At the University of Iowa College of Law, students have the opportunity to study family law courses in their second year. Family law students also study immigration, family gender, constitutional law and basic federal income tax law. Students are awarded a juris doctor upon completion and can practice as attorneys after passing the state bar exam. Admission to the law school requires completion of a bachelor's degree and acceptable performance on the LSAT. The College of Law is selective. Only 200 applicants out of 1,800 enrolled in 2010. For the 2011-2012 school year, tuition was about $25,000 plus fees for state residents; out-of-state tuition rates are $20,000 more. Interested students should apply online.
Drake University Law School, in Des Moines, offers a full curriculum in family law. Courses include domestic violence, juvenile law, legal interviewing and counseling as well as current issues in family law. Students receive a juris doctor upon completion of the program. Applicants must posses a bachelor's degree, an acceptable LSAT score and have applied to the Credential Assembly Service before applying to the school. Drake is competitive: Only about 13 percent of the applicant pool was admitted in 2010. Applications are accepted online. As of 2011, the admission fee is waived if submitted online prior to April 1 of each year.
Brown Mackie College, in Bettendorf, offers associate of applied science degrees in paralegal studies. Paralegal students can take courses that teach application of family law principles for work in a law firm. Family law courses prepare students to draft legal separation agreements. The general degree program trains students in legal writing and research. Preparation for trial, closings, hearings and discovery are also offered. Students must have a GED or high school diploma prior to admission.
Iowa Western Community College, in Council Bluffs, offers a paralegal studies program that includes a course in family law practices in the final semester. Paralegals graduate from IWCC in as little as four semesters. Other courses include legal ethics, public speaking, composition, property/probate and an internship. The program is offered only online, allowing flexibility and convenience for students located across the state. Students receive an associate of arts degree upon completion of the program with a 2.5 grade-point average or higher.