The Rural Lawyer
How To Incentivize Rural Law Practice and Help Small Communities Thrive

Rural communities need more lawyers, and this book shows how incentive programs can help solve the problem.

Hannah Haksgaard (Author)

9781009542838, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 13 March 2025

203 pages
22.8 x 15 x 1.2 cm, 0.292 kg

'Haksgaard supplies important data and insights that will be invaluable for legal system stakeholders wishing to ameliorate the rural attorney shortage. The book will also be very useful to policymakers and scholars seeking to support the economic development of rural communities.' Lisa Pruitt, Distinguished Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law

The Rural Lawyer takes a close look at the challenges facing small-town America, where populations are dwindling and aging lawyers are not being replaced by new graduates. With interviews and personal accounts, the book shows how incentive programs can address this access-to-justice crisis. It specifically examines the South Dakota Rural Attorney Recruitment Program, which is the first program of its kind in the US and has seen great success in helping to attract new lawyers to small towns. Chapters also explore the larger context of rural economic development and its relationship to the law. With insightful analysis and real-life examples, The Rural Lawyer provides readers with a deep understanding of the challenges facing rural communities and the role that lawyers can play in helping these areas thrive.

1. Introduction
2. The rural lawyer
3. Policy responses
4. Choosing rural practice
5. Entering a rural community
6. Acceptance
7. Legal work
8. Mentorship
9. The finances of practice
10. Community impact
11. Staying or leaving
12. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Law & society [LAQ]