Roxanne Barton Conlin

Roxanne Barton Conlin is a nationally recognized trial attorney representing individuals in employment law and personal injury cases. Based in Des Moines, she advocates for victims of workplace discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and serious injury caused by negligence, defective products, medical malpractice, or wrongful conduct. Her practice is dedicated to holding corporations, institutions, and government entities accountable for violating rights or causing harm.

Conlin entered Drake University at the age of 16 and earned her J.D. with honors by age 21. She later earned a Master’s in Public Administration from Drake University. Admitted to the Iowa Bar in 1966, she quickly established herself as a legal pioneer, becoming head of the Iowa Civil Rights Section as an Assistant Attorney General, where she worked to end race and sex discrimination and reform key state laws.

In 1977, Conlin became one of the first two women to serve as a United States Attorney, prosecuting white-collar crime, corruption, and serious criminal offenses. She went on to lead her own practice, focusing on representing individuals against powerful corporate and governmental entities in employment and civil rights litigation. Her leadership in the legal field includes serving as the first woman president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and founding the Iowa Women’s Political Caucus.

Roxanne Barton Conlin’s career achievements include securing multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for employees and influencing national employment law through precedent-setting appellate victories. Recognized as one of the “Top 50 Employment Lawyers” by the Daily Journal and one of the “100 Most Influential Lawyers in America” by the National Law Journal, she has been inducted into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame and the Inner Circle of Advocates.

With decades of experience and a record of groundbreaking accomplishments, Conlin continues to champion the rights of workers, standing as a powerful advocate for fairness, equality, and justice in the workplace.

Law Office Affiliations

• Owner / Partner / Attorney, Roxanne Conlin & Associates, P.C.
• Member, Iowa State Bar Association
• Member, American Bar Association
• Assistant Attorney General, State of Iowa (1969 to 1976)
• Trustee, American Jury Trial Foundation (1993)
• Elected Membership, American Law Institute (1994)
• Board of Trustees, NITA (2003 to 2006)
• Member, Bar Review Committee – Iowa Bar Association (1987 to 1992)
• Member, Career Day Panel – Iowa Bar Association (1987 to 1992)
• Member, Federal Practice Committee – Iowa Bar Association (1987 to 1992)
• Member, Uniform Court Instructions Committee – Iowa Bar Association (1987 to 1992)
• Board of Governors, Association of Trial Lawyers of Iowa (1984 to 1995)
• President, Association of Trial Lawyers of America (1992 to 1993)
• President-Elect, Association of Trial Lawyers of America (1991 to 1992)
• Vice-President, Association of Trial Lawyers of America (1990 to 1991)
• Secretary, Association of Trial Lawyers of America (1989 to 1990)
• Parliamentarian, Association of Trial Lawyers of America (1988 to 1989)
• ATLA-PAC Board of Directors, Association of Trial Lawyers of America (1987 to 1989)
• Chair, Organization Review Committee – Association of Trial Lawyers of America
• Chair, Education Committee – Association of Trial Lawyers of America
• Chair, Membership Oversight Committee – Association of Trial Lawyers of America
• Consumer and Victims Coalition Committee, Association of Trial Lawyers of America
• Chair, Safety Conference Committee – Association of Trial Lawyers of America
• Board of Governors, Roscoe Pound Foundation (1986 to 1992)
• Board of Directors, National Association of Former United States Attorneys (1991 to 1999)
• Advisory Board Member, Older Iowans’ Permanent Fund Foundation (1991 to 1997)
• Master of the Bench, Blackstone Inn, American Inns (1989)
• Co-Chair, Higher Education Task Force of the State of Iowa (1988 to 1992)
• President, Civil Justice Foundation (1986 to 1988)
• Board of Directors, YWCA (1986 to 1988)
• Member, Des Moines Chamber of Commerce (1979)
• Member, Deputy Industrial Commissioner (1967 to 1968)
• Chair, Iowa Democratic Party (1998 to 1999)
• Member, National Center for State Court Lawyers Committee (2003 to 2009)

Licensed State

• Iowa

Education

• Drake University Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Drake University
  Master of Public Administration (MPA)
• Drake University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges