AJ Skogerson Esq.

Collaborative Attorney, Mediator & Consultant

Life looks a little different to me now than it did twenty years ago.

These days, I split my time between Iowa and the mountains of Idaho. Part of the year, you’ll find me in my office helping families navigate divorce, parenting issues, and life’s other legal challenges. The rest of the year, you might find me working remotely from an Airstream, sitting beside a campfire, exploring back roads with my husband, or watching the sunset from property we’ve slowly shaped into our own version of home.

Somewhere along the way, I realized that most people aren’t looking for perfection. They’re looking for peace.

Maybe that’s what happens when you turn fifty. The things that once felt urgent start to matter less, and the things that truly matter become impossible to ignore.

I’ve been divorced. I’ve experienced the uncertainty that comes with watching a family change shape and wondering what comes next. Today, I’m a wife, a stepmom, an adoptive parent, a grandmother, and a devoted pet parent. My own family story doesn’t look exactly the way I once imagined it would—and that’s okay. In many ways, it’s richer because of it.

Those experiences shape the way I practice law.

I don’t believe families are broken when they change shape. I believe they’re changing chapters. My role is to help people move through those transitions with as much dignity, clarity, and respect as possible.

That respect extends to everyone involved. My clients. Former spouses and partners. Children. Professional colleagues. Every person has a story that existed long before they walked into my office.

Life has taught me that most situations are far more complicated than they first appear. By the time someone reaches my office, everyone involved has usually experienced some measure of hurt, fear, disappointment, or uncertainty. I don’t believe those experiences make people enemies. I believe they make people human. My goal is to help families move forward in a way that honors that humanity, even when difficult decisions must be made.

I also believe deeply in transparency. In my experience, sunshine really is the best disinfectant. Honest conversations may not always be easy, but they are almost always kinder than confusion, assumptions, or unnecessary conflict.

The work I do isn’t about winning. It’s about helping people move forward. Sometimes that means protecting someone’s interests with a firm hand. Sometimes it means helping people find common ground. Often, it means a little of both.

At the end of the day, I want the people who work with me to feel seen, informed, respected, and hopeful about whatever comes next.

Because while we can’t rewrite the chapters behind us, we do get to decide how the next one begins.

PRESENT

Licensed to practice law in Iowa and Idaho

The Law Shop Iowa, Co-Founder

The Law Shop Library, Co-Founder (sibling Shops in Minnesota, Alabama, and Arkansas)

International Academy of Collaborative Professional – Board of Directors

Iowa Collaborative Divorce

Jack D. Levine Family Law Inn of Court

Southern Iowa Rural Water Association – General Counsel

Iowa Interactive Court Forms – Iowa Supreme Court Task Force

Association of Family & Conciliation Courts

Certified Domestic Relations Mediator

Dallas County Bar Association

Polk County Bar Association

My Collaborative Team

Five Fires Foundation – Board of Directors

Raccoon River Properties LLC – Co-Founder

Paddy Flat Property Owners Association – Board of Directors

PAST

Iowa Collaborative Divorce – Leadership Team

Jack D. Levine Family Law Inn of Court – Inaugural Member, Executive Committee

Polk County Bar Association – Mediation Training Team, Co-Program Designer

Mediate.com – Online Mediation Training Advisory Board

Iowa State Bar Association – Family & Juvenile Law Section Chair, Section Council

Iowa State Bar Association – Rural Practice Committee Chair

Drake University Law School – Adjunct Professor of Mediation

Drake University Law School – Adjunct Professor of Family Law

Des Moines YMCA Camp – Advisory Board

Iowa Law Firm Incubator – Board of Directors

Iowa Supreme Court Disciplinary Board – Grievance Commissioner

Iowa State Judicial Nominating Commission

Iowa Domestic Abuse Death Review Team

Iowa Association for Justice f/k/a Iowa Trial Lawyers Association – Board of Governors

Iowa Association of Mediators

District 5B Bar Association

Skogerson Law, PC – Founder + Attorney

Skogerson & Maxwell Leckband, PC – Co-Founder + Attorney

Jungmann & Skogerson, PC – Shareholder + Attorney

Carter & Pargulski PC – Associate Attorney

Emogine, Inc. d/b/a One Source Event Productions – Co-Owner

Pondside Farm & Vineyards LLC – Co-Owner

Kire May LLC – Co-Owner

Van Meter Community Development Corporation – Vice President

Van Meter Public Safety – Advisory Council

Women in Aviation International, Heartland Chapter – Founding Member

Des Moines YMCA Camp – First Female Chair of Advisory Board, Volunteer of the Year (2x)

“Cruisin’ for Y Camp” Motorcycle Benefit Ride – Co-Founder + Sponsor

YMCA of Greater Des Moines – Board of Directors

Licensed Foster and Adoptive Parent

Van Meter Community School District – Middle School Mock Trial Coach

Adel-DeSoto-Minburn Community School District – High School Assistant Cheer Coach

Chi Omega, Eta Beta Chapter, Iowa State University – House Corp Board President

Wedding Officiant (many times over)

EDUCATION

Des Moines Area Community College – currently pursuing Associate’s Degree in Welding

Creighton University School of Law – Juris Doctor Degree

Iowa State University – Bachelor of Science Degree in Hotel Restaurant Institution Management

AUTHORED PUBLICATIONS

100+ Professional Presentations – locally, nationally, and internationally

Family Law Case Processing: Tips & Tricks for Lawyering in the Flow, Article for TRTCLE Course Materials, August 15, 2024.

Design Your Law Practice: Using Design Thinking to Get Next Level Results, Contributing Author (Chapter 7); Jessica Bednarz, Catherine Sanders Reach, and Juda Strawczynski, Editors; published by American Bar Association (ABA), released February 2023.

Des Moines Mom Articles

Adulting with The Law Shop: Real Estate + Home Buying, March 14, 2023

Adulting: Estate Planning 101, March 8, 2023

Marriage Advice and Lesser Known Service Options at The Law Shop, April 14, 2022

Custom Legal Services from The Law Shop, February 10, 2022

Adoption Services from The Law Shop, November 30, 2020

The Law Shop Has a Cutting Edge Way of Offering Legal Services, October 4, 2020

HONORS

2025 Iowa State Bar Association President’s Award

2019 Top Women of Law, DSM Magazine

2018 YMCA President’s Cabinet

2015 & 2013 Don Neumann Award, Des Moines YMCA Camp

2011 Recognition for Pro Bono Service, Supreme Court of Iowa

2002 “Most Likely Not to Practice Law” Spoof Award, Creighton University School of Law

"Andrea, you're a blessing to us, and words can't explain how deeply happy we are that we chose you to be a part of our lives. Sincerely, we couldn't have done it without you. Your commitment to your work is very appreciated, and we will never forget this. We will definitely stay in touch. I guess you can say I've chosen an outstanding attorney. :) Thank you very much for all your hard work!" – Luis and Amanda

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“Amy and her team at The Law Shop handled 5 adoptions for us. From beginning to end they impressed us. The team made the adoptions easy, efficient and FUN! We will continue to refer our friends and family to The Law Shop for many, many years.” – Chris & David

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“In working with Amy in my Collaborative divorce was needless to say a pleasure. Although divorces are one of the most depressing things to go through in life, it also happens. The thing to remember in any case such as divorce, sickness and death, each person needs to realize they will have to go through it. Surround yourself with good people, your ideals need to match your tools going into anything. As a multi business owner, I too find the hammer that fits the hand. Amy and her team worked due diligently on all aspects from beginning to end. No matter how much a person feels the process is un-fair or un-just, this team will make sure it is. The emotional support is unbelievable, when you feel lost, Amy will find you and put you on the right path. This is not common amongst the other attorneys I’ve worked with on a daily basis. I have found a great friend that has stuck with me all the way through and yet years after on clarification of what happened. The best thing you will ever take from this is these words I carry with me today ‘this won’t last forever’ ‘the way you feel today will be a memory’ Take these words and live by them because Amy and her team truly understand what each of us is going through.” – Jeremiah

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"Not going to lie, my divorce was the worst time of my life. But through compassion, education, and immense knowledge of the law, Amy helped the process be as it could have been. She helped me understand my options and I chose with an educated view of both sides. The biggest benefits to using Amy and her firm are: 1. Compassion for both parties. They support and work for you, but will let you know what they’ve seen with their experiences in the field and the potential impacts to my decisions. Also compassion doesn’t equal pushover by any means. 2. Timeliness: Amy, Andrea, and others responded right away. My ex’s lawyer took a week for some answers. Given the entire process once I involved Amy took 10 weeks, I felt like I mattered and not just a number. Everyone’s divorce process and timelines may be different, but knowing I could TEXT or CALL multiple people and get a prompt response took stress away during a stressful time. 3. Knowledge: Been there, done that. Doesn’t influence either way, just educates and helps you make the choices. It was my divorce and knowing what Amy had seen in past cases helped me make some tough decisions. 4. Cost: Fair rates compared to the other rates I was quoted at the big Des Moines firms. If you don’t believe me, go and have a consultation with Amy, Andrea, or anyone else who is there as multiple people helped me through the process. You will see the reasons why they stand out vs the big firms." – Ty

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