Lawyers in Iowa won’t have to pony up $100 per year to help finance legal assistance programs after all. The Iowa Supreme Court has decided to look for other ways to support civil legal services for low-income Iowans.
The proposed fee didn’t go over well with many lawyers in the state. In declining to adopt the changes, Chief Justice Mark Cady on Tuesday cited the more than 200 public comments. Some attorneys objected to what they called an unfair tax, and others that a mandatory fee would discourage pro bono efforts. Young lawyers argued it would hurt fledgling practices and that they already charge relatively low fees.
