Emily K. Ellingson

Emily K. Ellingson is an Iowa lawyer at Ahlers & Cooney, P.C., focused on K-12 schools, higher education, employment law, labor, governance, litigation, and contracting matters. She advises public education clients on student rights, discipline, special education, open meetings, public records, policies, employee discipline, benefits, accommodations, leave, wage issues, investigations, and Title IX. She also represents school districts in collective bargaining, grievances, arbitrations, administrative proceedings, and other employment disputes requiring careful legal analysis and practical guidance.

Emily earned her J.D. from the University of Iowa in 2009. She received her B.S., with Highest Distinction, from the University of Iowa in 2006. She was admitted to the Iowa bar in 2009 and practices before all Iowa courts. She is also admitted to the US District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa. Her background includes prior work representing schools, cities, and counties across Iowa communities.

Emily handles matters before state and federal agencies, including PERB, BOEE, the Iowa Department of Education, the US Department of Education, ICRC, and EEOC. She has defended school districts in open-records litigation and represented districts in disputes involving state education funding and teacher salary schedules. She also serves in Title IX roles for private colleges, including coordinator, investigator, decision-maker, and advisor, helping institutions manage sensitive compliance and complex procedural responsibilities.

Emily K. Ellingson has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Education Law in 2026 and Employment Law–Management in 2025 and 2026. She is active in legal and education organizations and regularly speaks on employment, Title IX, open meetings, public records, leave, investigations, and school governance. She also contributes through volunteer and civic service, reflecting sustained professional involvement in Iowa’s education, employment, and public-sector legal communities through ongoing service.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Ahlers & Cooney, P.C.
• Member, Linn County Bar Association
• Member, Iowa State Bar Association
• Member, Linn County Bar Association
• Member, Linn County Bar Association

Licensed State

• Iowa

Education

• University of Iowa
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Iowa
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)