Staff Attorney - Court of Appeals (SCA 111164)

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.

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

1. Licensed to practice law in the state of Iowa.
2. 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.