She emigrated from Russia to Minnesota, fresh after graduating college, with scant money to her name – to no doubt achieve the American dream. 

At that point, a law career wasn’t even visible on the horizon, but she had the drive to achieve – wherever the journey would take her.

Today, the mother of two and U.S. Air Force veteran, now guides others on their career path. 

Irina V. Fox, an Order of the Coif member, who graduated summa com laude and second in her class from Louisiana State University, Paul M. Herbert Law Center, is now Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Research & Innovation at Creighton University School of Law, where she teaches Business Associations, Mergers & Acquisitions, Secured Transactions, Securities Regulation and Debtor-Creditor Law. 

A far cry from her entry-level position at K-mart and other odd-jobs – just to get by, but an important, none-the-less, benchmark in the trajectory of her career.

Now a U.S. citizen, Fox is among a series of lawyers, the Omaha Daily Record is profiling as a tribute to the legal profession and includes various highlights and insights into her career.

After landing a better-paying job, Fox became a certified optician, then moved to Chicago where she became interested in law school, according to an earlier profile, which, to the new-comer to this country seemed liked an “All-American experience,” she had recounted.

“When I immigrated to the United States from Russia, I was immediately struck by how deeply law is woven into American life. Everything here seems to have a contract behind it – leases, credit cards, even streaming subscriptions. And, of course, lawyers are everywhere in pop culture, from TV dramas to courtroom shows. I realized very quickly that to be a conscientious and fully engaged member of American society, I needed to understand the law,” she said, reflecting back on her earlier days.

Unable to afford tuition, she joined the military, serving mostly at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., where she worked an independent night shift in blood bank, hematology, microbiology and chemistry labs. Taking advantage of the opportune military benefits, she earned a master’s degree, while on active duty, focusing on academic research and writing. This further invigorated her thirst for knowledge, motivating her to continue her educational pursuits, she said.

Moving to Baton Rouge, La., Fox was then offered a scholarship to LSU Law. As challenging as law school was with two very young children, she said she cherished every day of that experience. With mentorship from trusted advisors, Chancellor Jack M. Weiss and Professor Ronald J. Scalise Jr., law school was transformative and spiked her interest in an academic career, she noted. 

Landing a prestigious federal clerkship upon graduating, Fox spent a year in New Orleans, working for the Honorable Carl J. Barbier at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, a deeply rewarding opportunity that she still considers her “best job ever!” 

Prior to joining Creighton faculty, Fox practiced law in San Francisco at Latham & Watkins LLP, an AmLaw A-List firm, where she had the privilege of working alongside attorneys who were not only leaders in the profession but also generous mentors deeply invested in the development and success of junior associates, she said. 

While there, Fox represented multi-national corporations in complex business litigation, focusing on antitrust and worked on several high-profile mergers. She was also part of a trial team in a highly publicized Silicon Valley case, represented emerging companies in finance transactions, and worked on cutting-edge bankruptcy matters, while defending the rights of several pro bono clients, according to her bio.

Among her numerous publications are peer-reviewed articles in the American Bankruptcy Law Journal, Delaware Journal of Corporate Law, and several years entries in the Norton Journal of Bankruptcy Law and Practice. 

Her scholarly works have been cited by the Louisiana Supreme Court and bankruptcy courts, including the Southern District of New York and the Northern District of Illinois. 

In addition, Fox has presented for the Securities Regulation section at the Nebraska State Bar Association annual meeting, moderated the Federal Trade Commission hearing and the Securities and Exchange Commission Small Business Forum. 

She also served as a guest lecturer at the American Entrepreneurship: Silicon Valley Startups Organization and Financing in her hometown. Nizhny Novgorod, an important economic, architectural, educational and cultural center in Russia and the Volga-Vyatka economic region, providing the majority of Russia's river tourism. 

Her many university-related endeavors include completing the Faculty Leadership Academy, serving as Vice Chair of the Admission Committee, and participation in the Academic Advisement Program, her personal favorite, which highlights Creighton’s “whole person” approach in mentoring and counseling students beyond the classroom with regard to academic success, law school course selection and career planning.

With so many avenues open for her to explore, just what propelled her to teach.

“The path to academia felt very natural for me. I’ve always loved school – the rhythm, the curiosity, the structure. Even when I was practicing law, I continued doing research and writing because I knew I’d eventually want to teach. Academia allows me to combine my favorite things: ideas, people, and purpose. I get to write about complex legal problems, talk about them with bright students, and watch those students turn into professionals who will go out and shape the world. It’s a privilege,” she said, of her trusted position.

Currently, her focus is bankruptcy, securities regulation, and the intersection of finance and technology, but that wasn’t always the case.

“At first, I didn’t know what studying law would lead to. I just wanted to be fluent in this ‘language’ that governs so much of American life,” she said of her decision to attend law school. 

“It turned out to be the perfect fit. With my international background and a master’s in international relations, I loved LSU’s civil law curriculum. Civil law is the foundation of international law, so it connected my global perspective to the American legal tradition beautifully.”

All it took was some guidance, found within the university’s curriculum.

“Somewhat to my surprise, my love of business law started with a required course in Business Associations. I didn’t expect to enjoy it, but I found it fascinating – how law shapes the way companies are built, how decisions are made, and how governance structures reflect human behavior.

“That curiosity grew when I spent a summer at Latham & Watkins in Chicago. I rotated through the litigation, corporate, and finance departments, and I was drawn to how lawyers help businesses operate, grow, and solve problems creatively. I realized that business law isn’t just about contracts – it’s about how the world works. Those two experiences – taking Business Associations and working at Latham – set my direction for good,” she further explained. 

• How Does Academia Continue To Fuel Her:

“Honestly, because teaching is the best way to learn. You can’t teach something unless you’ve processed, analyzed, and fully synthesized it – and that level of mastery is addictive. It’s a little selfish in that sense: I love learning through teaching. But beyond that, I truly enjoy the energy of a classroom. Every semester I meet new personalities, new perspectives, and new challenges. I love it when a student who walked into my class convinced they’d ‘never get business law’ ends up realizing it’s actually interesting – and even fun. I call them my ‘converts.’ I’m proud of those moments,” she said.

• What does Business Law entail:

“I teach Business Associations, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Securities Regulation – essentially, how companies are formed, grow, and interact with the capital markets. I also teach Debtor-Creditor Law, which combines bankruptcy and secured transactions. In the past, I’ve also taught Commercial Law and Corporate Finance. All of my classes explore how the law interacts with business reality. I like to think of them as decoding how money, power, and responsibility move through organizations – and how law keeps that system running (or sometimes fails to).”

• How has law school changed:

“I think Creighton is unique in having such a collaborative, student-centered culture. I love that. But the biggest change across legal education generally is technology and now AI. When I was in law school, almost everyone still took notes by hand. Now, laptops are everywhere. There’s research showing that handwriting helps with retention of information, and I tend to agree. But technology has also made learning more interactive and accessible – students can look up a statute, pull a recent case, or find SEC filings instantly. The challenge now is balance: learning to use technology as a tool, not a crutch.”

• The most difficult aspect:

“For me, the biggest challenge is also one of my greatest accomplishments – being accessible to students and keeping them engaged. Business law can look intimidating at first, so I try to make it relatable and relevant. Every semester, I aim for a few ‘aha’ moments where students realize, ‘Wait, this isn’t so bad – it actually makes sense!’ I keep my teaching current by connecting material to real-world events. We’ll discuss something from The Wall Street Journal or a recent SEC action and unpack it together. The goal is to make the law feel alive and practical, not abstract and distant.”

• Best advice to students and new lawyers:

“Be responsive. That’s it. If you get an e-mail from a client or a partner, and you don’t yet have an answer, acknowledge it anyway. Say you’ve received it, give a reasonable timeframe, and then follow through. It’s simple professionalism, but it builds trust faster than anything else. Few things are more frustrating than silence. Responsiveness signals respect – for other people’s time and for your own reputation. It’s one of the easiest ways to stand out as reliable, thoughtful, and organized.”

• After a hard day in court or class, how do you unwind:

“When I was in practice at Latham & Watkins in San Francisco, I worked demanding hours on challenging cases. That experience taught me that boundaries are essential – not just for others, but for yourself. You have to decide when your day is done and honor that. Now, I unwind by consciously stepping away from law. I read things that have nothing to do with legal theory, go out, travel, or spend time with my family. I just traveled to Egypt with a good friend and former colleague, which was a trip of a lifetime! Sometimes the best way to recharge your legal brain is to give it a total break. Even as a law professor, I need moments when I’m just Irina, not Professor Fox.”

• If you could change one thing about the profession, what would it be:

“I wish more lawyers realized that kindness and strength are not opposites. The smartest, most effective lawyers I’ve known have also been the kindest. Law has a bit of a reputation for being a ‘cutthroat’ field, but in reality, courtesy and collaboration get you much further. You can advocate fiercely without being unpleasant. You can disagree without being disagreeable. Civility isn’t weakness – it’s strategy. I’d love to see more of that mindset in the profession.”

• What’s your secret sauce:

“I think everyone’s secret sauce is figuring out who they are – what motivates them, what gives them purpose – and sticking with it. We spend such a huge part of our lives at work that it’s worth finding something that’s both manageable and meaningful. For me, the secret is simple: I genuinely love what I do. I love teaching, researching, and thinking about ideas that matter. When you enjoy your work, that energy shows – and it makes everything else easier. Passion is contagious, and I hope my students catch a bit of that from me.”