A love of the law

A 2016 Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn graduate has planted the seeds of her law career at the local level.

Claire Solsma last year began her role as a law clerk in Iowa's Third Judicial District. Headquartered in Spencer, she primarily serves as a "lawyer for the judges" in Lyon, Osceola, Dickinson, Emmet, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Clay and O'Brien counties.

"Clerking is a great opportunity to see behind the curtain of the judicial process," she said. "Specifically at the district court level, I have a front row seat to all aspects of the pretrial and trial process."

Solsma, the daughter of Jay and Amy Solsma, grew up on the family's farm west of Hartley. She was involved in several activities in her youth before graduating from high school and attending Iowa State University, where her interest in the legal system was piqued after taking an agriculture law class her senior year.

"This was right when COVID started, so I decided I would take a gap year and study for the LSAT," she said. "Many hours were put in at the Hartley library studying, and the librarians were kind enough to leave me be. I was disappointed to have never been offered a key to lock up."

From Ames, she headed to Des Moines to Drake University Law School. Being a Bulldog was Solsma's only choice, she said, thanks to the school's prestigious ag law program and the fact that her aunt, Lori Solsma, teaches at the business school.

Solsma blossomed at Drake and became involved in the Student Legal Clinic. The clinic provides second-year students and beyond the opportunity to represent indigent clients while supervised by faculty.

"This is where I fell in love with criminal defense work," she said. "Long-term, you will find me practicing criminal defense work throughout the state of Iowa."

Solsma spent two semesters as a student attorney in the Criminal Defense Clinic and one semester with Wrongful Convictions, handling anywhere from simple misdemeanors to Class B felony cases.

"In Wrongful Convictions, I worked on the case of a man that has been wrongful imprisoned for 44 years and remains wrongfully convicted today," she said.

Solsma earned her Juris Doctorate last year with honors. She set her sights on home, and officially began her clerk job with the Third Judicial District in November.

"O'Brien County being my home county, it was an easy decision to accept the position when offered to return closer to family," she said.

Solsma's day-to-day schedule varies. Though primarily located at the courthouse in Spencer, her job can take her all over the region.

"Everyday a new issue is presented, so everyday I learn something new," she said. "Some weeks I may never leave my desk whereas other weeks I am traveling to surrounding courthouses to assist with a trial. Always something different and new."

Solsma is one of three Third Judicial District employees with Hartley ties – Judges Shayne Mayer and Carl Petersen are graduates of the local high school.

"That's pretty interesting we're all here," Solsma said.

Charles Borth, one of the judges Solsma clerks for, said she's been an asset to the court so far.

"Claire is a hard worker and we've been fortunate to have her," he said. "I've learned a thing or two already from her."