AI search for Iowa law firms

Check the version first

Iowa's advertising rules changed. The Iowa Supreme Court adopted amendments to Chapter 32 by order of August 28, 2020, effective January 1, 2021. The current chapter, as published by the Iowa Legislature, lists Rule 32:7.1, Rule 32:7.2, and Rule 32:7.3, with Rules 32:7.4 and 32:7.5 marked "Reserved." If a guide you rely on cites Iowa advertising provisions outside those three rules, check its date against the current chapter before you follow it.

Three rules every Iowa page has to respect

Rule 32:7.1 says a lawyer shall not make a false or misleading communication about the lawyer or the lawyer's services. Comment [3] warns that reporting past results can create an unjustified expectation that similar results can be obtained for others, and that unsubstantiated comparisons with other lawyers can mislead. Appropriate disclaimers or qualifying language may help.

Rule 32:7.2(c) says a lawyer shall not state or imply certification as a specialist unless certified by an organization approved by an appropriate authority or accredited by the ABA, and the certifying organization is clearly identified in the communication. Comment [9] allows terms such as "concentrates in," subject to the false-and-misleading standard of Rule 32:7.1.

Rule 32:7.2(d) requires any communication under the rule to include the name and contact information of at least one lawyer or law firm responsible for its content.

Firm names fall under Rule 32:7.1 Comment [5]: a trade name must not mislead, and a geographic trade name may require a statement that the firm is not a public legal aid organization. In AI search, a name like "Des Moines Injury Law" may be quoted with no other context.

Filing and review

Rule 32:7.2 sets out what a communication must include. It contains no requirement to file advertisements or websites for review, so responsibility sits with the firm. Every page we deliver is approved by the attorney before it goes live.

What Iowa's bar has pointed lawyers to on AI

The Iowa State Bar Association's ethics opinions page lists ABA Formal Opinion 512, Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools, among the ABA opinions it carries. None of the Iowa opinions listed there addresses AI by title. For Iowa lawyers, Opinion 512 is the reference point.

Opinion 512 does not change the marketing rules. Your website is governed by Rules 32:7.1 and 32:7.2 whoever drafts it. See whether advertising rules apply to AI-generated content.

Iowa questions need Iowa answers

Iowa runs probate and family matters through one court. The Iowa Judicial Branch says there is one district court in every county, with general jurisdiction of civil, criminal, juvenile, and probate matters. A page that sends an Iowa family to a separate "probate court" gets the structure wrong.

Divorce timing is another example. Under Iowa Code section 598.19, a decree dissolving a marriage generally cannot be entered until ninety days after the original notice is served, the last day of publication, or the filing of a waiver or acceptance of notice, and any court-ordered conciliation must be complete. The court may shorten the wait only on a showing of emergency or necessity. The family law guide shows how detail like this shapes a practice page.

Iowa markets

We write for firms statewide. Market guides cover the questions and local facts specific to each area:

• Des Moines

Des Moines: Polk County sits in the Fifth Judicial District with 15 other counties, and its courthouse complex is in downtown Des Moines.

What we build for Iowa firms

• Practice-area pages written to Rules 32:7.1 and 32:7.2, with results language and trade names checked line by line
• County pages only where you take clients, with the district court named correctly
• Answer posts for the questions Iowa clients ask, each linked to the right practice page

Estate firms should read the estate planning guide, since a one-court system changes how a probate page is written. Firms serving older clients should see the elder law guide.

Neighboring states

Some Iowa firms take clients from across a state line. A page for those readers should say which state's law it explains and where your attorneys are licensed. Each neighbor has its own guide: Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Missouri.

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