A University of Idaho College of Law student from Boise has built a remarkable record of public service and legal leadership in just two years of law school — capped by her election as president of a national Model Constitutional Convention held in St. Louis this past May.
Kalista Barkley, who grew up primarily in Puyallup, Washington, and was raised largely by her grandparents, made a deliberate choice to leave the Pacific Northwest after graduating from Puyallup High School. “I was in a pretty bad situation, and I knew it was best for me to get out of the state after high school,” Barkley said. That decision brought her to Boise in 2020, setting in motion a path that would lead her from Boise State University’s student government to the halls of a prestigious law school — and eventually to the presiding chair of a convention modeled after the U.S. constitutional amendment process.
Building a Foundation at Boise State
Before enrolling at the University of Idaho College of Law in 2024, Barkley spent three years in Boise State University’s student government and served two years as president of the Boise State Pre-Law Society. She also helped establish Boise State’s pre-law program, contributing to resources that will benefit future students pursuing legal careers.
That undergraduate experience set the tone for what would follow. At the University of Idaho’s law school — located in Boise — Barkley quickly took on multiple leadership responsibilities. She serves as an associate editor for the Idaho Law Review, holds positions in the Student Bar Association, Women’s Law Caucus, Debate Society, and First Gen Law Caucus, and has stacked her résumé with hands-on legal experience that goes well beyond the classroom.
During the fall 2025 semester, she worked as a research assistant for Professor John Rumel, focusing on a constitutional challenge related to Idaho’s School Choice Tax Credit — an issue of ongoing interest to Idaho families and policymakers. This summer, she is clerking for the Idaho Court of Appeals in Boise, gaining direct exposure to the state’s appellate process.
Externship With Governor’s Office Adds Real-World Perspective
In 2025, Barkley completed an externship with the General Counsel’s office of Governor Brad Little — an experience that deepened her understanding of how legal work intersects with state government. That kind of firsthand exposure to executive branch operations is rare for first-year law students and reflects both Barkley’s initiative and the practical training emphasis of the University of Idaho’s legal program, which continues to expand its offerings across the state. The University of Idaho recently announced new bachelor’s and graduate degrees in artificial intelligence, underscoring the institution’s commitment to preparing students for evolving professional landscapes.
Her motivation for pursuing public service is rooted in something deeply personal. “I’ve chosen this path because I know my head and my heart are in the right place, and I think there are people out there in government who don’t have good intentions,” Barkley said. It is the kind of candid reasoning that speaks to a broader concern many Idahoans share about the quality and character of those who enter public life.
First Idaho Law Student Selected for Model Constitutional Convention
The highlight of Barkley’s academic year came in May 2026, when she became the first University of Idaho College of Law student ever selected to attend the Model Constitutional Convention, held at Washington University Law School in St. Louis. She was one of just two delegates representing Idaho among 110 law students invited from across the country.
The convention operates under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, guiding participants through the process by which constitutional amendments can be proposed and ratified. Students used Robert’s Rules of Order — first written in 1876 — to govern deliberations, with each committee submitting up to two proposed constitutional amendments. Barkley was first elected committee chair before her peers elevated her to convention president, where she presided over the full sessions.
The experience represents exactly the kind of hands-on, real-world training that law schools increasingly emphasize to prepare graduates for careers in public service, the courts, and government.
What Comes Next
Barkley is currently completing her summer clerkship with the Idaho Court of Appeals. She entered the University of Idaho College of Law in 2024, placing her on track to complete her legal education within the next few years. With externship experience in the governor’s office, appellate clerkship experience, and a national convention presidency already on her record, Barkley appears well-positioned for a career in Idaho public service or law — and her trajectory will be worth watching as she advances through the remainder of her legal education.