Iowa legal education
Law schools, bar exam, CLE, and legal education in Iowa.
Browse state-specific education and professional development resources across the legal field.
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Iowa
Law Schools
ABA-accredited JD programs in Iowa
University of Iowa College of Law
Iowa City, Iowa — Founded in 1865, one of the oldest law schools west of the Mississippi — known as "The Writing Law School" with seven full-time writing faculty.
Drake University Law School
Des Moines, Iowa — One of the nation's 25 oldest law schools, located in Iowa's capital city — charter member of the Association of American Law Schools.
Iowa
Paralegal Programs
Accredited paralegal education and certificate programs
Des Moines Area Community College — Paralegal Program
Des Moines, Iowa — ABA-Approved — ABA-approved associate degree and certificate programs preparing students for careers as paralegals in law firms, government, and corporate legal departments.
Kirkwood Community College — Paralegal Studies
Cedar Rapids, Iowa — Regionally Accredited — AAS degree in paralegal studies — longstanding member of the American Association for Paralegal Education.
Iowa Paralegal Association
Statewide professional organization for paralegals — networking, CLE opportunities, and career resources for Iowa legal professionals.
Iowa
Court Reporter & Captioning Programs
Stenography, digital reporting, and real-time captioning training
DMACC — Realtime Court Reporting Program
Newton, Iowa — The only NCRA-approved court reporting program in Iowa — two-year AAS degree with classes in a mostly virtual format.
Iowa Court Reporters Association (ICRA)
Professional association for Iowa court reporters — mentorship programs, continuing education, and advocacy for stenographic reporting professionals.
Iowa
Mediator & ADR Certification
Alternative dispute resolution training and qualified neutral roster
Iowa Judicial Branch — Family Law Mediation Program
Iowa Supreme Court order requires mandatory mediation or judicial settlement conferences in family law cases — each judicial district maintains a roster of approved mediators.
Iowa Academy of Mediators & Arbitrators (IAMA)
Iowa chapter of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals — invitation-only membership for experienced ADR professionals.
Iowa
Legal Nurse Consulting
Certification programs for RNs providing litigation support
Iowa
Notary Public Certification
How to become a notary public in Iowa
Iowa
Bar Admission & Exam
Pathways to becoming a licensed attorney in Iowa
Iowa Judicial Branch — Attorney Admissions
Official admissions portal for the Iowa bar. Iowa administers the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) — minimum passing score of 266, portable to other UBE jurisdictions.
Admission by Transferred UBE Score
Transfer a qualifying UBE score (266+) earned within two years from another jurisdiction to gain Iowa bar admission without retaking the exam.
Iowa
Continuing Legal Education (CLE)
Requirements for licensed Iowa attorneys
Iowa Commission on Continuing Legal Education
Official CLE regulatory body — attorneys must complete 15 credits per calendar year, including 1 ethics credit and 1 wellness or diversity/inclusion credit. Report by March 10.
Iowa State Bar Association — CLE Programs
CLE course provider and credit tracking resource for Iowa attorneys — seminars, webinars, and on-demand programs across all practice areas.
Iowa
Legal Secretary & Legal Assistant Programs
Certificate and degree programs for legal support professionals
Also in Iowa
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