Meet the Staff

Michael Levine has been an attorney and Co-Director of SLS since 1990. He attended the University of Oklahoma, received his B.A. in History from the University of Iowa and his law degree from the Drake University Law School. Prior to joining SLS, he was an attorney in private practice in Des Moines, Iowa. He previously served in the Office of the Polk County Attorney, Criminal Division, as an Assistant Polk County Attorney, and as an Administrative Hearing Officer, Appeals Section, with the Iowa Department of Job Service (now Iowa Workforce Development, Appeals Bureau). He is a member of the Iowa State and Story County Bar Associations and the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Paul Johnson has been an attorney and co-director of SLS since 1990. He received his B.A. in Sociology from the University of Northern Iowa and his law degree from the University of Iowa. He has previously worked for the Iowa Department of Human Services in Black Hawk County and for the Linn County (Iowa) Mental Health and Disability Services. He is on the Board of Directors of Legal Aid Society of Story County and a member of the Iowa State and Story County Bar Associations. He is admitted to practice law in the courts of the State of Iowa, and is also admitted to practice in the United States District Courts of the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa. He engaged in private practice in Linn County prior to coming to Iowa State University.

Lex Wurth has been working with SLS as Secretary since 2024. She received a bachelor's degree of Art from Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa in 2022. Lex has previously worked in different administrative rolls, including marketing, development, and fundraising. She often volunteers for different organizations to help the community thrive and grow.