Legal Counsel

State of Iowa - Executive Branch; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Legislative Services Agency (LSA) in Iowa's capital is seeking a Legal Counsel to support the legislative process for the 2026 session. The role emphasizes drafting legislation, legal research, and providing nonpartisan analysis to aid 150 state legislators and committees.

The position requires strong writing and analytical skills, the ability to work under tight deadlines, and experience in bill drafting and legal analyses.

Qualifications

• Graduate of approved law school and licensure in Iowa preferred.
• Strong drafting, research, and analytical abilities.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and long hours during session.
• Experience drafting legislative bills and legal analyses.

Responsibilities

• Bill drafting with legislators and staff to analyze problems and craft statutory language.
• Conduct legal research and prepare analyses, explanations, and summaries of legislation and court decisions.
• Advise legislative committees on legislation, law, administrative rules, and court opinions.
• Manage multiple concurrent tasks in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines.
• Assist in editing, preparation, and publication of the Iowa Code and Iowa Acts.

Skills

Drafting bills

Legal research

Communication

Analytical thinking

Education

Juris doctor (JD) or equivalent

Job description

Job Description

Effective immediately, the Legislative Services Agency is accepting applications for the position of Legal Counsel to begin in the fall of 2026.

The LSA is a nonpartisan, central staff agency of around 100 employees serving members and committees of the Iowa General Assembly. The LSA’s workforce spans three divisions and multiple offices where individuals contribute their unique expertise and talents to advance a shared mission of serving the Iowa General Assembly in a nonpartisan manner.

The LSA offers meaningful work with great benefits. Our employees participate in the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS) pension plan, the LSA is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF), and low-cost, high-quality health and dental insurance is offered.

LEGAL COUNSEL

The Legal Services Division supports the legislative work of the Iowa General Assembly without participating in partisan politics. We draft legislation for all 150 state legislators, staff legislative committees, consult with legislators and governmental officials and staff, and assist in the publication of the Iowa Code. If you are interested in serving the public by applying your research, writing, interpersonal, and analytical skills to help create clear and unambiguous laws, in finding creative solutions to complex and timely public policy issues, and in learning something new every day, consider applying to be a Legal Counsel with the LSA.

Applicants must have excellent analytical and communication skills and the ability to develop superior drafting skills and expertise in assigned areas of the law. The ability to handle heavy workload under extremely short deadlines and to prioritize workload is essential. Overtime work during the legislative session (typically January through May), including nights and weekends required. Partial compensatory time during the legislative interim is available. A law degree is required. Bar admission and previous professional experience are desired. A writing exercise is required of interviewees. Beginning annual salary is $65,811.20. Partisan political activity and legislative issue advocacy are prohibited.

Duties

• Bill drafting, which includes consulting with legislators and others in analyzing problems, identifying objectives, secondary effects, and underlying values and assumptions.


• Assessing information and research needs.


• Considering alternatives, and constructing statutory language, within the context of current statutes, court decisions, and administrative rules and procedures to accomplish the legislative objective.


• Conducting legal research.


• Preparing analyses, explanations, and summaries of legislation and court decisions.


• Staffing and advising legislative committees on legislation, law, administrative rules, and opinions of the courts and Attorney General.


• Performing administrative duties and preparing minutes, reports, and other work products for legislative committees.


• Contacting technical personnel for information.


• Providing information and assistance on the status of legislation and on specific areas of the law to other governmental agencies and to the public.


• Assisting in the editing, preparation, and publication of the Iowa Code and Iowa Acts.


• Progress toward and responsibility for more complex projects and independent work projects is dependent upon the Legal Counsel’s ability and performance.


• Overtime is required, including nights and weekends, primarily prior to and during the legislative session, both to accomplish the required workload in a timely manner and to be available as needed by the legislators and legislative committees, with partial compensatory time provided.

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

Graduate of approved law school and strong preference for licensure in Iowa as attorney.

Additional Qualification Requirements

• Ability to develop skill in drafting legislative bills and legal research documents.


• Ability to develop expertise in assigned areas of the law


• Knowledge of legal research sources and application of legal research methods.


• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, and to analyze, explain, and summarize legislation, court decisions, complex written material, detailed research documents, and administrative rules.


• Ability to work in a nonpartisan manner in a partisan environment and provide objective information regardless of the issue or personal opinions.


• Ability to work effectively when the work environment is demanding and fast-paced involving competing responsibilities with unpredictable timelines, heavy workloads, unpredictable hours, and the exercise of professional judgment during bill and amendment drafting.


• Ability to work well with others, to manage time and prioritize work effectively with minimal supervision and meet tight deadlines with minimal supervision.


• Ability to maintain focused concentration on complex tasks for an extended period of time.


• Ability to manage multiple concurrent tasks and to move quickly between tasks while adjusting priorities in order to meet deadlines in a timely manner.