Madison Fiedler-Carlson - Johnston, IA
Attorney at Fiedler Law Firm, P.L.C.
Employment Law Lawyers in Johnston, IA
8831 Windsor Pkwy Johnston, IA 50131
- Free Consultation
- 1 Super Lawyers®
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10
Years
Experience
Johnston Employment Law Lawyer
Updated: 07/27/2026
Areas of Practice
- Employment Law
- Harassment
- Discrimination
- Retaliation
- Civil Rights
- Wage & Hour
- Fair Labor Standards Act
- Family and Medical Leave Act
- Severance Negotiations
- Name Changes
Attorney Information
Overview
Madison Fiedler-Carlson is an Iowa attorney who represents employees and individuals in civil litigation. Her practice focuses on workplace disputes involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour violations , and other employment-related claims. She is committed to helping clients understand their rights, evaluate their options, and make informed decisions about what comes next.
Clients often describe Madison as a steady presence during an uncertain process. “I needed a guide through the entire process and that is what I found in Madison,” one client shared. Another told us, “She helped me feel like I had some control when I had felt powerless for so long.” (Read more from clients on our Success Stories page.) Madison believes effective advocacy means more than achieving a strong legal result; it means helping people regain a sense of control, confidence, and dignity along the way.
Madison grew up in Johnston, Iowa, and spent much of her childhood at her mother’s law firm, answering phones, filing paperwork, and helping where she could. Watching clients turn to an attorney during some of the most stressful periods of their lives gave her an early understanding of the responsibility that comes with practicing law.
Madison earned her bachelor’s degree from Simpson College, where she studied religion and psychology, spent time abroad in England, and served as a teaching assistant for a course on Harry Potter and religion. Long before “popular culture and the law” became a common academic theme, the course explored how stories shape our understanding of religion, ethics, community, and justice. Those conversations were a natural fit for someone fascinated by what drives people’s beliefs, decisions, and conflicts.
She went on to attend the University of New Hampshire School of Law, where she was selected for the highly competitive Daniel Webster Scholar Honors Program. The program provided intensive hands-on training in practical lawyering skills, preparing her to represent clients from her first day in practice.
Throughout college and law school, Madison dedicated significant time to service and advocacy. She worked with interfaith programs, mentored fellow students, volunteered as an English-language conversation partner, and supported low-income clients through a fellowship with New Hampshire Legal Assistance. She also gained experience working with plaintiff-side employment and personal injury law firms, helping individuals pursue justice against larger institutions.
Madison earned her J.D. in 2016 and was admitted to the New Hampshire Bar that same year. She practiced law in Colorado before returning home to Iowa in 2018, where she was admitted to the Iowa Bar and has continued advocating for employees and individuals throughout the state.
Madison lives in Beaverdale with her husband, Jacob, her dog Henry, and her two cats, James and Goldie. Their century-old brick house is the love of their life and the bane of their existence. When she’s away from her desk, you’ll likely find her reading a fantasy novel, horseback riding, painting, biking Iowa’s gorgeous trails, tackling another home project, or creating an exceptionally detailed to-do list.
Cases in the News:
- Jury awards nearly $1.4 million to DMACC IT worker for pay disparity, retaliation
- DHS worker accuses managers in Des Moines service area of widespread sexual harassment
- ‘She still has not recovered’: Jury awards Iowa DHS employee $790k in sexual harassment lawsuit
- Bad Boss of the Month – This Bad Boss Had the Facts He Needed to Stop Sexual Harassment, Yet Failed to Act
- Iowa to pay nearly $1 million because of alleged sexual harassment by female DHS supervisor
- Former Collins employee sues over sexual harassment and assault
- Same-sex couple sues employer for alleged harassment and discrimination
- Two lawsuits accuse the state of discriminating against workers
- Former deputy director of state agency claims retaliation, civil rights violations
- Britt police chief alleges years-long same-sex harassment by mayor, council member
- Britt police chief fired after lawsuit accusing mayor of sexual harassment
- Former librarian sues Des Moines library, alleges leaders failed to protect staff
- Ex-Britt police officer sues city for sex discrimination
- Former education department employee to receive settlement in discrimination case
- Iowa police chief fired after alleging sexual harassment by mayor gets $300k settlement
- Transgender Iowans scramble to change birth certificates before new law goes into effect
- Lawsuit seeking class action claims Hy-Vee fails to pay overtime
- Class-action lawsuit alleges Hy-Vee has failed to pay overtime wages
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Super Lawyers Rising Star (2022-present)
- Best Lawyers – One to Watch (2023 2024, 2026)
- The National Trial Lawyers – 40 Under 40 (2024-present)
Other Sources of Feedback About Madison Fiedler-Carlson
Included on the 2026 Great Plains Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2025 Great Plains Super Lawyers list
- 2024 Great Plains Super Lawyers list
- 2023 Great Plains Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Great Plains Super Lawyers list
Current Employment Position(s)
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Attorney
Published Works
Articles
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September 2014 | New Hampshire Public Schools | Prepared materials for presentation on transgender employees and students in public schools
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June 2019 | Presented to church administrators on religious entities and the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Iowa Wage Payment Collection Law
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October 2019 | Simpson College | Guest Lecturer for Harry Potter and the Liberal Arts | Presented on Harry Potter and the Law
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November 2021 | Iowa State Bar Association | Labor and Employment Seminar | Presented on the Fair Labor Standards Act with Katie Ervin Carlson
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February 2022 | Iowa Association for Justice | Presented on the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Iowa Wage Payment Collection Law
- April 2022 | Polk County Women Attorneys | Presented for Equal Pay Day on equal pay claims based on sex and gender
- October 2022 | Simpson College | Guest Lecturer for Harry Potter and the Liberal Arts | Presented on Harry Potter and the Law
- April 2023 | Polk County Women Attorneys | Presented for Equal Pay Day on equal pay claims based on sex and gender
- February 2024 | Iowa Association for Justice | Presented on Ethical Considerations of Social Media and Reviews
- April 2024 | National Employment Lawyers Association | Presentation on Successfully Navigating EEOC and State FEPA Investigations for State Employees
- October 2024 | Iowa Association for Justice | Presented at the New Lawyers Boot Camp with Attorney Ben Lynch on Building Your Book of Business
- September 2024 | Iowa State Bar Association | Corporate Counsel and Trade Regulation Seminar, presented with Maggie Hanson on Professional Collegiality and Wellness
- February 2025 | C. Edwin Moore Inn of Court | Presentation on Electronic Evidence: From Mobile Device to Evidence
- April 2025 | Iowa State Bar Association | Presented on panel on Now What? Actions You Can Take to Advocate for Transgender Clients and Colleagues
- May 2025 | Iowa State Bar Association | Panel presentation on More Than a Binary: Real Life Impacts of Iowa Laws on Transgender Iowans
- June 2025 | Iowa State Bar Association | Presented on a panel on the recent ICRA amendments
- September 2025 | Iowa Association for Justice | Moderated a panel with Judge William Kelly and Justice Arthur Gamble on Preparing for Summary Judgment Hearings and Effective Dispositive Motion Practice
- April 2026 | C. Edwin Moore Inn of Court | Presentation on Discovery Disputes: How to Win Without Losing Credibility
- May 2026 | Ohio Association for Justice | Presented on Employment Law: Spotting Claims You’re Already Sitting On
Bar Admissions
- Iowa
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Iowa
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Iowa
Other Affiliations
- National Employment Lawyers Association (2016-present)
- Iowa Employment Lawyers Association, Treasurer (2022-present)
- Eighth Circuit National Employment Lawyers Association, Member (2018-present)
- Eighth Circuit National Employment Lawyers Association, Board Member (2025-present)
- Iowa State Bar Association, Elected 5C Representative (2021-2022)
- Iowa Association for Justice, Elected New Lawyers Core Group Representative (2020-present)
- Polk County Bar Association
- Polk County Women Attorneys, Member (2018-present)
- Polk County Women Attorneys, Co-Chair, Professional Development (2021, 2022)
- Polk County Women Attorneys, President Elect (2023)
- Polk County Women Attorneys, President (2024)
- Polk County Women Attorneys, Past President (2025)
- Polk County Women Attorneys, Historian (2026)
Contact
8831 Windsor Pkwy
Johnston, IA 50131
Phone Number: 515-303-8210
Fax Number: 515-254-9923
Email: Send a message
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