The following article was originally published in the October 2023 Issue of the 'Iowa Trial Lawyer' magazine.
In the world of law where the stories of attorneys can often follow a traditional narrative, it’s not frequent that you come across someone who’s background is as interesting as it is captivating. Unconventional is the best way to describe Sam Wooden, the Dubuque-based attorney who went from the stages of Nashville to the courtroom.
Sam’s journey began in the small town of Scales Mound, Illinois, where he broke the mold early by learning to play the fiddle at age four. Aside from enjoying music, he also took a keen interest in being an attorney.
“I saw Hook. Peter Pan was a lawyer in that movie, and he dominated,” said Wooden, jokingly. “I was also that nerd who watched Meet the Press every Sunday morning. As a kid, it seemed like everyone who was involved in making important decisions was a lawyer. So, I thought to myself, ‘to be somebody who is influencing our country, you have to be a lawyer’.”
After completing his undergrad at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Sam went on to get his law degree at the University of Kentucky. All the while, doing musical performances in bars and eventually landing in the heart of Nashville’s Music Row.
For the next five years Sam would dedicate majority of his time to chasing a career in country music, performing in some of Nashville’s most notable spots like The Bluebird Café, Douglas Corner Café, and popular bars along Broadway.
“During my time in Nashville, I did a criminal defense practice literally out of my car,” said Wooden. “I gave music a shot. After five years, I figured it was time to go become an adult.”
In 2015, Sam made his way back to Iowa. Having connections in Dubuque, he established himself as a criminal defense and personal injury attorney at a private practice. It wouldn’t take long for him to forge his own path once again, eventually running for Dubuque County Attorney in 2022.
“I really care about the position and thought I could do a great job making things better,” said Wooden. “But, like anything else, it’s a lot of work that takes sacrifice.”
One of the biggest sacrifices would be his time. Throughout his campaign trail, Sam knocked on nearly 9,000 doors to build support for his candidacy. While his campaign fell just a few hundred votes shy of victory, Sam could rely on the support from his peers and Association.
“Lawyers tend to do a great job of supporting other lawyers, that has been my experience since becoming involved with IAJ,” said Wooden. “Many came to bat for me throughout my campaign.”
Since becoming a member and then joining the Board of Governors in 2018, Sam has experienced first-hand the community that IAJ has created for attorneys throughout the state. Whether it be connecting in-person at an event or online through the listserve, members have a forum to seek advice and share wins with their peers.
“I specifically remember going to my first IAJ Annual Convention and thinking ‘oh my god, lawyers are normal and friendly people!’, which hadn’t always been my experience,” said Wooden. “It’s a reflection on the culture that IAJ has built for its members.”
Whether it’s running for public office or looking for guidance on a case, IAJ has been a stabilizing force that Sam turns to when seeking support.
Following his campaign run, Sam joined the distinguished team at RSH Legal based in Cedar Rapids this past January. When Sam isn’t fighting for his clients in the courtroom, he enjoys spending time outdoors bow hunting, trapping and golfing. And, of course, sharing all these moments with his wife, Sarah, and their two young boys, Jasper and Graham.
Towards the end of my conversation with Sam, I asked how he and Sarah had met. His response made us both laugh.
“Our mutual colleagues were trying to set us up,” said Wooden. “They had told Sarah that I was a country singer and a lawyer. To which she replied, ‘pass and pass’.”
“Pass” might’ve been Sarah’s first reaction to the country singing attorney, but when you get to know Sam, you immediately feel his sense of passion for the profession and life itself. The small-town kid who went from the stages of Nashville to the courtroom in Iowa is anything but conventional, and his hard working, dream chasing mentality is one you’ll find hard to pass on.
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