Top Wrongful Termination Lawyers in Des Moines, IA
Iowa is an at-will state, which means an employer can usually fire you for almost any reason, or no reason at all. The exceptions are what matter: you cannot be fired because of your race, sex, age, disability, religion, or because you reported harassment, took protected leave, or refused to break the law. A good Des Moines employment lawyer tells you quickly whether your firing crossed one of those lines, and what it is worth. Every firm below has a verifiable Iowa employee-side practice and was confirmed across at least two independent sources.
Updated June 04, 202611 min readEditorially independent
At-will employment is the starting point in Iowa, so most terminations are legal even when they feel unfair. Wrongful termination is the narrower set of firings the law actually prohibits. The big categories are discrimination, where you were let go because of a protected trait such as race, sex, age, disability, national origin, or religion; retaliation, where you were fired for reporting harassment or discrimination, filing a workers' compensation claim, or refusing to do something illegal; and violations of leave laws like the federal Family and Medical Leave Act. Iowa's own Civil Rights Act mirrors much of the federal protection and applies to most employers in the state.
The deadline is the first thing a lawyer will check. Discrimination and retaliation claims usually have to start with a charge filed with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission or the federal EEOC, and those windows are tight, often 300 days from the firing and sometimes shorter under Iowa procedure. Wait too long and the claim can be lost no matter how strong it is. This is why every firm below urges you to call before you sign a severance agreement and while your emails, reviews, and witnesses are still fresh and reachable.
Cost is structured to let workers come forward. Most employee-side wrongful-termination cases in Des Moines are taken on contingency, where the lawyer earns a percentage of what you recover, commonly around a third, and you pay no hourly fee. Some matters, like reviewing a severance or sending a demand letter, may be billed flat or hourly. Each firm below was confirmed across at least two independent sources, including Super Lawyers, Justia, Avvo, FindLaw, and the firms' own published profiles, and each maintains a real employee-side practice in the Des Moines area.
How we picked these 7: We cross-referenced peer rankings and directories (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Justia, Expertise.com, FindLaw) and each firm's own published practice pages. Every firm below appeared in at least two independent sources and has a verifiable Des Moines-area wrongful termination practice. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
1
Newkirk Zwagerman, P.L.C.
Des Moines, IAEmployee-side employmentFree consultation
Practice focus: Wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblower
Newkirk Zwagerman, P.L.C., on Ingersoll Avenue in Des Moines, is one of Iowa's best-known employee-side firms, with attorneys sharing more than 70 years of combined experience. Founders Tom Newkirk and Jill Zwagerman litigate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and whistleblower claims, and Jill Zwagerman focuses heavily on workers who were sexually harassed or retaliated against.
Why they made the list: A high-profile Iowa employee-rights firm with deep trial experience in discrimination and retaliation cases.
Des Moines metro, IAEmployee rightsFree consultation
Practice focus: Wrongful termination, discrimination, disability and leave, retaliation
Fiedler Law Firm, P.L.C. represents Des Moines-area employees in wrongful-termination, discrimination, and disability and leave matters. Attorney Madison Fiedler-Carlson handles termination cases for workers across central Iowa, and the firm is recognized in the Des Moines employment-law directories.
Why they made the list: A focused employee-side firm comfortable with disability, leave, and retaliation-based firings.
Des Moines, IACivil rights & employmentConsultation available
Practice focus: Employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, civil rights
Roxanne Conlin & Associates, P.C. protects Des Moines workers who have faced harassment or discrimination on the job. Roxanne Conlin is a nationally recognized trial lawyer with decades of experience fighting workplace discrimination of all kinds, giving the firm real weight behind a termination claim.
Why they made the list: A nationally respected trial practice for serious discrimination-driven terminations.
Des Moines, IAEmployment lawConsultation available
Practice focus: Wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, wage claims
Higgins Law Firm, PLLC reviews the circumstances of a firing and helps Des Moines workers take action when an employer violated the law. The firm handles wrongful termination alongside discrimination, retaliation, and wage matters for employees.
Why they made the list: A worker-side firm that digs into the facts of the firing before deciding the claim's strength.
Des Moines, IAEmployee & civil rightsConsultation available
Practice focus: Discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblower, wrongful termination
Timmer, Judkins & Borland, P.L.L.C. is a Des Moines boutique that represents employees and civil-rights plaintiffs in discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblowing, and wrongful-termination cases. The firm's narrow focus keeps its lawyers in these statutes constantly.
Why they made the list: A trial-focused employee boutique for retaliation and whistleblower-based firings.
Des Moines, IAEmployment lawConsultation available
Practice focus: Wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, employment disputes
Hedberg & Boulton, P.C. handles employment cases for workers in and around Des Moines, including Cedar Rapids, Newton, and many other Iowa communities. The firm represents employees in wrongful-termination and related discrimination and retaliation disputes.
Why they made the list: A steady central-Iowa employee practice covering Des Moines and the surrounding counties.
Des Moines, IATrial practiceConsultation available
Practice focus: Wrongful termination, employment, civil rights, personal injury
Erbe Law Firm has served clients throughout Iowa from its Des Moines office since 2005 and has considerable experience in wrongful-termination cases. The firm's trial background gives it the ability to take an employment case to a jury when needed.
Why they made the list: A trial-tested Des Moines firm for termination cases that may need to be litigated.
Tell us how and why you were let go, and we will connect you with a Des Moines employment attorney for a consultation. No cost, no obligation.
How to choose between them in Des Moines
Get the firing categorized first. Iowa is at-will, so the real question is whether your termination fits an illegal category like discrimination, retaliation, or a leave violation. A good lawyer answers that fast.
Protect the deadline. Most claims start with a charge to the Iowa Civil Rights Commission or the EEOC, often within 300 days. Confirm the firm will calendar and protect your specific deadline.
Do not sign severance first. A severance or release can waive your claim. Have a lawyer review it before you sign; that single step often preserves the most value.
Match the firm to the fight. Some cases settle with a demand letter; others need a jury. Ask how many termination cases the firm has actually tried, not just filed.
What wrongful termination help typically costs in Des Moines
Wrongful-termination representation in Des Moines is structured so cost rarely blocks a worker with a real claim. Here is what to expect:
Free consultation: Most employee-side firms here review your firing at no charge and tell you whether it fits an illegal category before you spend anything.
Contingency fee: The typical termination case is handled on contingency, commonly around 33 percent of what you recover, with no hourly fees out of pocket.
Severance review: Having a lawyer review a severance agreement before you sign is usually a modest flat fee and can protect a much larger claim.
Demand letters: If the goal is a quick negotiated exit or fix, a lawyer may work hourly or flat to send a demand to the employer.
Case costs: Filing fees, depositions, and experts are separate; many contingency firms advance these and recover them from a settlement.
Ask each firm for its contingency percentage, who advances case costs, and what you owe if you do not win, in writing, before you sign.
How long it takes
An Iowa wrongful-termination claim usually follows these stages, with timing driven by the agency and the employer:
Consultation and review: You meet the attorney, who reviews your reviews, emails, and the circumstances of the firing and explains whether you have a protected-category claim.
Agency charge: Most discrimination and retaliation claims begin with a charge to the Iowa Civil Rights Commission or the EEOC within the deadline; the agency investigates.
Right to sue and filing: After the agency process, you typically get a right-to-sue letter and your lawyer can file suit. Setting this up can take several months.
Discovery, settlement, or trial: Both sides exchange documents and take depositions; most cases settle during this phase, and the rest go to trial. Expect many months to over a year overall.
Red flags to watch for when hiring a wrongful termination lawyer in Des Moines
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a win, a number, or a court ruling, walk away.
The disappearing senior partner. You meet a named partner at intake, then never hear from them again while an unsupervised junior runs the file. Ask in writing who handles your matter day to day.
Pressure to sign on the spot. Reputable firms give you the engagement letter in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a volume-mill signal.
No verifiable track record. Look for named results, peer rankings, board certifications, or bar recognition — not "we have helped thousands of clients."
Vague fees. Every legitimate firm will put the fee structure, what is covered, and what triggers extra charges in a written engagement letter.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most of the firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial call. Use it. Bring a written list and write down the answers, then compare across two or three firms before you sign anything.
Who, specifically, will handle my matter day to day? Get a name and a direct email, not just the firm.
How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? You want a number, not a brochure line.
What is your fee, and what does it cover? Get the structure in writing before you sign.
What out-of-pocket costs am I responsible for, and when? Filing fees, records, and experts add up - ask now.
What is the realistic range of outcomes? A good lawyer gives a range; a weak one promises the high end.
How long will this take? An honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
What is my deadline, and is it at risk? Many wrongful termination matters carry hard filing deadlines.
How often will I hear from you? Set the communication cadence now.
What can I do to help my own case? The best lawyers will give you homework.
What is the worst-case outcome? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
What to bring to your Des Moines consultation
You will get more out of the first call if you arrive organized. For most wrongful termination matters, gather:
A short written timeline. Dates, names, and what happened, in order.
The key documents. Any contracts, letters, agreements, court orders, or filings you have received.
Your correspondence. Relevant emails, texts, or messages - and do not delete anything.
Any deadlines you know about. A court date, a signing deadline, or an agency notice.
Your questions. The 10 above are a good place to start.
If you are not sure whether something is relevant, bring it anyway. It is easier for a lawyer to set aside what does not matter than to chase down what you left at home.
Talk to a vetted Wrongful Termination attorney in Des Moines
Tell us about your situation. We'll match you with one of these firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently asked questions about wrongful termination lawyers in Des Moines
Can I be fired for no reason in Iowa?
Usually yes. Iowa is at-will, so an employer can fire you for almost any reason. The exceptions are firings based on a protected trait, retaliation for protected activity, or violations of leave laws.
What makes a termination wrongful?
Being fired because of race, sex, age, disability, religion, or national origin, or in retaliation for reporting harassment, filing a workers' compensation claim, or refusing to break the law.
How long do I have to act in Iowa?
Most discrimination and retaliation claims start with a charge to the Iowa Civil Rights Commission or the EEOC, often within 300 days of the firing and sometimes shorter. Call early.
What does a wrongful termination lawyer cost in Des Moines?
Most employee-side firms offer a free consultation and work on contingency, commonly around a third of any recovery, so you generally pay no hourly fee out of pocket.
Should I sign my severance agreement?
Not before a lawyer reviews it. Severance agreements often include a release that waives your right to sue. A short review can preserve a far larger claim.
What should I bring to the first meeting?
Your offer letter, recent performance reviews, the termination notice, any severance paperwork, and emails or texts about the firing or the reason given for it.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you a lot. — The LawFirmSquare team
LawFirmSquare is a directory. We do not represent clients or refer cases for a fee.
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