Rural communities are the backbone of Kansas, vital to both our landscape and economy. These areas are struggling with a critical shortage of legal services. Attorneys are necessary to communities as they not only practice law, but they serve as judges, public defenders, prosecutors, city and county counsel, legal aid, policy advisors, and much more. If we fail to address this issue, we could find ourselves in a constitutional crisis.
Recognizing this pressing issue, the Kansas Supreme Court established the Kansas Rural Justice Initiative Committee (Committee) in December of 2022 to address the attorney shortages and improve legal access in rural Kansas. Their mission serves a fundamental belief: justice should be accessible to all Kansans, no matter where they live.
The Numbers
Kansas has 105 counties. For purposes of the Rural Justice Initiative, all of the counties except for Douglas, Johnson, Shawnee, Sedgwick, and Wyandotte are considered rural.
The disparity in attorney distribution across Kansas is stark.
45.10% of the population lives in rural counties but only 20.8% of attorneys practice in rural counties.
54.9% of the population lives in urban counties while 79.2% of attorneys practice in urban counties.
16 counties have three or fewer attorneys.
53 counties have ten or fewer attorneys.
2 counties, Wichita County and Hodgeman County do not have any attorneys at all.
Approximately 79% of the state’s attorneys reside in just six counties. This leaves only 1,578 attorneys to serve the other 99 counties, which account for nearly half of the state’s population.
Adding to this concern is the fact that Kansas’s attorney workforce is aging.
About one-third of the state’s attorneys are over the age of 60.
Nearly one in three counties has a median attorney age above 60.
Should these attorneys retire without replacements, the situation would become even more critical—87 counties would have one or fewer attorneys per 1,000 people, and nine counties would not have any attorneys.
The Task
The Committee is made up of attorneys, judges, legislators, educational leaders, statewide organizational leaders, and representatives from agencies. These individuals understand the unique needs of rural Kansas. This Committee is Chaired by Justice K.J. Wall, who is originally from Scott City. Each committee member brings valuable insights, from agricultural and legal expertise to rural advocacy. Restoring rural justice requires a collaborative, statewide approach.
The Supreme Court tasked the Committee with:
Collecting information and data about unmet legal needs and attorney populations across rural Kansas;
Studying rural incubator programs within Kansas and throughout the nation to determine what could be beneficial in recruiting and retaining attorneys in rural Kansas;
Exploring legislative, judicial, and community-based solutions that may improve the availability of attorney services in Kansas;
The Committee worked under 3 subcommittees: Data Collection and Information Gathering, Attorney Recruitment and Retention, and Judicial, Legislative and Community Solutions.
The Path Forward
By late 2024, the Committee will deliver a report to the Kansas Supreme Court outlining their findings and proposing specific recommendations to improve legal access in rural areas. Potential recommendations include expanding remote legal services, enhancing legal education programs focused on rural practice, and student loan repayment assistance for rural practitioners. These recommendations will be actionable steps that Kansas can take to ensure justice is available to all Kansans, regardless of geographic location.
The committee’s commitment is clear: Kansas must take deliberate, inclusive steps to bridge the justice gap for rural residents. The Committee’s work will play a pivotal role in strengthening the legal infrastructure that rural communities depend on for generations to come.
Be Part of the Solution
Every Kansan has a role to play in supporting the Kansas Rural Justice Initiative. If you’re a law student or new attorney, consider exploring rural practice. For those who already live and practice law in rural areas, consider sharing your experiences and ideas with others. Become a mentor for a law student and show them how fulfilling rural practice can be.
If you are a rural resident but don’t have a single connection to the legal field, encourage a positive environment for your young people. Show them it is rewarding to return to their hometown and make a difference in their community. Every effort we make contributes to strengthening rural communities in order to ensure a sustainable and vibrant future for generations to come.
This information was compiled from the following sources. To learn more visit:
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