Engaging with Demand for Lawyers in Rural Areas

For years, the conversation around legal careers has revolved around large law firms in major cities. From OCI at top schools to lateral moves among Am Law 100 firms, the gravitational pull of New York, D.C., Chicago, and other urban centers is undeniable. Yet an overlooked trend offers a different kind of opportunity for both law students and lateral attorneys: the persistent demand for lawyers in rural America.

The Rural Legal Desert

The American Bar Association (ABA) has repeatedly flagged the lack of access to legal services in rural areas as a growing concern. A 2020 ABA report estimated that while nearly 20% of Americans live in rural regions, only about 2% of lawyers practice there. The mismatch has led to what is sometimes called “legal deserts”—counties where residents must travel hours to find representation for basic matters like estate planning, family law, or criminal defense.

For law students and associates who may be struggling to find positions in competitive urban markets, this gap creates real opportunities. Unlike in saturated urban areas where dozens of resumes pour in for each opening, rural firms and solo practitioners often struggle to attract candidates.

Why Demand Exists

Several factors drive the persistent demand for lawyers in rural America:

1. Retiring Attorneys: Many rural practitioners are in their 60s or older. A report by the South Dakota State Bar, for example, found that nearly 65% of its members were over 50, with limited pipelines of younger lawyers to replace them (South Dakota State Bar, 2022).
2. Fewer New Entrants: Law students tend to prefer urban centers for professional and lifestyle reasons. Career services offices at many law schools report limited student interest in rural placements.
3. Generalist Practices: Rural lawyers are often “one-stop shops,” handling everything from litigation to transactional work. For young attorneys, this can translate into a steep but rewarding learning curve.

The Pros of Practicing in Rural Areas

Choosing to practice in a rural area doesn’t mean settling. There are distinct advantages that both law students and lateral attorneys should consider:

• Immediate Responsibility: Rural firms often have lean staffing. A junior associate might be drafting dispositive motions, leading client meetings, or even first-chairing smaller matters far earlier than peers in big cities.
• Community Impact: In smaller towns, the lawyer’s role is highly visible. Attorneys often become civic leaders, whether through school boards, bar associations, or pro bono efforts.
• Lower Cost of Living: Housing, transportation, and day-to-day expenses are significantly lower outside of metro areas, meaning that even if salaries are lower, take-home purchasing power can be higher.
• Path to Partnership or Ownership: Because of succession needs, younger attorneys may be offered equity stakes or paths to take over practices—something that would take decades in a large firm setting.

The Cons and Considerations

Of course, rural practice is not without its tradeoffs:

• Compensation Gaps: Salaries rarely match BigLaw or even mid-sized urban firms. An entry-level associate in a rural area might make $60,000–$80,000, compared to $200,000+ in Am Law firms.
• Limited Specialization: Attorneys seeking to practice narrowly (e.g., only in international arbitration) will not find much of a market.
• Lifestyle Adjustments: Some attorneys find small-town life isolating, particularly if they are used to large-city amenities or diverse professional networks.
• Fewer Colleagues: With smaller bar communities, mentorship opportunities may be more limited unless carefully sought out.

Strategies for Law Students

Law students interested in exploring rural practice should consider:

1. Targeted Internships: State or local bar associations often sponsor rural clerkship programs. For example, Nebraska’s Rural Practice Initiative connects law students with firms in underserved counties.
2. Clinical Programs: Law school clinics focusing on family law, housing, or agricultural law can help students gain experience relevant to rural practice.
3. Networking with State Bars: Unlike in big cities, where networking may feel impersonal, rural bar leaders are often enthusiastic about connecting with students who express genuine interest in serving their communities.

Strategies for Lateral Attorneys

For mid-level associates considering a move, the calculus is slightly different:

1. Assess Practice Transferability: Litigation, trusts & estates, and general business law often transfer well; highly specialized practices may not.
2. Explore Succession Opportunities: Many rural lawyers nearing retirement actively seek successors to buy into their practices.
3. Hybrid Work Options: Some rural firms are experimenting with hybrid models, allowing attorneys to live in larger nearby cities but serve rural clients part-time.
4. Leverage Loan Repayment Programs: Some states, such as Minnesota and South Dakota, offer loan forgiveness to attorneys who practice in rural areas, easing the financial tradeoff.

A Market Worth Watching

As the legal industry continues to grapple with oversupply in some markets and shortages in others, rural America remains one of the most underserved areas. For law students open to adventure or lateral associates seeking greater responsibility, the rural market represents both a career path and a chance to make a tangible difference.

For firms and communities in these regions, the opportunity to attract talent is equally pressing. What remains to be seen is whether enough lawyers are willing to step outside the big-city pipeline to meet the need.