Earl Payson is a Fellow of the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers, an organization selected by invitation only and approved by the unanimous consent of its Board of Governors. This demonstrates his reputation for excellence in court, which he developed over more than 30 years. Mr. Payson strives to find prompt, complete and effective legal solutions whenever a case can be resolved favorably without the need to go to court.

Earl Payson was born in Rock Island, Illinois. He graduated from Augustana College, Rock Island, and the University of Iowa College of Law. Throughout his varied legal career Mr. Payson has served as a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a civilian attorney for the United States Army, a corporation counsel, a city attorney and a prosecuting attorney. He is a fellow of the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers.

He is also a member of:

• The National Employment Lawyers Association
• American Association for Justice
• Iowa Association for Justice
• Iowa and Illinois Bar Associations
• The Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI

Mr. Payson has served on the Iowa State Bar Committees on practice in the Federal Courts and Workers' Compensation. He has also served on the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Seventh Judicial District of Iowa and the Executive Committee of the Scott County Iowa Bar Association.

He has been Chairman of the Scott County Iowa Attorney Grievance Committee and the liaison between the Scott County Bar and the Court. Mr. Payson is Board certified as a mediator by the American Academy of ADR Attorneys. He has served as a volunteer mediator for the Iowa Civil Rights Commission and currently serves as a volunteer mediator for the Civil Rights Commission of the City of Davenport, Iowa.