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The rising need for rural lawyers is making headlines. The National Jurist, the magazine for law students, recently featured an article emphasizing that need titled, “Wanted: Rural Lawyers”. Drake Law School Dean Allan Vestal was quoted regarding what Drake is doing to encourage the pursuit of practice in rural areas of Iowa.
According to the article, statistics show that many lawyers currently practicing in rural communities are ready to retire – with no one waiting in the wings. Combined with that, current law students voice some concerns: paying off debt and finding an active social life in small Midwest towns.
So what are law schools like Drake doing to bridge the gap?
As Dean Vestal mentions in the article, Drake Law is bringing in rural attorneys to talk with students about the benefits of rural practice – the well-rounded experience of being involved in the community as a business and civic leader. In addition, Drake is encouraging rural attorneys to set up paid internships so that students can get an inside perspective during law school, with the hopes that the connections made during that time will last beyond the internship.
Read more about the need for rural attorneys in The National Jurist.