Alyxis Cederstrom, a first-generation college student and police dispatcher, will graduate with a Juris Doctor from the University of Idaho College of Law in May 2026. Cederstrom, who completed an internship at Hawley Troxell Law firm in Boise, has worked as a state police dispatcher to help pay for her education.
Cederstrom said she chose the University of Idaho College of Law over other schools because of its welcoming culture. “It was so welcoming,” she said. “The professors were so kind. They knew their students’ names, and it was just such a supportive community.”
During her time as a law student, Cederstrom served as a two-year student ambassador, clerked at Idaho’s 3rd Judicial District, and interned at Hawley Troxell before securing a civil law position at the Boise firm. She is scheduled to sit for the Idaho Bar Examination this summer.
Professor Wendy Gerwick Couture praised Cederstrom’s approach to problem-solving: “Without exception, Alyxis embraces the nuances of the law with an eye on their practical implications.” Couture added that she is confident Cederstrom will be “a fearless advocate for her clients, as well as a leader in the legal community.”
Cederstrom recounted an unusual experience from her dispatching job when she coordinated efforts to address reports of alligators in a pond near Nampa—only to discover they were large carp after consulting with a reptile expert. “He arrived, took one look at the pond and deescalated the situation. There were no alligators. Just very large carp,” she said.
Balancing work as a dispatcher while raising two daughters and attending law school has left little time for hobbies beyond reading fiction or studying for exams. Reflecting on her educational path, Cederstrom said: “It was such a good decision to come here… It’s a culture you’re not going to find anywhere else.”
