Education
Mark began his legal career at the University of Iowa College of Law in 2000, then ranked among the nation’s top 10% of all law schools. He deferred enrollment for one year, and began studying law in 2001. While in law school, he studied criminal defense and worked for a local criminal defense lawyer.
Mark studied law at Oxford University in England. He graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in May of 2004.
He grew up in eastern Iowa, graduating from Williamsburg High School in Iowa County, Iowa. He attended the University of Iowa as an undergraduate before enrolling in Luther College, in Decorah, Iowa and earning his B.A. in Computer Science. He was active on the Cross Country and Track & Field teams. Upon graduation, he worked for an Internet upstart company in Minneapolis before returning to Iowa City to pursue his law degree.
Our Practice
Mark now operates Thompson Law Office, in Iowa City, Iowa. He practices solely in criminal law, with a focus on OWI / DUI (Operating While Intoxicated) cases. Mark has represented and consulted clients on over two thousand local criminal cases.
Judicial Experience
Mark was appointed to serve the Sixth Judicial District as a Magistrate Judge for over 7 years. This experience gives him unique insight into the workings of the criminal justice system. In addition to the thousands of cases he has handled as a criminal defense attorney, he has worked on thousands more during his tenure as a Magistrate.
Drug Treatment Court and Public Defender Experience
Mark worked as the defense counsel for the Johnson County Drug Treatment Court for over 8 years. In this position he worked behind-the-scenes with state prosecutors and probation officers to help high-risk drug offenders successfully complete probation and avoid prison. He has also worked on criminal defense cases for the Iowa State Public Defender on a contract basis.
Seminars, Presentations, and Continuing Legal Education
Iowa Judicial Magistrates Conference, June 2023
Iowa Judicial Magistrates Conference, June 2022
Iowa Judicial Magistrates Conference, June 2021
Iowa Judicial Magistrates Conference, June 2020
Iowa Judicial Magistrates Conference, June 2019
Presenter – Being a Magistrate in a College Town – Student Legal Services – Midwest Regional Conference, March 2019
Iowa Judicial Magistrates Conference, June 2018
Presenter – Views from the Magistrate Bench – Iowa Association of Justice Criminal Law Seminar, September 2017
Iowa Judicial Magistrates Conference, June 2017
Presenter – Crisis Intervention Training for Law Enforcement – Johnson County Sheriff’s Office – March 2017
Presenter – Career Paths for Local Attorneys – University of Iowa College of Law, January 2017
Iowa New Magistrates Training Conference, October 2016
Iowa Judicial Magistrates Conference, June 2016
Award – Top 50 OWI Attorneys in Iowa by The National Advocacy for DUI Defense
Presenter – Iowa’s New Law for Expunging Dismissals – American Inn of Court, November 2015
Presenter, How to Avoid Mistakes with the Law in Iowa City for Student Leaders, University of Iowa College of Law, September 2015
NADCP Annual Convention, Washington DC, July 2015
Iowa State Bar Association Annual Juvenile Law CLE, May 2015
Judicial Conduct and Ethics – Johnson County Criminal Defense Bar, March 2015
Judge – University of Iowa Moot Court Competitions, Van Oosterhout-Baskerville Domestic and Jessup International, February 2015
Judge – AMCA Moot Court Regional Competition – University of Iowa College of Law – November 2014
Presiding Judge – Stephenson Competition – University of Iowa College of Law – November 2014
Presiding Judge – Appellate Advocacy for University of Iowa College of Law – October 2014
Combating Mental Mistakes with Alcohol and Drug Clients – September 2014
Panelist – “The Future of Legal Education” – University of Iowa College of Law, June 17, 2014
National Association of Drug Court Professionals 20th Annual Training Conference, Anaheim, California. May 27 – May 31, 2014
Panelist – “How to Examine a Witness” – Dean Mason Ladd Inn of Court, Cedar Rapids, March 2014
Presenter – Private Practice Forum – University of Iowa College of Law, February 2014
IAJ Criminal Law Seminar, September 2013
Presenter – How to Start a Law Firm – University of Iowa College of Law, April 2013
Voir Dire Judge – Advanced Criminal Procedure, University of Iowa College of Iowa, April 2013
Presenter – Legal Ethics in Iowa, as Applied to a Real World Practice – University of Iowa College of Law, November 2012
Presiding Mock Trial Judge – 2009, 2012 Stephenson Competition University of Iowa College of Law
Presenter – Drug Courts: A Comparison of Approaches, Iowa Association for Justice Criminal Law Seminar (CLE), September 2012
Iowa Association for Justice Criminal Law Seminar, September 2012
Presenter and Program Organizer – Non-verbal Communication in the Courtroom, American Inn of Court, March 2012
National Association of Drug Court Professionals 17th Annual Training Conference, Washington, D.C. July 17-20, 2011
Presenter – Seminar to American Inn of Court on DOT procedures with an OWI charge, January 2011
IAJ Criminal Law Seminar, Iowa City, Iowa 2010
Scoring Mock Trial Judge – 2005, 2006 National Collegiate Mock Trial Tournament Finals, 2007, 2010 University of Iowa College of Law
Iowa State Bar Association Criminal Law Seminar, Des Moines, Iowa
2010
Iowa Association for Justice Criminal Law Seminar, Riverside, Iowa 2009
Iowa State Bar Association Criminal Law Seminar, Des Moines, Iowa, 2009
ISBA Criminal Law Seminar, Des Moines, Iowa 2008
Iowa Trial Lawyers Association 22nd Annual Criminal Law Seminar, Iowa City, Iowa 2008
ITLA 21st Annual Criminal Law Seminar, Iowa City, Iowa 2007
ISBA Nuts & Bolts Seminar, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 2007
Iowa Public Defender Criminal Law Seminar, Iowa City, Iowa 2006
ISBA Spanish for Lawyers and Legal Professionals, Cedar Rapids, 2006
ISBA Annual Meeting, Des Moines, Iowa, 2005
Prior Professional Memberships
Dean Mason Ladd American Inn of Court Member, Treasurer
Iowa State Bar Association
Iowa Trial Lawyers Association/Iowa Association for Justice, Criminal Law Section
National Association of Drug Court Professionals
American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section
Association of Trial Lawyers of America
Past Employment
Associate Attorney – John C. Wagner Law Offices, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (2004-2005)
Law Clerk – Foster Law Office, Iowa City, Iowa (2002-2004)
Free consultation for your pending OWI or criminal case in the Iowa City area: 319 820-0444