Polk County Bar Association

Today the Polk County Bar Association held its 2026 Annual Meeting of Members. Joseph Moser officially took office as PCBA President and Immediate Past President Drew J. Gentsch was recognized for his leadership over the last year.

We are looking forward to another great year at the PCBA!

Another great PCBA Law Day celebration is in the books! PCBA President Drew J. Gentsch and PCBA Law Day Committee Co-Chair Katie Overberg along with PCBA staff and committee members welcomed a talented group of nearly 50 students from across the metro who created winning projects for this year's theme: The Rule of Law and the American Dream. Judge Ashley Stewart of Polk County was our keynote speaker who gave inspirational remarks to our student winners.

A huge thanks to our dedicated committee and team for making this a memorable day for our talented local students.

Last Friday, members of the Polk County Bar Association joined members of the judiciary to celebrate the swearing-in of The Honorable Jason Walke as District Court Judge.

PCBA President-Elect Joseph Moser spoke at the ceremony to help celebrate this important milestone with Judge Walke, his family, and colleagues from across the legal community.

Congratulations, Judge Walke!

A big thanks to Maria Brownell Dustin Coffman and Sam McMichael with Ahlers & Cooney, P.C. for spending their Friday afternoon volunteering at the PCBA Volunteer Lawyers Project’s Friday Family Law Clinic at the Polk County Courthouse!

These dedicated volunteer attorneys assisted nearly a dozen self-represented individuals navigating family law matters and helping them fill out their required paperwork to help them move their cases forward.

We’re so grateful to Ahlers & Cooney and their attorneys for their continued commitment to access to justice and for making a real difference in our community.

Want to get involved, too? Attorneys and firms can sign up to volunteer at an upcoming clinic here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050944AEAF2FA2FE3-54387587-pcbadrake #/

What a day on the course!

The Polk County Bar Association hosted our Annual Bench & Bar Golf Outing to benefit the PCBA Volunteer Lawyers Project this month at Terrace Hills Golf Course and it was a fantastic success!

Thanks to our golfers, sponsors, the course and wonderful volunteers - this year’s outing raised vital funds to support access to justice for low-income individuals in Polk County through the PCBA Volunteer Lawyers Project.

A big congratulations to the winning team from BrownWinick Law Firm - well played!

Events like this wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of our members and community partners. Thank you for helping us make a difference while having a great time doing it.

See more event photos at: https://www.pcbaonline.org/about-us/photo-gallery/golf-outing-2025

The Polk County Bar Association was pleased to sponsor the public reception following the Iowa Supreme Court’s special evening session on Tuesday of this week in the historic Supreme Court Courtroom at the Iowa State Capitol.

The Court heard oral arguments in Mormann v. City of Manchester and James Wessels, giving members of the public and the legal community the opportunity to observe the justices at work in a historic setting.

We appreciate the Iowa Supreme Court and the Iowa Judicial Branch for making their work so accessible to the public and thank everyone who attended the reception afterward.

🏌️‍♂️ Join Us for the 2025 PCBA Bench & Bar Golf Outing - Benefiting the Volunteer Lawyers Project! 🏌️‍♀️

The Polk County Bar Association’s Annual Bench & Bar Golf Outing is back!
▪️ Friday, October 10, 2025
▪️ Terrace Hills Golf Course, Altoona, IA
▪️ Shotgun Start: 12:00 p.m.

This tournament is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP), which helps hundreds of low-income Polk County residents access free legal services every year.

We are seeking:

Sponsors - Support access to justice and get your business in front of local attorneys, judges, and community leaders.
▪️ Gold Level Sponsorship ($1,200): Includes one golf foursome + prominent hole signage, lunch
▪️ Silver Level Sponsorship ($600): Includes signage at the starting box

Golfers - Put together a foursome and enjoy an afternoon on the course while supporting a great cause! Includes lunch.
▪️ Early Bird Registration: $115/person before Sept. 30
▪️ After Sept. 30: $125/person

Register to Play or Sponsor Here:

Annual 2025 Bench & Bar Golf Outing STANDARD REGISTRATION: Click here to register golf players. If you sponsor at the Gold level, a foursome of players is already included. 

A big thank you to Assistant Dean of Career Development Laurie Dufoe and Director of Career Development Anne Reser-Moorehead from Drake University Law School Career Development Office (CDO) for leading an engaging conversation to a full house of PCBA members about:

✅ Recruiting and hiring trends
✅ Writing job descriptions that resonate with today’s law students
✅ What future attorneys value most when choosing full-time employment
✅ Highlights from Drake’s career development programs and recruiting opportunities

We were also joined by Drake Law students Zachary Miller, Karrecia Crawley, and John Humphrey, who offered thoughtful and candid insights on their own experiences and what they look for in employers.

Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this a lively and valuable discussion! We’re excited for the rest of the luncheon season - see you on October 14 for our next one!

A great turnout and even better conversation at the 2025 PCBA Law Clerk Luncheon!

Thank you to all who joined us at the Des Moines Embassy Club to celebrate and support judicial law clerks and those considering this important career step.

We were honored to hear from a panel of speakers who shared unique perspectives on the value of clerkships:

Judge Jeffrey Farrell – Fifth Judicial District of Iowa
Nick Goodenow – Judicial Law Clerk, Iowa District Court; Incoming Clerk, Iowa Court of Appeals
Jeffrey Kappelman – Attorney, Finley Law Firm

Their thoughtful remarks offered valuable insight into how clerkships shape legal careers—from the courtroom to private practice.

We were also proud to present the PCBA Award of Merit for 2025 to Judge David Nelmark in recognition of his exceptional service to the Polk County Bar Association. Congratulations, Judge Nelmark, and thank you for your dedicated leadership!

Last Friday, PCBA members and their summer associates gathered at the Polk County Court Campus for our second annual open house at the courthouse.

The event kicked off with a panel of key District 5C court staff who shared some background about their roles at the courthouse, best practices, and valuable tips for new attorneys practicing in Polk County.

Attendees then had the unique opportunity to visit judges and staff in their courtrooms — bringing back the personal, face-to-face spirit of meeting judges in chambers.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, especially the firms who brought their new associates to experience the Polk County legal community up close. And a special thanks to our District 5C judges and staff for opening their doors and sharing their time.

We’re proud to continue this meaningful tradition and look forward to seeing you next year!