Iowa lawyers met at the Polk County courthouse to organize The Iowa State Bar Association; it is the oldest voluntary state bar association in the United States.
A President, President-Elect and Vice-President, are nominated by the Board and elected by the membership.
Prior to 1995, the Association policed the Bar for ethical rules violations and non-lawyers engaged in the unauthorized practice of law.
In 1995, both of those functions were ceded to the Iowa Supreme Court.
The Association currently provides a broad array of services to its membership and the public.