Roxanne Conlin
Top rated Employment & Labor attorney in Des Moines, Iowa
Roxanne Conlin & Associates, P.C.
Practice areas: Employment & Labor, Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice; view more
Licensed in Iowa since: 1966
Education: Drake University Law School
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2007, 2009 - 2025 Call today:
515-283-1111
Roxanne Conlin & Associates, P.C.
3721 SW 61st StSte C
Des Moines, IA 50321 Visit website
Details
The founding attorney of the Iowa-based legal firm Roxanne Conlin & Associates, P.C., in Des Moines, Roxanne Barton Conlin is a legal practitioner with close to 60 years of experience in advocating for people who have been harmed, both physically and mentally, due to other parties’ actions involving discrimination, medical malpractice, personal injury or product liability.
Born in South Dakota in the mid-1940s, Ms. Conlin pursued her undergraduate, postgraduate and law studies at Drake University. Joining the university at the age of 16, she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1964, her doctorate in jurisprudence with honors from the Drake University Law School in 1966, and later after 13 years, she earned her master’s degree in public administration in 1979. Throughout her university days, she was a member of several associations and sororities, including the Phi Beta Kappa, the Kappa Beta Pi legal sorority and the American Law Students Association.
Ms. Conlin served as the assistant attorney general for Iowa for more than half a decade, where she headed the state’s Civil and Human Rights section and actively worked to protect the rights of the people who were subjected to sex and racial discrimination. Her work and presence here had a significant impact, as she played a critical role in rewriting a few of Iowa’s inheritance laws and strengthening the state's assault laws. Later in 1977, she became a U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, making her one of the initial two women to hold the position.
The founder and first chair of the Iowa Women's Political Caucus, Ms. Conlin has had multiple other firsts as well, including being the first woman president of the American Association for Justice, the first woman chair of the Roscoe Pound Foundation and the first chair of the Georgia Civil Justice Foundation.
Peer-review rated AV Preeminent* through Martindale-Hubbell, Ms. Conlin has collected numerous awards throughout her long career, including:
- Top 10 Personal Injury Attorney, Attorney and Practice Magazine
- 10 Best Attorneys and 10 Best Female Attorneys, American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers
- Best Lawyers, U.S. News & World Report
- Distinguished Service Award, American Association for Justice
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Employment & Labor: Employee, Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: PlaintiffFocus areas
Employment Law - Employee, Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Sexual Harassment
- 40% Employment & Labor: Employee
- 30% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
- 30% Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 1966, Iowa
Professional Webpage: https://www.roxanneconlinlaw.com/attorney/roxanne-b-conlin/
Bar/Professional Activity:
- NITA, Board of Trustees, 2003 to 2006
- Iowa, 1966
- Iowa Trial Lawyers Association, Board of Governors
- Attorney General's Advocacy Institute, Consultant, 1977 to 1981
- United States Attorneys, Attorney General's Advisory Committee, 1977 to 1981
- United States Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year, Consultant, 1976 to 1977
- Department of Justice, Iowa Civil Rights Section, Director, 1969 to 1976
- Hughes for Governor, Volunteer, 1962 to 1962
- Hughes for Governor, Volunteer, 1964 to 1964
- Hughes for Governor, Volunteer, 1966 to 1966
- Polk County Young Democrats, President, 1964 to 1966
- Iowa Young Democrats, National Committeewoman, 1965
- Hughes for United States Senate, Volunteer, 1968 to 1968
- Polk County Democratic Party, Precinct Committeewoman, 1966 to 1972
- Iowa Democratic State Conventions-Delegate, Member of the Platform, Rules and By-Laws Committee, 1964 to 1974
- National Mid-term Convention, Vice-Chair of Iowa Delegation, 1974 to 1974
- Carter for President, Headquarters Volunteer, 1976 to 1976
- Food & Agricultural Policies for Democratic National Committee-Philadelphia, Chair of the Panel, 1982 to 1982
- Women for Harkin Committee, Co-Chair, 1984 to 1984
- Senior Women's Strategy Council - Mondale/Ferraro Campaign, Member, 1984 to 1984
- Iowa Democratic Party, Chair, 1998 to 1999
- Iowa Bar Association, Member, Uniform Court Instructions Committee, 1987 to 1992
- Iowa Bar Association, Member, Federal Practice Committee, 1987 to 1992
- Iowa Bar Association, Career Day Panel, Member, 1987 to 1992
- Iowa Bar Association, Member, Bar Review Committee, 1987 to 1992
- Iowa Bar Association, Member, 1966
- American Bar Association, Member, 1966
- Iowa Commission on the Status of Women, 1972 to 1978
- Iowa Women's Political Caucus, Founder & State Chairperson, 1973 to 1975
- Riverhills Day Care Center, Board of Directors, 1974 to 1975
- Polk County Rape/Sexual Assault Care Center, Board of Directors, 1974 to 1977
- National Women's Political Caucus, Administrative Committee Member, 1975 to 1977
- Youth for Understanding, Bicentennial Committee of Iowa, 1976 to 1976
- Upper Midwest Council - Critical Choice Project, Panelist, 1976 to 1977
- Drake University Law School, Law Board of Counselors, 1977 to 1985
- National Women's Political Caucus, Advisory Board, 1977
- Iowa Shares Program, Board of Directors, 1978 to 1980
- Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, Member, 1979
- Federal Executive Council, President, Vice-President, 1979 to 1981
- Dowling High School, Board of Directors, 1981
- NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund, General Counsel, 1985 to 1986
- NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund, President, 1986 to 1988
- NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund, Board of Directors, 1983 to 1989
- Association of Trial Lawyers of Iowa, Board of Governors, 1984 to 1995
- Drake University Law School Endowment Trust, Chair, Board of Governors, 1985 to 1986
- YWCA, Board of Directors, 1986 to 1988
- Council on Judicial Selection, Appointed by Chief Justice Reynoldsen, 1986 to 1986
- Civil Justice Foundation, President, 1986 to 1988
- Coalition for Women's Appointments, Advisory Board, 1988 to 1990
- Higher Education Task Force of the State of Iowa, Co-Chair, 1988 to 1992
- Blackstone Inn, American Inns, Master of the Bench, 1989
- Animal Rescue League of Iowa, Honorary Board Member, 1990 to 1995
- Older Iowans' Permanent Fund Foundation, Advisory Board Member, 1991 to 1997
- National Association of Former United States Attorneys, Board of Directors, 1991 to 1999
- Roscoe Pound Foundation, Member, Board of Governors, 1986 to 1992
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Chair, Safety Conference Committee
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Consumer and Victims Coalition Committee
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Chair, Membership Oversight Committee
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Chair, Education Committee
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Chair, Organization Review Committee
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, ATLA-PAC Board of Directors, 1987 to 1989
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Parliamentarian, 1988 to 1989
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Secretary, 1989 to 1990
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Vice-President, 1990 to 1991
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, President-Elect, 1991 to 1992
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, President, 1992 to 1993
- American Jury Trial Foundation, Trustee, 1993
- American Law Institute, Elected Membership, 1994
- Roscoe Pound Foundation, President, 1994 to 1997
- National Center for State Court Lawyers Committee, 2003 to 2009
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
- Gail v. Clark, 410 N.W.2d 662, 1987, Iowa, 1987092443
- Beeman v. Manville Corp. Asbestos Disease Compensation Fund, 496 N.W.2d 247, 1993, Iowa, 1993051674
- Doe v. Cherwitz, 518 N.W.2d 362, 1994, Iowa, 1994136198
- U. S. v. May, 625 F.2d 186, 1980, C.A.8 (Iowa), 1980118705
- State v. Bartz, 224 N.W.2d 632, 1974, Iowa, 1974119323
- State v. West, 252 N.W.2d 457, 1977, Iowa, 1977110459
- Cedar Rapids Community School Dist. v. Parr, 227 N.W.2d 486, 1975, Iowa, 1975118175
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- Certified Civil Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1991
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Democratic Nominee for Iowa for United States Senate, 2010
- National Pro Bono Effort for the Victims of September 11th Tragedy, Board of Directors Trial Lawyers Care, 2001 to 2004
- Volunteer - Hughes for Governor, 1962 - 1966
- President - Polk County Young Democrats, 1964 - 1966
- National Committeewoman - Iowa Young Democrats, 1965 - 1966
- Volunteer - Hughes for United State Senate, 1968
- Precinct Committeewoman - Polk County Democratic Party, 1966 - 1972
- Delegate - Iowa Democratic State Conventions, Member of the Platform, Rules and By-Laws Committee, 1964 - 1974
- Vice-Chair of Iowa Delegation to the National Mid-term Convention, 1974
- Headquarters Volunteer - Carter for President, 1976
- Chair of the panel on Food & Agricultural Policies for Democratic National Committee, Philadelphia, 1982
- Democratic Nominee for Governor of Iowa, 1982
- Chair, National Policy Council, John Glenn for President Committee, 1983 - 1984
- Co-chair Women for Harkin Committee, 1984
- Member, Senior Women's Strategy Council - Mondale/Ferraro Campaign, 1984
- Chair, Iowa Democratic Party, November, 1998 - April, 1999
- Co-Chair Edwards for President, 2004
- Inducted into the Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame as Outstanding Supporter, 2007
- Co-Chair Edwards for President, 2008
Honors/Awards:
- Attorney and Practice Magazine’s Top 10 Personal Injury Attorney
- The Outstanding Young Woman of Iowa
- Martin Luther King, Jr. award for outstanding service presented by Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of N.A. AFL-CIO
- Outstanding Service to Civil Liberties presented by the Iowa Civil Liberties Union
- Chosen in article in Redbook Magazine as one of "44 Women Who Could Save America"
- Honorary Doctor of Laws, University of Dubuque
- Chosen in article in McCall's Magazine (November issue) as one of 44 Women qualified for a Cabinet Position
- Special Commendation - United States Postal Inspection Service
- Special Commendation - Director of Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Award for Outstanding Assistance - United States Secret Service
- Omicron Delta Kappa, Alumni Member
- Iowa Women's Hall of Fame
- Iowa Citizens Action Network Annual Award for Public Service
- Named one of the nation’s top ten litigators in an article in the National Law Journal
- Woman of Vision Award, Young Women's Resource Center
- Outstanding Alumni Award, Drake University Law School
- Diplomat of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys
- Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy
- Elected to Membership in the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers
- Named one of 100 most influential lawyers in the nation by National Law Journal
- One of the women featured in the book More Strongminded Women by Louise Noun (ISU Press)
- Life Fellow of the Iowa State Bar Association
- 7th Annual Chester Bedell Memorial Lecture
- Elected to Membership in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers
- Verne Lawyer Outstanding Member Award from the Iowa Association of Trial Lawyers
- APEX Award recognizing excellence in opinion column writing for President's Page in Trial of June, 1993 on Alcoholism
- Elected to membership in the American Law Institute
- Featured in Best Lawyers in America for Employment Law – Individuals and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
- Elected to Membership in the Inner Circle of Advocates
- Named Woman of the Year by the Metro Women's Network
- Named by the National Law Journal as one of “The Fifty Most Influential Women Lawyers in America”
- Rosalie Wahl Leadership Award from the Minnesota Women Lawyers Association
- Kansas City Association of Women Lawyers established the Annual Roxanne Barton Conlin Scholarship
- International Society of Lawyers for Public Service
- Martindale Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Attorneys
- Named One of the Fifty Most Influential Iowans of the Twentieth Century by Des Moines Register
- Selected as One of Twelve Most Influential Women by the Des Moines ‘Business Record’
- Marie Lambert Award for Equality for Women from the Association of Trial Lawyers of America
- Mary Louise Smith Award for Racial Justice from the YWCA
- Named by National Law Journal as One of the Ten Most Influential Women Attorneys
- Award from United Way for work with Young Women’s Resource Center
- Award from Very Special Arts of Iowa Serving Disabled Iowans
- Elected to Membership in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
- Mary Louise Smith Human Rights Award from the Des Moines Human Rights Commission
- Lifetime Achievement Award from ATLA
- The 2004 Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers 88th Edition
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg Award from NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund
- The Iowa Shares Special Recognition in Iowa for efforts to resettle Vietnamese boat people in Iowa
- Iowa Juneteenth Observance Liberty Award
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, National College of Advocacy, Diplomat of Trial Advocacy
- Iowa Trial Lawyers Association, 2005 ITLA Public Justice Award in Recognition of Persistence and Determination in Pursuing Successful Litigation that Establishes the Right to Trial by Jury for Plaintiffs in Civil Rights Cases under the Iowa Civil Rights A
- Activist Leader Award from Drake University, United Way and the Des Moines ‘Business Record’
- American Association of Justice (formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America), Leonard M. Ring Champion of Justice Award – Awarded annually to a member whose life and career epitomizes that of a true champion of justice
- Elected to Litigation Counsel of America
- Inducted into the Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame as Outstanding Supporter
- 1st recipient of the Iowa Trial Lawyer’s Public Justice Award, named the Roxanne Conlin Public Justice Award
- Inducted into Iowa Legal Aid Hall of Fame
- 2008 Louise Noun Visionary Women Award – awarded by the Young Women’s Resource Center
- Iowa Senate Resolution 134 commending work and congratulating for accomplishments, passed unanimously
- Selected as one of Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in America
- Selected as one of Midwest CEO’s Most Influential Women of 2009
- Selected as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation
- Gertrude Rush Award from Iowa State Bar Association
- Selected as one of Labor & Employment’s Best Lawyers
- Community Champion Award from the Civil Justice Foundation
- National Championship Honoree from the American Mock Trial Association
- Community Champion Award from the Civil Justice Foundation
- Recognized as being in the top 5% of America’s Most Honored Professionals
- Selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a Preeminent Woman Lawyer - exclusively for women attorneys who have received the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards from their peers
- Alumni Achievement Award - Drake Law School
- Bloomer/Catt Award for Public Service, Status of Women Conference
- Donald Lay Award
- Elected as Senior Fellow with Litigation Counsel of America
- The American Registry Top 1 Percent America’s Most Honored Professionals
- 10 Best Female Attorneys – American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys
- The American Registry Top 1 Percent America’s Most Honored Professionals
- 10 Best Attorneys – American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys
- 10 Best Female Attorneys – American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys
- Albert Nelson Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award
- The American Registry Top 1 Percent America’s Most Honored Professionals
- America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators for Iowa
- Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards
- 10 Best Attorneys – American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys
- Lawdragon 500 Plaintiff Employment Lawyers Guide
- The World Food Prize Robert D. Ray Iowa SHARES Humanitarian Award
- Benchmark Litigation Labor & Employment – Midwest Regional Best
- Martindale Hubbell Judicial Edition Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards Reflecting the Confidential Opinions of Members of the Bar and Judiciary
- 10 Best Attorneys – American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys
- Iowa Women’s Foundation Ovation - A Tribute to Iowa Women and Girls
- Interfaith Alliance Award
- Lawdragon 500 To Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers; Hall of Fame
- Best of the Best Attorneys Top 10 Personal Injury Law Attorney
- Martindale Hubbell Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards
- Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Related for Highest Level of Professional Excellence
- Marquis Who’s Who Top Professional Series
- American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys 10 Best High Verdict & Settlement
- Martindale Hubbell Top Rated Lawyer Medical Malpractice for Ethical Standards and Legal Ability
- Expertise’s Best Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Des Moines
- Best Lawyers Sixth Annual “Women in the Law”
- Business Finance Sector Excellence Global Business Awards – Best Personal Injury & Discrimination Attorneys Iowa
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers
- Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards
- Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Related for Highest Level of Professional Excellence
- American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys Attorney Client Satisfaction 10 Best High Verdict & Settlement Winner
- Best Lawyers U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firms
- AAJ Distinguished Service Award
Educational Background:
- Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, Master's Degree in Public Administration - 1979, Honors: Pi Alpha Alpha, Honorary Society in Public Affairs & Administration, 1978
- Harvard University, Honors: Recipient, Seminar Grant: Limits of Positivism: Certainty & Justice in the Law
- Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, Bachelor of Arts - 1964, Honors: Phi Beta Kappa, Honors: Alpha Lambda Delta, Women's Honorary Sorority, Honors: Chi Omega Social Service Award, Honors: National Merit Scholarship Finalist, Honors: Reader's Digest Scholar, Honors: Kappa Beta Pi Legal Sorority (International)
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Iowa Law School, 1977 to 1979
- “Voir Dire for the Plaintiff in a Medical Malpractice Case”, Jury Selection – 4th Edition, Aspen Publishers, 2010
- Equal Protection vs. The Equal Rights Amendment - Where Are We Now?, 24 Drake Law Review 259, Winter, 1975
- 'Government Policy and the Legal Status of Women', Women in the Professions, Ed. Laurily Epstein, Lexington Books, 1976
- United States Commission on International Women's Year, Legal Status of Homemakers in Iowa, November, 1976
- 'Landlord Liability for Criminal Attack on Client', 35 Am. Jur. Trials, 1987
- 'Women, Power and the Law', 26 Trial 22, February, 1990
- 'Litigation Explosion - Tempest in a Teapot?', ATLA, Nov., 1991
- 'Litigation Explosion Disputed', Trial Magazine p. 114
- 'Litigation Explosion Disputed', National Law Journal, July, 1991
- 'Voir Dire Examination and Jury Selection', Anatomy of a Personal Injury Lawsuit, 3rd Edition, ATLA Press, 1991
- 'Making the Opposing Expert Tell the Truth', 22 Trial Lawyers Quarterly, No. 1 p. 50, Fall, 1991
- 'Loser Pays' Rule: Who Pays for Injustice (Co-Authored with Clarence L. King, Jr.), Trial Magazine, October, 1992
- 'Loser Pays' Rule: Who Pays for Injustice (With Clarence L. King, Jr.), National Law Journal, July, 1992
- 'In Defense of the American Trial Lawyer', The Aspen Quarterly, Vol. V, No.11, Page 128, Spring, 1993
- ATLA's Litigating Tort Cases, West Publishing Company, June, 2003
Selections
18 Years Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2007, 2009 - 2025
Top Lists
Top 10: Iowa Super Lawyers: 2011, 2015 - 2016, 2018 - 2025- Top 10: 2025 Iowa Super Lawyers
- Top 10: 2024 Iowa Super Lawyers
- Top 10: 2023 Iowa Super Lawyers
- Top 10: 2022 Iowa Super Lawyers
- Top 10: 2021 Iowa Super Lawyers
- Top 10: 2020 Iowa Super Lawyers
- Top 10: 2019 Iowa Super Lawyers
- Top 10: 2018 Iowa Super Lawyers
- Top 10: 2016 Iowa Super Lawyers
- Top 10: 2015 Iowa Super Lawyers
- Top 10: 2011 Iowa Super Lawyers
Certificates and credentials
Additional sources of information about Roxanne Conlin
See legal Q & A provided by Roxanne Conlin
Q: What Should You Do If You Are A Victim Of Sexual Or Racial Harassment In Iowa?
A: If you find yourself facing workplace sexual or racial harassment in Iowa, know that you have rights and that there are steps you can take to protect … See all answers by Roxanne Conlin
