Meet IU McKinney Rural Justice Initiative Participant Bradi Gierke
07/01/2025
IU McKinney 2L Bradi Gierke is from Fillmore, Indiana, in Putnam County. The Butler University graduate is spending summer 2025 there as part of the law school’s Rural Justice Initiative.
What brought you to IU McKinney?
I came to IU McKinney for its connections and location. McKinney is unique because it is the only law school in Indianapolis, which is rare for such a large city. I have heard on countless occasions about the connections McKinney has through its alumni, staff, and the overall legal community in Indianapolis. Every alumnus I have met through networking events has been friendly, helpful, and willing to answer any questions I had. It is clear that IU McKinney treats its students, alumni, and staff as family and is willing to go the extra mile to help you reach your goals.
Any lawyers in the family? What made you want to become a lawyer?
My sister-in-law is the only attorney in our family. From a young age, I was interested in human behavior, and this interest led me to major in criminology and psychology at Butler University. My studies there further fueled my passion for wanting to make a positive change in the world, and that starts by understanding people. Attorneys often deal with people on their worst days, and to help them, they first need to understand them. I want to become a lawyer to understand others, empathize with those who are overlooked, and use my voice for underserved communities.
What made you want to take part in the Rural Justice Initiative? What are you hoping to gain from the experience?
Coming from a rural community, I always knew I would want to return to my hometown and serve them as best as I could one day. When I first learned about this program, I was ecstatic to hear about an opportunity that would allow me to work in my hometown and start building rapport with the local legal professionals. From this experience, I am hoping to further understand the unique challenges rural communities face, the legal resources available in our community, and how I can better tackle the legal issues affecting our citizens
What are you doing as part of RJI?
As part of RJI, I am completing a legal externship under Judge Matthew Headley (In the photo, Judge Headley, left, is with Gierke in the Putnam County Courthouse). This externship allows me to observe court proceedings, conduct research and draft memoranda, review legal briefs and pleadings, and engage in discussions with the judge and court staff. This program gives me a first-hand view of the legal issues in our community and how they influence court operations.
What area of law are you hoping to practice in after you complete your legal education?
I am hoping to open a general practice after completing law school. Due to my college major, I gravitate towards criminal law, but I find the challenge of taking on any client who could walk through my door exciting. I don’t want to limit myself to one area of law, especially when the citizens of our rural community have very few legal resources to begin with. I hope to serve as many people as possible across all areas of the law.
