About Clarissa
Clarissa Rietveld studied political science at Fort Hays State University before turning to law. She earned her B.A. in 2015 and continued her studies at Drake University Law School, where she received her J.D. in 2019. Those academic years shaped her interest in public policy and courtroom procedure, and they provided a foundation for the practical work that followed.
After law school, Rietveld began practicing in Iowa. She is a member of several professional organizations including the Iowa Organization of Women Lawyers, the Polk County Bar Association—where she holds membership in the Family Law Committee—the American Bar Association, the Iowa Association of Justice, and the State Bar of Iowa. These affiliations keep her engaged with developments in state and national legal practice and connect her to peers across multiple practice areas.
Her early career included work on cases typical of newer practitioners: research-heavy matters, client counseling, and appearances in court on routine hearings. Colleagues describe her approach as methodical. She prepares documentation carefully. She listens closely to clients and opposing counsel alike. That steadiness helped her move into a role at VanDerGinst Law, P.C., a firm identified as injury lawyers.
At VanDerGinst Law, P.C., Rietveld works on matters that require both attention to detail and an ability to manage competing deadlines. She is part of a team that handles claims arising from accidents and related disputes. In that environment she splits her time between developing case strategy, managing discovery, and advocating for clients in negotiations and hearings. Her membership in the Polk County Bar Association’s Family Law Committee indicates a willingness to engage with family law issues when they intersect with client needs.
Rietveld continues her professional development through the associations to which she belongs. She attends meetings and programs offered by the Iowa Organization of Women Lawyers and the Iowa Association of Justice, and she participates in broader conversations through the American Bar Association. Those activities inform her day-to-day practice and contribute to the institutional knowledge she brings to client matters.
She lives and practices in Iowa and is currently employed by VanDerGinst Law, P.C. She handles personal injury matters and related civil claims for clients at her firm.
