Finding a Lawyer
Below is a list of resources to help locate an attorney in Iowa. You can also ask friends, family and trusted professionals for referrals.
Resources for finding free, low-cost, or private legal representation or advice, compiled by the librarians at the Drake University Law Library and the State Law Library of Iowa.
Resources for finding legal help or advice in Iowa
Iowa Legal Aid
Find a Legal Aid location
1-800-532-1503
Iowa Legal Aid en español
1-800-532-1275
Drake University Law School Legal Clinic
2400 University Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311
515-271-3851
Middleton Center for Children’s Rights
2400 University Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311
515-271-3851
Legal Hotline for Older Iowans: Iowa Legal Aid
666 Walnut Street, 25th Floor, Des Moines, IA 50314-2527
515-992-8161 or 1-800-992-8161
University of Iowa College of Law Legal Clinic
law-legal-clinic@uiowa.edu
319-335-9023
Disability Rights IOWA
666 Walnut St., Suite 1440
Des Moines, IA 50309
515-278-2502 or 1-800-779-2502
Relay: 711
Iowa Concern Hotline: Iowa State University
1-800-447-1985
email: legalexpert@iastate.edu
Polk County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project
625 E. Court, Suite 100, Des Moines, IA 50309
515-243-3904
Youth Law Center
300 Walnut Suite 295, Des Moines, Iowa 50309
515-244-1172
Iowa Find-A-Lawyer
Free, online directory provided by The Iowa State Bar Association to assist the public in locating a private attorney.
Iowa Free Legal Answers
A virtual legal advice clinic where pro bono attorneys answer civil legal questions for qualifying users at no cost.
Iowa Find-A-Lawyer
The Iowa State Bar Association provides a free website called Iowa Find-A-Lawyer to help members of the public find a private lawyer. Iowa Find-A-Lawyer helps to connect potential clients to members of The Iowa State Bar Association who have asked to be listed under particular specialties. This does not mean that the private attorneys listed on Iowa Find-A-Lawyer are the best
or the most experienced attorneys in certain areas of the law; the members who are included in the online directory indicated that their practices concentrate on select kinds of cases, such as family law, probate, criminal defense, or real estate. Lawyers appearing on the Iowa Find-A-Lawyer online directory have agreed to charge $25 or less for up to a half-hour of initial consultation with no obligation to hire them for more help. Thirty minutes can be plenty of time to tell your story and ascertain your legal options and your chances of prevailing in court. Alternatively, you might consider hiring an attorney for limited-scope services, meaning that rather than retaining a lawyer to fully represent you and handle all aspects of your case from start to finish, you can pay for specific task-oriented services and limited advice for your self-represented case.
Looking into a lawyer
Once you have found a lawyer you want to hire for your case, you can search the Iowa Judicial Branch's Office of Professional Regulation page for the lawyer. You can search they lawyer's name to find out if the lawyer has a license to practice law in Iowa and is in good standing using the Lawyers Licensed in Iowa search. You can search a name in the Disciplinary and Disability Orders search to find out if a lawyer has been reprimanded, suspended, had their license revoked, or been disbarred (either by their own choice or by order).
The Iowa Judicial Branch has more information on their Attorney Discipline page. The page also includes advice for hiring and working with a lawyer.
Resolving issues without going to court
Many issues can be solved without going to court. Contact the organizations below to discuss your specific situation. Lawyers may also be able to provide additional options for resolving disputes without going to court. Resource compiled by the librarians at the Drake University Law Library and the State Law Library of Iowa.
Iowa Mediation Services
1441 29th St, Suite 120, West Des Moines, IA 50266
515-331-8081
Consumer Protection Division:
Iowa Attorney General’s Office
- for issues involving consumer fraud, sales practices and advertisements.
Hoover State Office Building
1305 E. Walnut Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0106
515-281-5926 or 888-777-4590
Iowa Division of Insurance
- for issues involving health, life
or auto insurance companies or policies.
1963 Bell Avenue, Suite 100
Des Moines, IA 50315
515-654-6538 or 1-877-955-1212
Iowa Civil Rights Commission
6200 Park Avenue, Suite 100
Des Moines, IA 50321-1270
515-281-4121 or 1-800-457-4416
Iowa Department of Human Services: Child Support Customer Services Unit
- for issues involving the collection
of child support payments.
1-888-229-9223
Iowa Utilities Board
Customer Service Section
- for complaints about public utility service.
1375 E. Court Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50319-0069
1-877-565-4450
email: customer@iub.iowa.gov
Iowa Workforce Development
- for issues involving
unemployment claims.
1-888-848-7442, email: uiclaimshelp@iwd.iowa.gov
Long Term Care Ombudsman
- for issues related to long-term care, including nursing
facilities, assisted living programs, and elder group homes.
1-866-236-1430
Iowa Workers' Compensation
150 Des Moines Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309-1836
515-725-4120 or 1-800-645-4583
Iowa Office of Ombudsman
- for issues involving state or local government.
1112 E. Grand Ave, Des Moines, Iowa 50265
515-281-3592 or 1-888-426-6283
Iowa Association for Mediators
- for mediator assisted resolutions.