Stensland to coordinate Center for Law and Society

Abbe Stensland, a Cedar Rapids attorney who has coached the Cornell College nationally recognized mock trial team since 2009, has been named the coordinator for the college’s Center for Law and Society.

In the newly created position, Stensland will continue to coach Cornell’s mock trial team and will also coordinate programs related to law school admission and advise current and prospective students interested in legal careers.

The college’s Center for Law and Society works with students majoring in nearly every discipline on campus who are interested in careers involving law. Recent graduates who have consulted with the center have majored in politics, economics and business, biology, women’s studies, English, philosophy, ethnic studies, history, sociology, and kinesiology.

The center offers tours of law schools, one-on-one advising, on-campus LSAT preparation, an undergraduate chapter of Phi Alpha Delta international law fraternity, and a mock trial team. Cornell’s team has sent a squad to the American Mock Trial Association National Championship Tournament six times in the past nine years. During the 2014-15 academic year, the program sent a squad to the national championship tournament, and recorded first place finishes in three mock trial tournaments. Team members also received numerous individual awards throughout the season.

Cornell has an extremely strong record of placing students in law school, with a five-year average of 89 percent acceptance, above the national average of 83 percent.

“Abbe has already shown her talent for leadership in her years of coaching the college’s mock trial team, and we’re excited to have her expand her responsibilities on campus,” said John Harp, vice president for student affairs at Cornell College. “Her expertise will help ensure our students get the very best preparation for legal careers.”

Stensland is a partner with Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC in Cedar Rapids, where she practices primarily in commercial litigation and appeals, bankruptcy, and creditor’s rights.