Find a Lawyer or Free Legal Help in Iowa

Official places in Iowa to find a lawyer through the bar's referral service or to get free civil legal help if you have a low income. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.

Lawyer referral service	The Iowa State Bar Association's Iowa Find-A-Lawyer is a free, voluntary web-based referral program that matches the public with Iowa attorneys; the ISBA refers all phone calls from people looking for a lawyer to this website. "Attorneys listed in this directory charge $25 or less for up to 30 minutes of initial consultation"; when you contact a lawyer, say you found them through the program and ask what they charge. ISBA phone (general): (515) 243-3179. Ways to get legal help: https://www.iowabar.org/?pg=Waystogetlegalhelp Source: Iowa State Bar Association, Iowa Find-A-Lawyer
Free legal aid	Iowa Legal Aid, the state's LSC-funded legal aid organization, provides free civil legal help to eligible low-income Iowans; toll-free (800) 532-1275, iowalegalaid.org. Other free options listed by the federal court for Iowa include the University of Iowa Clinical Law Program ((319) 335-9030, toll-free (866) 251-5491) and the Drake University Legal Clinic ((515) 271-3851). Iowa Free Legal Answers (iowa.freelegalanswers.org) lets qualifying users post civil legal questions at no cost. Phone numbers from https://www.iand.uscourts.gov/content/how-can-i-find-attorney Source: Legal Services Corporation, Our Grantees; U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, How can I find an attorney; Iowa State Bar Association, Ways to Get Legal Help
Check that the lawyer is licensed	The Iowa Supreme Court's commissions maintain an online "Search Iowa Attorneys" database of lawyers licensed by the Supreme Court of Iowa. Search by name, business county, city or state, good-standing status and license status (such as active, inactive, suspended, revoked, emeritus or deceased). It covers lawyers in good standing, inactive, suspended, revoked, deceased and in-house registrants; home addresses and phone numbers are not released. Source: Iowa Supreme Court Commissions, Search Iowa Attorneys
Check discipline history or file a complaint	Ethics complaints about Iowa lawyers go to the Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board, which receives and investigates them. Use the court-approved complaint form (online, or downloadable PDF to mail), one per attorney, with copies (not originals) of supporting documents and the case name and number if any. There is no charge; the system is funded by assessments on Iowa lawyers. The Board cannot resolve fee disputes, which are generally contract matters for district court, though charging a clearly excessive fee is an ethics issue. Lawyers with prior public discipline are listed on the Iowa court commissions site. Phone: 515-348-4680. Complaint instructions: https://www.iowacourts.gov/opr/attorneys/attorney-discipline/complaint-against-a-lawyer/ Source: Iowa Judicial Branch, Attorney Discipline; Complaint Against a Lawyer
Rules on contingency fees	Contingent fees are allowed except where Rule 1.5(d) or other law prohibits them. A contingent fee agreement must be in a writing signed by the client and state how the fee is figured, including the percentage(s) the lawyer gets on settlement, trial or appeal, the litigation and other expenses deducted from the recovery, and whether expenses are deducted before or after the fee is calculated. It must clearly tell the client about any expenses the client must pay whether or not the client wins. At the end, the lawyer must give the client a written statement of the outcome and, if there is a recovery, the client's share and how it was figured. Lawyers may not charge domestic relations fees contingent on securing a divorce or on the amount of alimony, support or property settlement, or a contingent fee to represent a criminal defendant. Source: Iowa Rules of Professional Conduct, Iowa Ct. R. 32:1.5(c)-(d)
If you disagree with a lawyer's bill	The Iowa Attorney Disciplinary Board does not resolve fee disputes. The Iowa Judicial Branch says fee disputes go to the Iowa State Bar Association for arbitration, and that fee arbitration may be available through your local bar association. Source: Iowa Judicial Branch, Attorney Discipline; Client Security Trust Fund Claims
If a lawyer takes your money	Iowa's Client Security Trust Fund, administered by the Client Security Commission, covers losses from dishonest conduct by an Iowa-licensed lawyer acting as attorney or fiduciary in the practice of law, when no other source can cover the loss; negligence and employer-employee disputes are not covered. The maximum any one client may recover is set by Iowa Supreme Court rules, and the Commission also weighs available funds and hardship. Claims are generally due within one year after you discover the loss (extendable for good cause). There is no fee and no lawyer is needed. Client Security Commission, Judicial Branch Building, 1111 East Court Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50319; (515) 348-4670. Source: Iowa Judicial Branch, Client Security Trust Fund Claims

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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.