Clara Nieman earned her law degree magna cum laude from the Duke University School of Law as a Mordecai Scholar. She was also Year-in-Review editor of the Alaska Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif. Clara earned her Master of Music in vocal performance and literature from the Eastman School of Music and her Bachelor of Music in voice, with high distinction, from Indiana University. Prior to law school, Clara performed as a classical mezzo-soprano with opera companies and orchestras throughout the United States.