Caroline Nelsen Pieper '10

Empowering in Law

Story by Hannah Bena '19

Marian alum and attorney Caroline Nelsen Pieper is the definition of empowerment. After graduating from Marian in 2010, she attended Boston College to study pre-medicine with a political science major.

Caroline's favorite course in high school was AP Government taught by Mr. Tom Baker. “I think I always knew I loved government, problem solving and logic, but I hadn’t had any exposure to law prior to college,” Caroline said.

During her first semester of college, she enrolled in a business law class but took it as an elective. The young attorney said, “On day one, I was absolutely fascinated by business law. My professor was an amazing female attorney, and I was so inspired by her.” On the second day, Caroline attended her chemistry class; she already knew she hated it. “That’s when I knew I was only pre-med because my brother was pre-med and that the legal field was my true calling,” she said.

After her first two days, she switched to pre-law, added a Spanish minor and kept her political science major. Caroline attended the University of Notre Dame Law School directly after Boston College and graduated from law school in May of 2017.

Caroline joined McGrath North, a law firm in Omaha, as an attorney practicing employee benefits and executive compensation. She had clerked there throughout law school and obtained a full-time job in June of 2017. “I represent clients in legal and regulatory matters affecting employee benefit plans,” Caroline said. “I also advise clients on unique benefit structures to help attract and retain employees.”

Caroline says the most important skills for a lawyer are to understand what you read, interpret the effect of what you read, and finally, to write about it. In undergrad, she took advantage of many opportunities. She enrolled in lots of law-related courses, joined Boston College’s Bellarmine Law Society and even took a class at Boston College Law School as a junior.

“I worked for a few politicians while in college, interned at a courthouse in Boston, and worked for a state’s attorney in Chicago,” Caroline said.

She offers this advice to Marian students interested in law, “While in college, look for internships or other jobs you can get that give you interaction with the court system, government officials or lawyers in the area,” Caroline said.

While in high school, you might consider joining the debate team or Mock Trial. Caroline has helped coach Marian’s Mock Trial Team.

“Mock Trial empowers Marian girls because it instills confidence and inspires excellence,” Caroline said. “Not only do they empower themselves by participating, but the students also empower each other as they work together and strive to make sure each team member gives 100%.”