Forty Under 40: Behnaz Soulati

By Anonymous

BEHNAZ SOULATI

Shareholder, Davis, Brown, Koehn, Shors & Roberts P.C.

Age 36

Her professors told her that because she was blind, she wouldn’t be able to earn a degree in computer science. She was told she wouldn’t be able to travel abroad to lecture at a foreign university. She was told she’d never be able to complete a law degree in three years. Behnaz Soulati wasn’t about to buy any of that.

Soulati, who graduated – within three years and with distinction – from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1999, in January was named a shareholder of her firm, Davis Brown, Koehn, Shors & Roberts PC.

Soulati, who grew up in Iran, was 17 when she was blinded during a 1987 Iraqi air raid on her hometown. After recovering from her injuries, she immigrated with her family to the United States, and a year later was learning how to cope with her blindness at the Iowa Department for the Blind in Des Moines.

Five years later, she graduated from U of I with a bachelor of arts with highest distinction in computer science. She went on to earn a master’s degree in French literature, and while spending a year teaching in France, she applied to the U of I’s law school and was accepted.

“I say just never give up,” said Soulati.” Just having wonderful family and friends around you for support – don’t ever give up and just stay positive. I think that’s what has helped me the most.”

During each period of her fife, “I had to teach myself and others the different methods that I use to accomplish my tasks,” said Soulati, who worked as a law clerk for the 7th judicial District of Iowa before joining the Davis firm six years ago.

“In my day-to-day work as an attorney, I work with computers using speech synthesizers, as well as scanners, Braille and live readers to complete my work,” she said.

“I really like interacting with people,” she said. “That’s why I like litigation,” I learn a lot and they (the attorneys and judges she deals with) learn a lot. The more and more you do it (function as a blind person), the more people get used to it.”

Soulati also takes on a number of pro bono cases each year, and is active in a dozen legal associations, among them the American Blind Lawyers Bar Association, the Young Lawyers Division of the Iowa State Bar Association, and as a board member of the Polk County Women Attorneys and the Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys.

“She’s a pleasure to work with,” said Bruce Campbell, president of the Davis law firm. “She has a great attitude. She is just an excellent attorney.”

Copyright Business Publications Incorporated Mar 20, 2006

(c) 2006 Des Moines Business Record. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.