Sam Wooden
Age: 38.
Job Title/ Place of Employment: Attorney, RSH Legal, P.C.
Volunteer Activities: Dubuque Housing Commission, Dubuque Area Labor Harvest, Board Member at CSEI (assisting with the Housing Helpline), Northeast Iowa School of Music, and the Galena ARC, Vice President, Dubuque County Bar Association.
Education: Buena Visa University, Class of 2007 & University of Kentucky, School of Law, Class of 2010.
Family: Wife, Sarah Cassella; Sons, Jasper and Graham.
Who is the most inspirational person to me and why: My wife. She is the smartest, caring, compassionate, passionate, and forgiving person I know. Which inspires me to try and live up to the example that she sets for our kids and myself.
What do you like to do outside of work? Playing music, going out on our fishing boat, and bow hunting in the fall.
What does success mean to you? Finding a way to be happy where you are, and making the most of your situation whether it is good or bad.
Describe yourself in three words. How about if my wife were to describe me in 3 words, she would say, silly, outgoing, and empathetic.
What advice would you give your past self? Spend more time focusing on the things that will get you where you want to go, and less and less on just having fun.
Sam Wooden, 38, has a passion for people.
Coming from the small town of Scales Mound, Ill., where the act of service was manifest throughout the town, Wooden’s passion for helping others was deeply rooted not only in his hometown, but also in his undergraduate days at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa.
“Buena Vista’s motto is ‘Education For Service,’ and I really took that to heart,” Wooden said. “The reason we go to get education is to help and serve other people.”
Wooden’s career has taken many turns. Starting in Nashville, Tenn., where he balanced criminal defense and environmental law with a part-time role in music management. Then, he returned to Dubuque in 2016 to work at a local law firm, which lasted until 2021. He then focused on his campaign for county attorney. Though he came up short in the general election, that ultimately paved the path to his current position at RSH Legal Inc.
A fellow attorney at RSH Legal, Ben Long, nominated Wooden for Rising Stars.
“From the time he graduated from law school, Sam has shown a willingness to take risks and gamble on himself,” Long said. “He exemplifies in his actions what it takes to develop a plan and chase it to its bitter end. I know firsthand that many lawyers around Iowa see Sam as an example of how to take on the practice of law without fear or hesitation.”
Wooden also gives his time to various volunteer groups. He served on the Dubuque Housing Commission for more than five years and has volunteered since 2020 delivering food for the Dubuque Area Labor Harvest. He also has been on the boards at Community Solutions of Eastern Iowa, assisting with the Housing Helpline; Northeast Iowa School of Music; and the Galena Art and Recreation Center. He was recently elected vice president of the Dubuque County Bar Association.
Wooden also was nominated by Dubuque County Magistrate Natalia Blaskovich.
“Sam has an outstanding history of representing clients who have been injured, discriminated against and are requiring strong, zealous advocacy,” Blaskovich said. “He has taken many cases that may not result in a profit for him, but have a strong impact on those he represents and the community. He balances his very successful trial practice with representing accused defendants through the court-appointed system. He’s also taken a number of pro bono cases that have had a significant impact, such as challenging noncompete clauses for minimum wage employees.”
Wooden says his family — wife, Sarah Cassella, and sons, Jasper and Graham — is greatly influential. His wife he says, “is the smartest, caring, compassionate, passionate and forgiving person … Which inspires me to try and live up to the example that she sets for our kids and myself.”
Throughout his career, Wooden reflects on what is rewarding about his profession.
“When I know I have made a difference in a person’s life or given them some sort of closer,” Wooden said. “The hugs I have received in a courtroom can only be compared to the ones given by my Grandma.”
From advocating for clients to supporting his community, Sam Wooden’s commitment to making a difference is undeniable. His journey, driven by resilience and purpose, demonstrates that true success lies in helping others with integrity and compassion.