has many years of experience litigating family law, divorce and child custody cases. He is experienced, honest, compassionate, but tenaciously aggressive when needed. Let...

Over two decades of experience representing clients in divorce, custody, child support, and parental rights matters.

I am a native of Carroll, Iowa and grew up on a farm. Early on, my parents taught me the meaning of hard work. My chores on the farm included feeding livestock, baling hay, walking beans and detasseling corn. In addition to the work on the farm, I woke up at 5:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday during high school to work at a restaurant in town. I graduated from Kuemper High School in 2006.

After high school, I attended Drake University where I earned my Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in business law. While attending...

Representing employees and workers in workplace issues since 2004. I concentrate my practice on protecting workers rights in Workers' Compensation Claims, Personal Injury and Employment Law, including wage and hour disputes, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) violations; Federal Civil Rights Act violations for age, gender, race, sexual orientation and disabilities. I also represent individuals facing harassment on the basis of race, color and/or national origin under the Federal Civil Rights Act. We are experienced trial lawyers in representing workers faced with all types of employment law issues, including wrongful termination, sexual harassment, hostile-environment sexual harassment, quid...

Sam practices primarily in Estate Planning (including wills and trusts), probate law, succession planning and business law. In addition to being a lawyer, he is also a certified public accountant. Sam received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration-Accounting from the University of Southern California (U.S.C.) in 1978, and his Juris Doctorate at Drake University in 1981. Sam is licensed to practice law in all courts within Iowa, as well as the following Federal Courts: Northern and Southern District of Iowa, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Tax Court. Sam is a member of the...

Raphael (Ray) Scheetz founded the Law Offices of Raphael M. Scheetz in 1994 to focus his attention on the practice of criminal defense and immigration cases. Mr. Scheetz has successfully represented hundreds of clients. The cases included persons who want to apply to become American citizens, and American citizens who want to petition for their spouse, fiancée, children, parents, or brothers or sisters that live outside of the United States. Mr. Scheetz has also successfully represented hundreds of persons accused of Federal and State criminal offenses. He has been lead defense counsel in approximately ninety jury trials in State...

Jake Oeth grew up in Ogden, IA, a small town north of Des Moines and west of Ames. He graduated from Drake University Law School with honors in May 2018. While in law school, Jake was a part of a group of students who helped a federal inmate successfully apply for a commutation of his life sentence for a drug conviction and served as a student attorney in the Drake Legal Clinic representing court appointed criminal defendants. Jake received his undergraduate degree in political science from Loras College in Dubuque, IA, where he also played basketball for the Duhawks. After graduating...

Thomas D. S. Farnsworth was born and raised in Iowa City, Iowa. Thomas received a Bachelor of Business Administration, in Finance, from the University of Iowa and the Henry B. Tippie College of Business. During Thomas' undergraduate experience he clerked at a local law firm and worked as a pretrial interviewer for the Sixth Judicial District of Iowa. In 2004 Thomas began the accelerated program in at the University of Iowa College of Law and graduated in December of 2006. While in law school Thomas was licensed by the Iowa Supreme Court to work as a prosecuting legal intern. Thomas...

Carolyn (“Dazi”) Russell Wallace was born and raised in Iowa City. She left to attend college in North Carolina, returned to Iowa City for law school, and began practicing at the firm in October 2013.

Carolyn maintains a general law practice that includes both transactional and litigation components. On the transactional side, Carolyn assists clients with estate planning, real estate matters, reviewing and negotiating contracts, and other general transactional issues. Carolyn’s litigation practice focuses on defending physicians in medical malpractice cases. Carolyn particularly enjoys legal research and writing, and she routinely assists clients with appellate matters.

In her free time, Carolyn likes...

As a licensed attorney in both Iowa and California, Adam Pollack has been practicing law since 1998. As a former prosecutor for Johnson County (Iowa City area), Adam Pollack has an experienced and nuanced view regarding the complexities of the criminal justice system. Pollack has practiced criminal defense in Iowa for over a decade.