Free Consultation: (515) 619-9148

Location:
West Des Moines, Iowa
Phone: 515-619-9148
Fax: 515-777-1127

Attorney Stuart Higgins was born and raised on a small farm west of Ottumwa, Iowa. He has called Iowa home his entire life. After graduating from Ottumwa High School, he attended the University of Iowa and then Drake University Law School, where he graduated in 2011.

Stuart married Melissa in August 2010. Melissa is the Communications Director for the Iowa State Bar Association. They have two children and live in Urbandale.

While in law school, Stuart clerked for the Ottumwa firm of Kiple, Denefe, Beaver, Gardner, Zingg, LLP and for attorney Marc Humphrey at the Humphrey Law Firm in Des Moines. Working with these firms, Stuart gained a great deal of experience in the legal areas of personal injury, medical malpractice and products liability. Stuart also practiced as a Student Attorney where he represented persons charged with crimes of various levels of severity including, but not limited to, OWI, assault, theft and possession of illegal substances.

It was working for the Iowa Civil Rights Commission that initially spurred Stuart’s interest in the area of employment law, particularly laws that prohibit discrimination in the workplace. In screening complaints received by the Commission from persons who had suffered discrimination in the workplace, Stuart came to understand the prevalence of discrimination in the workplace and the terrible harm that is inflicted on victims. Further, he came to understand the difference an attorney advocate can make in the lives of victims of discrimination.

Stuart founded the Higgins Law Firm, PLLC in 2011. The mission statement of the Firm is to protect the rights of Iowans. The Firm is dedicated to helping injured Iowans- those harmed in accidents, by medical negligence, by unreasonably dangerous products and by discrimination in the workplace. Stuart also defends Iowans who have been charged with crimes.

Areas of Practice

  • Employment Law — Employee
  • Criminal Law
  • Discrimination
  • Motor Vehicle Accidents — Plaintiff
  • Wrongful Termination — Employee

Education

  • Drake University Law School, Des Moines, Iowa – 2011
  • University of Iowa

Recognition

  • “Association of American Trial Lawyers (AOATL): Top 40 Under 40 for Employment Law”
  • “The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 Under 40 (State of Iowa 2017)”
  • “Top 100 Trial Lawyers, 2015, The National Trial Lawyers”
  • “Premier 100 Trial Attorneys, 2015, American Academy of Trial Attorneys”
  • “Great Plains Super Lawyers, Rising Star, (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)”

Professional and Community Affiliations

  • American Association for Justice
  • Iowa State Bar Association
  • Polk County Bar Association
  • Iowa Association for Justice – Board of Governors (2015-Present); New Lawyers Section (Chairman)
  • National Employment Lawyers Association
  • National Employment Lawyers Association – Iowa Chapter
  • Des Moines Branch of the NAACP – Legal Grievance Committee
  • Adjunct Professor of Law – Drake Law School