The Iowa State Bar Association is excited to announce a new initiative designed to help members turn good intentions into healthy habits: the ISBA Wellness Club.

The Iowa Legislature passed the bill establishing the Iowa Court of Appeals, and Governor Robert D. Ray signed it into law in 1976. Look for a series of articles throughout the year in The Iowa Lawyer magazine celebrating the 50-year anniversary of the court.

A Regis Catholic Middle School team from Cedar Rapids won the 2025 Iowa Middle School Mock Trial State Tournament on Dec. 4, 2025, in a competitive final round held at the Iowa Judicial Branch Building. This year's runner-up team was from Marion Independent Schools. The ISBA extends its sincere congratulations to the winning teams.

To assist attorneys with the reporting of their 2025 CLE credits, the ISBA has created an event list that includes CLE titles, state, ethics, wellness, diversity, and juvenile credits, and activity id numbers for each program offered by the ISBA in 2025. The annual reports are due by March 10.

As part of its ongoing focus on lawyer well-being, The Iowa State Bar Association’s Well-Being Committee invited Iowa lawyer-legislators to reflect on how they navigate the added intensity of session alongside demanding legal careers, family responsibilities, and personal commitments.

There are 14 lawyers serving as legislators in the Iowa House and Senate for the 2026 session: eight republicans and six democrats.

The ISBA Legislative Counsel team provides an overview of the 91st General Assembly, which began on Jan. 12.

President Kathy Law reflects on her rural upbringing and discusses how lawyers often help guide families through some of the most difficult and emotional decisions of their lives, including succession planning for farmland.

Most Iowa Attorneys are familiar with the story of Alexander Clark Sr. and his successful fight to desegregate Iowa ‘s public schools. Far fewer, however, recall Highland Park College in Des Moines and its racially restrictive policies decades after the Clark case.

Just as President Kathy Law and Executive Director Harry Shipley traveled the state for the rural roundtables, this new segment in The Iowa Lawyer will highlight rural attorneys from all across Iowa.