TERM LAW CLERKS
Each of the nine judges on the Iowa Court of Appeals employs a law clerk. The clerk’s duties typically include conducting legal research, drafting memoranda and opinions, editing drafts, preparing summaries, and otherwise assisting the judge with the disposition of cases. Clerks also perform other duties as assigned to assist in hearing oral arguments and in administering court operations.
Law clerks must be law school graduates. Employment is for a one-year period, beginning in August. At a judge’s discretion, clerks may be offered the opportunity to extend the clerkship for another term.
Law clerks receive a salary of $60,424 and are eligible for a full range of State of Iowa benefits including health and dental insurance, retirement benefits, disability and life insurance, eleven holidays and two weeks’ vacation. Iowa Court of Appeals law clerks work at the Judicial Branch Building in Des Moines.
SUMMER CLERKSHIPS
The Court of Appeals also hires summer clerks for an eight-week period each summer. Summer clerks must have completed at least one year of JD, LLB, or LLM study. Applicants who are current Drake University Law School or University of Iowa College of Law students must apply through the university employment and on-campus-interview portals.
For more information, please contact Molly.Rawls@iowacourts.gov.
The Iowa Judicial Branch is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action (EEO/AA) employer.
The judicial branch is committed to providing a work environment that is free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, marital status, genetic information, pregnancy or pregnancy related condition, military or veteran status or any characteristic protected by law. Discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation, as defined by this policy, are strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated. In addition, discrimination and harassment of or against an individual because of an associated preference for, membership in, or affiliation with a foregoing protected group is prohibited.
2023 Iowa Judicial Branch Equal Employment Opportunity Program (EEOP) Utilization Report