Going Places. Here at Home: Justin Vorwald

This is one in a series of articles highlighting the latest generation of innovators making a difference in our communities.

Elkader lawyer, soccer enthusiast makes the case for small-town life

By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register

It was on a trip to Europe in 2008 where two events influenced the life and choices of local attorney Justin Vorwald. It’s where he fell in love with the sport of soccer, becoming a devoted Bayern Munich fan, and it’s where, on the top of a mountain in Switzerland, he proposed to his wife Courtney, who he met at law school. 

In Courtney, who is from Elkader, Vorwald found a kindred spirit for the small-town life. But getting to Elkader, and working at the law firm now known as Ehrhardt, Gnagy, McCorkindale and Vorwald, wasn’t easy. When Vorwald graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2010, jobs were difficult to find, especially in small towns. 

Vorwald’s initial plan was to go to law school, have debt, work at a larger firm to pay off that debt, then settle in a small firm and lay down roots. Eventually, he found a job working at a larger firm in Cedar Rapids, and all was going according to plan, but something about it just didn’t feel right. The office politicking and environment  didn’t mesh with who he was as an individual or as a lawyer. 

But a stroke of good fortune saved the day, when Vorwald got an interview with Steve McCorkindale and the now-retired John Gnagy. 

“It sort of just worked out for me, and Steve and John had an approach that suited me better. Their ego wasn’t going to get in the way of practicing good law,” Vorwald explained. 

The details behind how Vorwald decided to become a lawyer are straight forward. He was interested in politics and participated in mock trial while attending Loras College as an undergraduate. It was also a good way to make a living. 

There was a touch of idealism too. 

“I chose it because I liked the subject matter. I was good at it and I initially thought I’d be tackling big stuff. Basically, crusading for democracy or doing things that preserved the institutions that made society possible,” he said. 

Shortly after law school, it became apparent this was not going to be the case. 

“The fog had been lifted. Law, it turns out, is not about big Perry Mason moments. What law is really about is understanding the rules that exist and applying them to achieve a result,” Vorwald admitted. 

In this new reality, Vorwald handles a variety of legal areas, such as estates, estate planning, real estate, taxes and some family law and civil litigation. He does it because he enjoys helping people achieve their financial goals and the immediate gratification that produces. 

The process of doing everything you legally can to help people is the definition, in this case, of career fulfilment. 

Vorwald’s other life-changing influence, soccer, further demonstrates his willingness to help and enhance the community. Since 2010, Vorwald has been in charge of Elkader’s youth soccer league. He oversees and coaches it, mostly out of pure enjoyment for the sport and because teaching is helping. 

The soccer league also impacts the lives of participants, which, in non-pandemic years, reached between 100 and 120 kids. Because of COVID-19, Vorwald said numbers fell to around 70 to 80. The soccer league is offered at Founders Park each Saturday morning for six weeks in September and October. Teams are co-ed and divided by grades to include K-1, 2-3 and 4-6.

“It’s a sport that anyone can play. It’s fully accessible to everyone. Even kids who don’t consider themselves athletes can do it,” Vorwald said with excitement. 

There are also tangible benefits—for the kids and the community. It’s a positive environment that builds confidence, teamwork and character. It provides physical activity and mental stimulation, while teaching technical skills. 

Then there is the fact that soccer is not really a major sport in the United States, so the league can serve as an introduction to soccer and lead to kids developing a lifelong passion. 

In this case, it opens doors for athletic participation, as well as doors to friendships that might not have existed off the field. Beyond that, games serve as a meeting place for community members to interact and come together. That involvement is essential for the health of any small town. 

“I am happy they’re all out there and I love coaching them,” Vorwald said. 

Outside this, Vorwald also serves on the hospital board and has been secretary since 2016. These are things he does not just because he’s been asked, but because of a life lesson he was taught by his mother about securing the long-term sustainability of a community.  

“It’s important to be involved in the community. Somebody has to do these things. My mother taught me that, if no one does it, then the community starts to fail and flounder,” Vorwald said. 

When it came to choosing Elkader, Vorwald described it as a “nice, clean town.” 

“Elkader is a place where you can have a life, where you can be part of the community, where people give. You don’t become anonymous because, in Elkader, people will notice,” he said. 

It’s these qualities Vorwald believes can attract other young professionals to the area: the quality of life, the low cost but high standard of living, the economic viability, the culture and arts scene and an open-minded community. 

Vorwald understands the default position that “small towns are dying,” but he remembers the words of his mother. They echo in him, as a constant reminder that small towns require vigilance, or else they will perish. For his part, Vorwald is determined, by action and deed, not to let it happen on his watch.