Iowa Labor and Employment Law Education and Training

Get the right training to protect your business with Iowa employment law
By Emmet McMahan Iowa labor and employment laws deal primarily with the relationship between employers and unions. Iowa labor and employment law education and training includes a broad range of issues, such as hiring and firing practices, medical leave, overtime, worker safety standards and wages.

Labor law in Iowa is prohibited from interfering with federal labor laws or guidelines produced by federal agencies. Employer/employee relations were brought to the federal level in 1935 with the National Labor Relations Act (NRLA). Employers and employees may have their relationships governed by state laws if they are not subject to the NRLA. There are three steps to learning about labor and employment laws in Iowa:

1. Formal education. An attorney who practices Iowa work laws will typically need at least a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from a law school that is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).
2. Specialization. Attorneys can choose to specialize by taking legal training that is specific to labor and employment law in Iowa.
3. Membership in professional organizations. There are many organizations of attorneys based on their area of specialty, such as labor and employment law.
   

Attend a law school that specializes in Iowa labor law

There are a variety of universities in Iowa that provide training in state of Iowa employment laws, such as specific coursework, a formal concentration or legal clinics.
Try:  Drake University Law School offers several courses in employment law to its second and third year students. The University of Iowa College of Law offers specialized courses in employment and labor law.

Obtain Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit for labor lawyers in Iowa

Iowa requires attorneys to stay current on changes in employment law with CLE courses. There are a variety of education and training programs in Iowa that provide CLE credit in labor and employment law.
Try:  West LegalEdcenter provides a search capability of CLE courses by state and legal specialty, including labor law. Lorman Education Services offers a variety of teleconferences on labor and employment law that provide CLE credit in Iowa.

Learn through professional training associations on Iowa labor laws

Professional associations frequently offer formal training such as conferences, seminars and workshops in employment and labor law. These organizations also provide more casual meetings that allow attorneys to exchange tips on building and maintaining a practice.
Try:  The Iowa Municipal Attorneys Association provides educational articles on employment law, such as "Public Employers and E-mail: A Primer for the Practitioner and the Public." The Iowa State Bar Association offers several courses in employment law in Iowa.

• Employment lawyers in Iowa should also be alert for educational opportunities that do not provide CLE credit but nevertheless provide important information on labor and employment law. A typical event of this type might consist of watching a specific legal issue being reenacted by actors followed by a legal analysis in a relaxed atmosphere.