About Nicholas
Nicholas Hay built a steady legal path from small-town classrooms to his own practice. He studied mathematics and political science at Simpson College, finishing in 2004. He then earned a J.D. from Drake University Law School in 2011, where his coursework included criminal procedure, consumer protection and criminal law, and he worked in Drake’s legal clinic representing clients under supervision.
He began his post-law school career as an associate at Jacobson, Bristol, Garrett & Swartz in 2011. That early experience put him inside both courtroom work and client counseling. Four years later he launched Hay Law, P.L.C., taking on the responsibilities of running a small firm while keeping a docket of cases.
Hay’s memberships point to the kinds of matters he handles. He joined the Iowa State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division in 2011 and became a member of the Iowa Association for Justice in 2014. He has belonged to the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers since 2015. Those affiliations reflect an interest in criminal defense and civil claims that affect individuals.
Colleagues describe his approach as practical. He prepares for hearings and trials in a direct way. He also spends time on paperwork and client interviews, work that shapes outcomes before cases reach a judge. His background in mathematics and political science informs how he analyzes evidence and frames arguments. The legal clinic experience at Drake gave him early exposure to representing real clients and handling procedural requirements.
At Hay Law, P.L.C., he manages both the business side and the legal side of practice. He handles matters in Iowa and represents people charged with crimes as well as clients pursuing consumer protection and related civil issues. He maintains memberships in professional organizations that keep him connected to trends in criminal defense and civil justice. He currently practices criminal defense and consumer protection law at Hay Law, P.L.C.
