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Iowa attorney listings on RateIowaLawyers.com show license and ethics labels sourced from the Iowa Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) public roster and other public records we verify and combine on profiles. This glossary explains what those labels mean for consumers — not legal advice. When in doubt, confirm status directly with OPR at (515) 348-4670.
See also data sources & methodology and ethics disclaimers.
Iowa license statuses (OPR)
Active
“Active” is the standard status for attorneys licensed to practice law in Iowa who are in good standing with the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR). An active Iowa license generally means the person may represent clients in Iowa courts and provide legal services here, subject to Iowa Court Rules and any court orders.
What it means for you: This is the status you typically want when hiring counsel for an Iowa matter. Still confirm scope, fees, and conflicts directly with the attorney.
Pro Hac Vice
“Pro hac vice” (Latin: “for this occasion”) describes admission that lets an attorney licensed elsewhere appear in a particular Iowa case without full Iowa bar membership. Iowa requires out-of-state attorneys to register with OPR, pay a registration fee (deposited to the Client Security Trust Fund), and comply with Iowa Court Rule 31.14 before seeking pro hac vice admission in a case. Registration is valid for up to five years and appears in the OPR database with the status “Pro Hac Vice.” A local Iowa counsel (“associate counsel”) is typically required.
What it means for you: This attorney is not a fully licensed Iowa lawyer for general practice. They may represent a party only in matters where a court grants pro hac vice admission, usually alongside Iowa counsel. Confirm which lawyer will handle day-to-day work in Iowa.
Inactive
OPR uses “Inactive” when an attorney is not practicing under an active Iowa license. Reasons vary — retirement, career change, relocation, or failure to complete renewal requirements. Inactive attorneys should not hold themselves out as available for hire to practice law in Iowa until reinstated or readmitted under OPR rules.
What it means for you: Do not assume this person can take new Iowa clients. Ask whether they are practicing elsewhere or can refer you to active Iowa counsel.
Suspended
Suspension is a disciplinary or court-ordered restriction. While suspended, an attorney may not practice law in Iowa (subject to the exact terms of the suspension order). OPR publishes suspension status in the public roster. The length and conditions depend on the underlying disciplinary action.
What it means for you: Do not hire this person for Iowa legal work while suspended. Review any public discipline records and seek active Iowa counsel.
Revoked
Revocation is among the most serious OPR outcomes. A revoked license removes the attorney’s privilege to practice in Iowa. Reinstatement, if ever available, requires a separate OPR/ court process. “Disbarred” in common speech often corresponds to revoked or equivalent disciplinary loss of license.
What it means for you: This person should not perform legal services in Iowa. Use OPR discipline records and choose an active Iowa attorney.
Relinquished
Relinquishment means the attorney chose to surrender their Iowa license rather than remain active or inactive. Like inactive or revoked statuses, relinquished attorneys are not authorized to practice in Iowa unless they later complete an admission or reinstatement process approved by OPR and the court.
What it means for you: Treat this as not licensed for new Iowa representation. Ask for referrals to active Iowa counsel.
Deceased
The Iowa lawyer roster retains records for deceased attorneys for reference. This status is not an disciplinary label — it indicates the licensee is no longer living.
What it means for you: This profile is archival. Contact the firm or successor counsel if you need records related to past representation.
Emeritus
Emeritus status reflects retirement from active practice while maintaining a formal relationship with the Iowa bar under OPR rules. Emeritus attorneys are not available for full active practice like standard “Active” licensees.
What it means for you: Unlikely to be available for new client matters. Confirm directly if you see this status on a profile you are considering.
Expired
“Expired” on the OPR roster indicates the attorney’s registration or license period is no longer current. It is distinct from voluntary inactive status but similarly means the person is not an active Iowa lawyer until renewal, reinstatement, or other OPR action occurs.
What it means for you: Verify current status with OPR before engaging this person for Iowa legal work.
House Counsel
House counsel registration allows an attorney employed by an organization to provide legal services for that entity under Iowa’s house-counsel rules. It is not a general license to represent the public. OPR may list statuses such as “House Counsel” or “Registered House Counsel.”
What it means for you: This registration usually means legal work for their employer, not private clients. Confirm whether they can represent you individually.
Foreign Legal Consultant
Foreign Legal Consultant (FLC) registration permits a lawyer qualified abroad to offer limited advisory services in Iowa under court rules. FLC registrants cannot engage in the full practice of Iowa law reserved to active Iowa licensees.
What it means for you: Appropriate only for narrow advisory roles allowed under FLC rules — not general Iowa litigation or representation.
MJP Practitioner
Multijurisdictional Practice (MJP) registration allows out-of-state attorneys to perform limited legal services in Iowa for an established client relationship, typically without opening a permanent Iowa office. Scope is defined by Iowa Court Rules and registration requirements.
What it means for you: May be relevant if you already work with an out-of-state firm on a permitted matter. Confirm the MJP rules apply to your situation.
Exempt
“Exempt” on the OPR roster indicates the person falls into a category exempt from standard lawyer registration or reporting, not that they are necessarily available for private client hire.
What it means for you: Read this status in context. It rarely indicates a typical private-practice attorney available for hire.
Eligible
Some roster entries use “Eligible” to reflect that an attorney on inactive status may qualify for reinstatement without a full new admission process. Eligible is not equivalent to “Active” for purposes of current practice authority.
What it means for you: Confirm with OPR and the attorney whether they have completed reinstatement before engaging them.
Ethics & compliance labels
Compliant
“Compliant” on RateIowaLawyers.com means our ethics pipeline did not surface disciplinary or risk flags from the public records and rules we monitor at last review. It is not a guarantee of future conduct or a substitute for your own due diligence.
What it means for you: A helpful baseline signal, not a certification. Still interview attorneys and verify license status on OPR.
Potential Issue
“Potential issue” means we found public signals — such as preliminary conflict flags, court records, or discipline references — that may warrant attention. Iowa OPR license roster labels (for example Inactive or Relinquished) are shown separately under Practice & credentials; voluntary surrender is not treated as a disciplinary finding.
What it means for you: Read the cited sources on the profile and decide whether the issue matters for your matter.
Non-Compliant
“Non-compliant” reflects multiple or high-severity public indicators in our ethics pipeline — for example active discipline, suspension, or repeated flags. We label these prominently; official outcomes are determined only by courts and OPR.
What it means for you: Review linked public records carefully before engaging this attorney.
Public Discipline on File
When we show “Public discipline on file,” our ethics review matched this profile to an official Iowa Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) sanction—such as a reprimand, suspension, or probation—published on the lawyer’s public roster. We link the sanction type, date, and any public order PDF when OPR provides one. Listing a record is transparency about a public source; it is not a finding of guilt by RateIowaLawyers.com.
What it means for you: Read the sanction label and date, then open Iowa’s public order PDF if linked. Decide whether the matter matters for your case and confirm current license status on OPR.
Published Iowa Discipline
“Published Iowa discipline” means our review surfaced official Iowa OPR sanctions with higher severity—such as suspension, revocation, or repeated findings—not merely a license roster label. Details and primary sources appear in the Ethics & compliance section.
What it means for you: Review the cited OPR records carefully before engaging this attorney. OPR remains the authoritative source for current license status.
Under Review
“Under review” applies when our pipeline flagged something that is not yet tied to a published Iowa OPR discipline row on the profile. It is not the label we use once OPR public discipline is linked—that appears as “Public discipline on file.”
What it means for you: Check the Ethics & compliance section for updates, or verify license and discipline directly on Iowa OPR.
Not Reviewed
Many profiles display “Ethics review pending” until our batch ethics analysis runs. Absence of a review is neutral — not an endorsement.
What it means for you: Use Iowa OPR license search and your own vetting until our review completes.
Profile signals & verification
Iowa OPR Verified
When we show “verified via Iowa OPR,” we linked this profile to an OPR lawyer ID or refreshed license status from the Supreme Court Commissions database. Verification timestamps show when we last synced — OPR remains the authoritative source.
What it means for you: Stronger confidence in license status than legacy directory text alone. Re-check OPR for the latest status before hiring.
Preliminary Ethics Flag
Preliminary flags are machine-generated hints from public data (filings, news, or pattern rules). We label them “Preliminary” so they are not mistaken for final disciplinary findings.
What it means for you: Read the description and source link. Preliminary does not mean proven misconduct.
Pro Hac Vice — quick reference
Pro Hac Vice is one of the most misunderstood roster statuses. It does not mean the attorney is fully licensed to practice anywhere in Iowa. Out-of-state lawyers register with OPR, pay a registration fee, and may then ask an Iowa court for case-by-case admission under Iowa Court Rule 31.14, usually with a local Iowa co-counsel. If you see this status on a profile, read our full Pro Hac Vice entry above and verify registration on the OPR Pro Hac Vice search.