About Us

We’re here to solve your problems with honesty, integrity, and transparency.

At Hope Wood, JD, we spend every day immersed in legal details and paperwork in order to meet our client’s needs as quickly and effectively as possible. When the days get long, our fun-loving team — along with our dogs — keep us going. We support one another with smiles and compassion, just as we do our clients. Learn more about team below.

Meet Hope

Meet Michelle

Meet Melissa

Behind the Scenes

Hope Wood, JD

Owner

I have the educational and life skills to solve your problems. My life journey has shaped my role as an attorney.  I am a farmer’s daughter, so I grew up with a good work ethic. I am the middle child, so I learned patience and how to mediate conflicts. I was a basketball official, so I learned to be assertive and think on my feet. 

My first career began in 2000 in exercise and wellness. I began in management and discovered my favorite part of the job was resolving conflict and dealing with problems. When I worked for a nonprofit, I learned how to be efficient and get things done. I want to meet your legal needs on your timeline.

My goal as an attorney is to provide legal services efficiently, effectively, and at a reasonable cost.

  • I provide one-on-one service, so you will always talk directly to me about your legal needs.

  • I will develop timelines for completing your case.

  • I will keep you informed of new developments of your case. 

  • My invoices provide specific details about the work performed.

  • I offer a secure client portal where you can communicate with me and view information about your case.

  • I stay informed about current case law by reading the Iowa appellate opinions after they are published.  

“I am no different in my personal life than in my professional life. Who I am as a person is very much who I am as a lawyer. There is only one version of me.”

Experience & Interests

    • Hope Wood, Case Management During Burnout, Volume 84, Number 8, The Iowa Lawyer, p. 16, September 2024.

    • Hope Wood and Sue Gehling, Q&A on Telehealth for Mental Health, Volume 82, Number 8, The Iowa Lawyer, p. 24, September 2022.

    • Hope Wood, Be Special: The Benefits of a Legal Practice Specialty, Volume 80, Number 5, The Iowa Lawyer, p. 13, June 2020.

    • Hope Wood, Three Words I Can Get Behind: Free Legal Answers, Volume 79, Number 9, The Iowa Lawyer, p. 6, October 2019

    • Hope Wood, On the Balance Beam with Depression and Anxiety, Volume 76, Number 4, The Iowa Lawyer, p. 8, May 2016.

    • Hope Wood, A Roadmap to Positive Behavior Change, Volume 76, Number 4, The Iowa Lawyer, p. 14, May 2016. 

    • Hope Wood, Melissa Larson, Andrea McGinn, Your Shingle. Your Choice., Volume 76, Number 8, The Iowa Lawyer, p. 12, Sept. 2016.

    • Case Management During Burnout, Iowa State Bar Association, 2024

    • Lessons learned from 10 years as a solo attorney, Iowa State Bar Association, 2023

    • Panelist on mental health, United States Eighth Circuit Judicial Conference, 2021

    • Understanding Revocable Trusts, public presentation, 2021

    • Powers of Attorney: More than a form, Iowa State Bar Association, 2021

    • Physical Wellness and Fitness to Practice, Iowa State Public Defenders, 2020; United States Attorneys Office, 2021

    • Appointing a Power of Attorney, Justice Cady Public Day of Service, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.

    • Well-Being during COVID-19, Iowa State Bar Association, 2020

    • Estate Planning for Non-estate Attorneys, Iowa State Bar Association, 2019

    • Basics of Wills and Revocable Trusts, Iowa People’s Law School, 2019

    • Drafting Powers of Attorney, Polk County Bar Association, 2019

    • Rolland E. Grefe Pro Bono Publico Award, Iowa State Bar Association, 2020 Recipient

    • American Bar Association Free Legal Answers 2019 Pro Bono Leader, 2019 Recipient

    • Spotlight on Service, Iowa State Bar Association Public Relations Committee, October 2018

    • Mentoring students, parents, and professionals

    • Public speaking and writing

    • Physical fitness and being outdoors

    • Scrapbooking and drawing

    • Therapy dog volunteer with Hercules

    • Iowa State Bar Association

    • Polk County Women Attorneys

    • Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys

  • JD, Drake University Law School, 2012
    MA, University of Iowa, 2002
    BS, Iowa State University, 2000

“Hope’s truly a person who cares about her clients and wants what's in their best interest.”

—Heidi S.

Michelle Christen, JD

Associate Attorney

Thanks to watching a lot of “Law and Order” growing up, I had set my mind on becoming an attorney since I was in elementary school. Back then, I thought that what made a good attorney was winning arguments and always being right, but the more I learned about the field, the more I learned how untrue of a stereotype that was. The type of lawyer I want to be is one who helps people navigate the complicated legal system and who takes a holistic problem-solving approach to people’s legal issues.

As a probate attorney, I do not meet people in the happiest of circumstances. They have often just lost a loved one and are asking “What do I do now?” I aim to empower them to use the tools the legal system provides to help them achieve their goals. That way, they can get back to remembering their loved ones and focusing on the lives they lead, rather than worrying about administering the estate.

During my estate planning work, I enjoy helping people come up with solutions for what they want to happen when they are gone. My goal is to help individuals and couples shape the story of their legacy and to give them peace of mind that they’ve done what they can to make the path ahead a little easier for their loved ones.

“My goal is to help individuals and couples shape the story of their legacy and give them peace of mind that they’ve made the path easier for their loved ones.”

Experience and Interests

  • JD, Drake University Law School, 2022
    BA, Simpson College, 2016

    • Iowa State Bar Association

    • Polk County Women Attorneys

    • Spending time with my spouse and dog, Jasper

    • Gardening, canning, cooking

    • Embroidering and crocheting

    • Sitting by the lake with a good book

    • All sorts of nerdy things

“Michelle was so nice, knowledgeable, and thorough. She answered all our questions and concerns and everything went smoothly.”

—Gail M.

Melissa

Legal Assistant

Melissa joined the team in 2021 after spending seven busy years with her kids and helping run the volunteer and fundraising efforts at their school.

She is a creative problem-solver and dives in head first when a challenge is placed in front of her.

Melissa enjoys caring for others. In the office, we frequently catch her leaving snacks in the break room, bringing in flowers, or putting together a creative care package.

Behind the Scenes

Three women standing outdoors under a covered walkway, looking up and smiling, with sunlight on their faces.
Two yellow Labrador retrievers lying on a dark gray carpeted floor, cuddling with a plush sheep toy amid office chairs and a person's jeans.
Three women wearing tiaras standing indoors, holding wands, smiling for a celebration event.
A woman wearing a Roosevelt Rough Riders t-shirt and a green blindfold is playing a game of indoor bean bag toss while walking on a green mat with paw print designs.
A dog with a brown and white coat sitting on the floor, wearing a black collar with paw prints, holding a handwritten sign that spells 'LOVE' with the letter 'O' replaced by an orange and yellow-painted flame, in a room with gray speckled flooring an
Three women standing in front of a Barbie-themed backdrop with pink balloons that spell 'Barbie.' They are all wearing pink and black clothing and pink sunglasses, smiling at the camera.
Three women standing together indoors, smiling at the camera. The woman on the left wears glasses, a denim jacket, and black pants. The woman in the middle wears a gray top and black pants. The woman on the right wears a black t-shirt and jeans, with
A woman wearing pink heart-shaped headband with heart antennas, smiling, holding a snack, sitting at a table with open laptops in an office setting.
A woman smiling with her hands raised in a friendly gesture in an indoor setting.
10-year anniversary celebration
Two yellow Labrador puppies lying on the carpeted floor of a modern office, one resting its head on the other's body. The office has organization and plants, with a large window letting in natural light.
Three women smiling and standing close together indoors near a window decorated with colorful paper bunny and egg garland.

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