Office of the Attorney General of Iowa
Leif Olson has a diverse work experience in the legal field. Leif started their career as a Law Clerk to Judge Lynn N. Hughes at the U.S. District Court from 2001 to 2003. After that, they worked as an Associate at Norton Rose Fulbright from 2003 to 2005. Leif then served as an Associate at Dobrowski Larkin & Johnson LLP in 2006. In 2007, they held the position of Attorney at Hogan Lovells and Counsel at Welsh LeBlanc LLP. From 2013 until 2019, they were a Founding Member at The Olson Firm PLLC. Following that, they worked as a Senior Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Labor from 2019 to 2021. Leif Olson then joined the Texas Attorney General's office and held various positions including Special Counsel for Special Litigation from 2021 to 2022, Special Counsel for General Litigation from 2022 to 2023, and Chief, Special Litigation Division from 2023 to present. Additionally, Leif Olson is set to become the Chief Deputy Attorney General at the Office of the Attorney General of Iowa in 2023.
Leif Olson attended Trinity University from 1994 to 1998, where they obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. Following this, they enrolled at the University of Chicago Law School from 1998 to 2001, earning their Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. Leif Olson has also pursued additional certification in Civil Appellate Law, although the specific time of obtaining this certification is not provided.
Office of the Attorney General of Iowa
The attorney general is the State of Iowa's chief legal officer. The attorney general has general charge, supervision and direction of the state's legal business. The attorney general is elected every four years. The Office of the Attorney General provides legal advice and representation to most of the state's major departments, boards, commissions, authorities, officials and institutions. The office further represents the State of Iowa in state administrative law and Iowa District Court matters, the Iowa Court of Appeals, the Iowa Supreme Court, lower federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court. The attorney general's legal and support staff provide day-to-day advice to state officials and agencies. State government is a very large and complex enterprise, doing everything from providing human services, to building roads, to protecting citizens from incompetent licensed professionals and protecting the environment. Legal issues often arise in the context of the state’s work. The office guides, mediates, negotiates, drafts legal documents, and performs a wide range of other legal services to assist state agencies in fulfilling the important work of state government. In addition, the office is an advocate and resource for the State of Iowa and its residents in many areas, including protecting the public through criminal prosecutions, consumer protection efforts, combating fraud and corruption, and protecting civil rights.