The Importance of Career Education in Rural Communities
Growing up, I had a basic understanding of what an attorney did—I knew they went to court, worked with judges, and defended people... that's about it. It wasn’t until I was in college that I truly grasped the breadth of the legal profession and the expansive opportunities it offers. In many small towns, there might be only one or two attorneys, which means that only a handful of people are in a position to influence and inspire our youth about this career path.
We need more attorneys who are willing to mentor rural youth, guide them toward exploring legal careers, and encourage them to return to their communities after their education. By introducing these young minds to the possibilities of a legal career early on, we can help them envision a future where they not only excel professionally but also contribute significantly to their hometowns. Showing them that a legal career can be both rewarding and impactful is essential for fostering the next generation of rural legal professionals.
Existing Opportunities
As tuition costs continue to rise, many law schools are adopting innovative approaches to streamline education and accelerate graduation. For example, Washburn Law School has established 3+3 partnerships with numerous colleges across Kansas. This program allows students to complete their undergraduate degree in three years followed by
three years of law school, reducing the total time for legal education from 7 to 6 years.
This approach not only helps students enter the workforce more quickly but also saves them time and money. However, these programs require students to plan their education and career far in advance. To help make this opportunity an option, we need to introduce students to legal careers early on—by bringing attorneys into high school classrooms or by providing high school students with opportunities to visit law offices. The earlier we can engage students in exploring these career paths, the better they can plan their educational journey and make informed decisions about their futures.
Public perceptions of lawyers often come from dramatic portrayals in TV shows, which can skew our understanding of the day-to-day job responsibilities. In reality, attorneys engage in a wide range of important work and play a crucial role in society, especially in small towns. Attorneys do far more than stand in court all day. Attorneys help people with LLC formation, business consulting, real estate transactions, estate planning, family law, employment issues, navigate regulatory compliance, and the list goes on and on. We need to educate students on the opportunities that a law degree can afford them and inspire them to bring their talents back to their hometown.
Innovative Programs
Back when I was in high school, seniors in health science classes had the opportunity to shadow healthcare providers each week. This hands-on experience allowed them to closely observe everything these professionals do on a day-to-day basis. The shadowing experience helped students make informed decisions about their future plans and education. Implementing similar programs for various professions could be transformative especially in rural communities.
Imagine if high school students could spend a day shadowing a lawyer—such an experience could inspire them and potentially alter their career trajectory. To make this a reality, we should encourage small-town attorneys to take on high school interns. While tasks like answering phones and filing papers are manageable for students, providing them with a front-row seat to the workings of a law firm is truly invaluable. My own law firm internship during college was a pivotal experience. While it was merely a summer internship, it helped me to envision what I wanted my own career to look like someday.
Aside from shadowing and internships, mentor programs in small towns could provide
huge benefits to students. These programs can be administered by high school counselors or local chambers of commerce. In these programs, students and community professionals can meet periodically to foster relationships and share insights. Mentors can provide guidance, answer questions, and offer career advice. Mentors can also help students with the dreaded undergraduate and graduate applications. These meetings not only help students gain insights into the profession but build crucial connections within the community.
Another effective approach is bringing professionals into schools for workshops or seminars. Attorneys can go into schools to conduct workshops that simulate real world scenarios or present day to day tasks in their field. These sessions could involve role-playing exercises, discussions on case studies, or interactive presentations that provide students with a clear picture of what a legal career entails. By engaging directly with students, professionals can demystify their roles, inspire interest in their fields, and offer practical advice that helps students make informed decisions about their future careers.
Community Impact: Benefits of Empowering Rural Youth
For most of this blog, I have been using attorneys as an example because, well, I’m an attorney. However, these initiatives can apply to any profession. Yes, rural communities need doctors, teachers, accountants, and bankers. But they also need farmers, ranchers, mechanics, cowboys in feed yards, construction crews, executives in plants, welders, boutique owners, and bakers.
What about that family business in your small town whose kids moved away? Who is going to take over that business - the one that sponsors every event in your community, whose owners show up at every charity taco dinner, and who frequent all the other local businesses. That small business owner is a professional who needs a high school intern they can train, someone who will return home someday and take over. Then that former high schooler can be the one who donates, attends events, and shops local. The trend will go on and on.
Encouraging young people to return to their hometown is a strategic investment in a community’s future. We must begin nurturing and inspiring future leaders while they are still in middle school and high school. Imagine what kind of program your community could implement to engage its youth in various professions. Now picture what your community could look like in 5-10 years. The impact of these initiatives could be transformative with students returning home after college to pump their new skills and knowledge right into your community.
This vision starts with action today—communities that are willing to invest in and actively engage their young people will be the ones to thrive in the coming years. Let’s all commit to this investment and create a future where our towns are not just places to live but hubs of opportunity and growth.
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