ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Associate Lawyer Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

JBA International

Associate Attorney

Waterloo, IA · On-site +1

$80K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Seeking an ambitious associate attorney with 2-5+ years' experience in civil litigation or workers compensation who has a strong connection to the Waterloo / Cedar Falls (Cedar Valley) area and sees ...

Direct Counsel

Mergers & Acquisitions Attorney

Des Moines, IA · On-site +1

$180K - $315K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

Corporate Associate Attorney - Mergers & Acquisitions Direct Counsel is seeking a Corporate Associate Attorney to join a premier law firm's Corporate Practice Group. This role can be based in any of ...

Bonham Solutions

Associate Attorney

Sioux City, IA

$100K - $150K/yr

The attorney will either focus on litigation or transactional-based matters depending on their preferences and experience. The firm handles a wide range of cases, but their primary practice areas are ...

Stange Law Firm

Attorney/Lawyer

Des Moines, IA · On-site +1

$90K - $120K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Senior Associate opportunities available for attorneys with five or more years of litigation experience About Stange Law Firm Stange Law Firm, PC is one of the nation's largest family law firms, with ...

Stange Law Firm

Attorney/Lawyer

Cedar Rapids, IA · On-site +1

$90K - $120K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Senior Associate opportunities available for attorneys with five or more years of litigation experience About Stange Law Firm Stange Law Firm, PC is one of the nation's largest family law firms, with ...

Stange Law Firm

Attorney/Lawyer

Ames, IA · On-site +1

$90K - $120K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Senior Associate opportunities available for attorneys with five or more years of litigation experience About Stange Law Firm Stange Law Firm, PC is one of the nation's largest family law firms, with ...

Stange Law Firm

Attorney/Lawyer

Sioux City, IA · On-site +1

$90K - $120K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Senior Associate opportunities available for attorneys with five or more years of litigation experience About Stange Law Firm Stange Law Firm, PC is one of the nation's largest family law firms, with ...

Stange Law Firm

Attorney/Lawyer

Iowa City, IA · On-site +1

$90K - $120K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Senior Associate opportunities available for attorneys with five or more years of litigation experience About Stange Law Firm Stange Law Firm, PC is one of the nation's largest family law firms, with ...

Stange Law Firm

Attorney/Lawyer

Davenport, IA · On-site +1

$90K - $120K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Senior Associate opportunities available for attorneys with five or more years of litigation experience About Stange Law Firm Stange Law Firm, PC is one of the nation's largest family law firms, with ...

Stange Law Firm

Attorney/Lawyer (Iowa City)

Iowa City, IA · On-site

$90K - $120K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Senior Associate opportunities available for attorneys with five or more years of litigation experience About Stange Law Firm Stange Law Firm, PC is one of the nation's largest family law firms, with ...

Stange Law Firm

Attorney/Lawyer (Iowa City)

Iowa City, IA · On-site +1

$90K - $120K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... Associate opportunities available for attorneys with five or more years of litigation experience About Stange Law Firm Stange Law Firm, PC is one of the nation's largest family law firms, with ...

Stange Law Firm

Attorney/Lawyer (Sioux City)

Sioux City, IA · On-site +1

$90K - $120K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... Associate opportunities available for attorneys with five or more years of litigation experience About Stange Law Firm Stange Law Firm, PC is one of the nation's largest family law firms, with ...

Stange Law Firm

Attorney/Lawyer (Des Moines, IA)

Des Moines, IA · On-site

$90K - $120K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Senior Associate opportunities available for attorneys with five or more years of litigation experience About Stange Law Firm Stange Law Firm, PC is one of the nation's largest family law firms, with ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsAssociate Lawyer JobsAssociate Lawyer Jobs in Iowa

Associate Lawyer information

See Iowa salary details

$43.2K

$101.6K

$162K

How much do associate lawyer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate lawyer in Iowa is $101,591.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $75,100.00 and $122,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an associate lawyer do?

An Associate Lawyer is a junior attorney who works at a law firm under the supervision of more experienced lawyers, such as partners. Their responsibilities typically include conducting legal research, drafting legal documents, meeting with clients, and representing clients in court or negotiations. Associate Lawyers often specialize in a particular area of law and work towards gaining experience and building a reputation in the legal field. Over time, they may have the opportunity to become partners in the firm.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate lawyer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Lawyer, you need a law degree (JD or equivalent), bar admission, and strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills. Familiarity with legal research databases (such as Westlaw or LexisNexis), document management systems, and case management software is typically required. Excellent communication, attention to detail, and time management are crucial soft skills for building client relationships and managing workloads. These skills and qualities are essential for delivering sound legal advice, meeting deadlines, and advancing within a competitive legal environment.

What is the difference between Associate Lawyer vs Paralegal?

AspectAssociate LawyerParalegal
Required CredentialsLaw degree, bar admissionPost-secondary education, certificate or diploma often sufficient
Work EnvironmentLaw firms, corporate legal departmentsLaw firms, legal departments, government agencies
Job ResponsibilitiesLegal research, client advising, drafting legal documents, court appearancesLegal research, document preparation, case organization, client communication

Associate Lawyers and Paralegals both work in legal settings, but Associate Lawyers have completed law school and are licensed to practice law, handling more complex legal tasks and client representation. Paralegals support lawyers with research and document preparation but do not have a license to practice law. The roles often overlap in research and administrative tasks, but Associate Lawyers take on more advanced responsibilities and client interactions.

What are the most commonly searched types of Lawyer jobs in Iowa? The most popular types of Lawyer jobs in Iowa are:
What are popular job titles related to Associate Lawyer jobs in Iowa? For Associate Lawyer jobs in Iowa, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Associate Lawyer jobs in Iowa look for? The top searched job categories for Associate Lawyer jobs in Iowa are:
What cities in Iowa are hiring for Associate Lawyer jobs? Cities in Iowa with the most Associate Lawyer job openings:
Associate Lawyer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Associate Lawyer job openings in Iowa as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, and 6% Part Time. Highlights an 85% In-person, 9% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $101,591 per year, or $48.8 per hour.

Business Litigation Associate Attorney

Direct Counsel

Des Moines, IA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 17 days ago

Job description

Business Litigation Associate Attorney – Des Moines

Direct Counsel is seeking a Business Litigation Associate Attorney to join a national, full-service law firm in its Des Moines office.

This role offers the opportunity to work on all phases of general commercial, civil, and business litigation matters for a diverse national and international client base. The associate will gain hands-on experience across a broad range of disputes while working closely with collaborative and experienced litigators.

Qualifications:

  • 0–6 years of relevant legal experience

  • Judicial clerkship experience is a plus

  • Strong academic credentials

  • Excellent writing, analytical, and research skills

  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

  • Active membership in the Iowa Bar or eligibility for admission by waiver (must obtain Iowa Bar admission if not currently licensed)

Work Environment:
The firm fosters a collaborative, client-focused culture while supporting flexibility and work-life balance. Attorneys are expected to work from the office three days per week, balancing in-person collaboration with individual flexibility.

Application Materials:
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and law school transcript.

This is an excellent opportunity for an associate seeking meaningful litigation experience with a growing and collegial firm.