Assistant Attorney General – Criminal Appeals Section

State of Iowa - Executive Branch; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Iowa - Executive Branch seeks an Attorney for the Criminal Appeals Section in Des Moines. The position focuses exclusively on appeals involving victims of sexual abuse and crimes against children, delivering high-quality appellate advocacy in a collegial public-service environment.

Ideal candidates will have strong academics, excellent writing, and experience as a judicial clerk, law review member, or appellate practitioner, with Iowa Bar admission or the ability to obtain it promptly.

Qualifications

• Must have graduated from an accredited school of law.
• Admitted to the Iowa State Bar and appropriate federal courts.
• Strong academic credentials and writing ability.
• Experience as a judicial clerk, law review, or appellate practitioner is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Handle appeals involving victims of sexual abuse and crimes against children.
• Review legislation and provide counsel to prosecutors.
• Present frequent oral arguments in Iowa appellate courts.
• Provide legal training and participate in conferences.
• Advise on extradition matters and related postconviction issues.

Skills

Legal writing

Appellate advocacy

Judicial clerkship

Public service mindset

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Job Description

This is a non-merit position. Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human Resources Enterprise. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird seeks an Attorney for the Criminal Appeals Section.

Description

If you are looking for a writing-focused, meaningful career in public service, this is the position for you. Lawyers in this section are Iowa’s premier specialists in criminal appellate practice and enjoy the esteem of justices, appellate judges, and county prosecutors. The section boasts an exceptionally collegial environment of experienced appellate practitioners who are committed to high-quality advocacy, mentorship, and dedicated public service.

This special position will focus exclusively on appeals involving victims of sexual abuse and crimes against children. Criminal Appeals attorneys fight hard on behalf of crime victims to preserve and defend convictions and favorable rulings in appeals from criminal proceedings, juvenile delinquency findings, sexually violent predator commitments, and postconviction relief actions.

As experts in Iowa criminal law and procedure, attorneys in this section also review legislation, counsel and train prosecutors, advance arguments that shape Iowa law, present frequent oral arguments in Iowa’s appellate courts, provide legal training, advise on extradition matters, and speak at conferences. No group of lawyers appears more frequently before Iowa’s appellate courts, and some members also practice in federal district and appellate courts, including the United States Supreme Court.

Note

This is a 3-year grant-funded position with excellent opportunities to transition into a permanent position.

Requirements And Preferences

Candidates must desire exclusive appellate practice, specialize in high-impact victim advocacy, and care deeply about public service and criminal justice.

Competitive applicants will have excellent academic credentials, superb writing skills, and a combination of experience as a judicial clerk, a member of a law review, or an appellate practitioner.

Requires an Iowa law license or the ability to obtain one promptly.

Candidates must pass a criminal and ethics background check.

The State of Iowa is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

E-Verify and Right to Work

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Applicants must have graduated from an accredited school of law to qualify for positions in this job classification.

Additional Qualification Requirements

At the time of appointment, employees in this class are required to have been admitted to the Iowa State Bar and appropriate federal courts.