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Staff Attorney - Court of Appeals (SCA111163)

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Staff Attorney - Court of Appeals (SCA111163)

Salary

$102,481.60 - $148,824.00 Annually

Location

Des Moines - 50319 - Polk County, IA

Job Type

Full-time

Job Number

26-01833

Agency

444 Judicial

Opening Date

01/13/2026

Closing Date

1/26/2026 11:59 PM Central

LinkedIn Tag

#LI-DNP

Point of Contact

Molly Rawls

To Apply

Candidates need to complete the NEOGOV application and attach a cover letter and resume. Final applicants are subject to a criminal background check. The Iowa Judicial Branch is an E-Verify employer.

+ Description

+ Questions

Job Description

The Iowa Judicial Branch, Court of Appeals, in Des Moines seeks applicants for a Staff Attorney. The successful candidate will perform tasks for the entire court but will be assigned to work closely with one of the nine judges to draft appellate decisions or bench memoranda. This involves extensive legal research and review of trial court records. The Court of Appeals decides roughly 1,000 cases each year. Each judge drafts about 100 opinions per year. This position is located at the Iowa Judicial Branch building in Des Moines, IA.

To apply:Candidates must complete the NEOGOV application and submit a cover letter and resume.

The starting pay for new State employees is expected to be at the base of the pay range. Adjustments may be made if the successful applicant has relevant experience. The pay range for this position is $102,481.60 - $148,824.00 annually, paid on a bi-weekly basis of 80 hours per pay period. This is a non-contract, FLSA exempt position.

Court of Appeals Staff Attorneys are involved in extensive research, editing opinion drafts written by judges and law clerks, as well as developing and maintaining case flow and processing tools.

The successful candidate will be expected to stay up to date with legal trends, stay apprised of current rulings by the Iowa Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as legislative and rule changes. The successful candidate should expect to do a variety of other tasks to assist with the day-to-day functions of the Court of Appeals.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

+ Knowledge of Iowa laws and rules; Iowa Judicial Branch organization, functions, and responsibilities of the courts.

+ Knowledge of the principles, procedures, and practices of conducting legal research.

+ Ability to research, understand, and interpret state and federal law, case law, court rules, administrative rules and directives, and legislative documents.

+ Ability to abide by the set laws and perform ethically.

+ Effective interpersonal skills.

+ Ability to secure confidential information.

+ Ability to use office technology and equipment.

+ Ability to meet deadlines and manage time efficiently.

+ Effective presentation and communication skills.

+ Strong attention to detail.

This is a non-merit position with the Iowa Judicial Branch. Candidates must follow the instructions in the "To Apply" section.

Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human Resources Enterprise.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

The incumbent must meet the minimum requirements to qualify for the position.

+ Licensed to practice law in the state of Iowa.

+ Two (2) years of related experience.

Preferred Qualifications

+ Experience in the practice of law.

+ Experience in legal writing and research.

+ Experience interpreting recent case outcomes and legislative changes.

+ Experience in legal procedure.

01

Do you understand that the answers to all of the following questions must be truthful, honest, and accurate to the best of your ability? Please read all questions and answers thoroughly and make sure you understand them completely. Ensure the answers to your questions match the information filled out on your application and the attachments you have uploaded. If the answers to your questions are inconsistent with your application information or uploaded attachments, you will be given zero points for the question. Knowingly misrepresenting the facts when submitting any information related to an application, examination, certification, appeal, or any other facet of the selection process will result in your disqualification from this application and future employment with the Iowa Judicial Branch.

+ Yes

+ No

02

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY Have you filed a registration statement pursuant to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Ace of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. S611 et seq?

+ Yes

+ No

03

Please explain any gaps in your employment history?

04

Have you ever received a disciplinary suspension, been asked to resign, or discharged from a job? If yes please explain below.

05

What is your minimum salary requirement?

06

Your application for employment with the Iowa Judicial Branch will generally be treated as confidential under Iowa Code section 22.7(18). However, if you consent to allow Judicial to treat it as a public record per Iowa Code section 22.7(18)(a), please check "Yes, I consent" below.

+ Yes, I consent

+ No

07

List any professional licenses you hold:

08

Iowa Judicial Branch Employees ONLY: Have you completed the Iowa Judicial Branch LinkedIn Learning Leadership and Professional Development Certification?

+ Yes

+ No

Required Question

Employer

State of Iowa

Agency

444 Judicial

Address

Iowa Judicial Branch Building

1111 E Court Ave

Des Moines, Iowa, 50319

Website

http://www.iowacourts.gov/

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