Leonard Bates
Shareholder
Phone: (515) 883-2000
Email: lbates@newkirklaw.com
Leonard Bates was born in Kansas City, Missouri. He grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and graduated from Drake University in 2005. Leonard then attended Drake University Law School where he was a member of the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Team and a First-Year Oral Argument Finalist.
Leonard earned his J.D. with Honors in May 2008. After graduation, he moved to New York City and was admitted to practice law in the state of New York in June of 2009.
Leonard moved back to Des Moines in early 2011 and became an associate attorney for Newkirk Zwagerman. He is a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) Iowa Employment Lawyers Association, Iowa State Bar Association, and the Iowa Association for Justice.
Leonard has recently taken on numerous cases challenging criminal background screenings that target disproportionately high numbers of African Americans and Hispanics for non-job-related reasons. He also represents numerous individuals with wrongful termination and hostile work environment claims.
Areas of Practice:
Employment Law
Discrimination
Civil Rights
Bar Admissions:
State of Iowa (2011)
Education:
Drake University Law School, Des Moines, Iowa, J.D. with Honors
Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, B.A.