Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, LC-USZC4-8311 (c) Leslie-Judge Co., J.M. Flagg artist
So you want to be a rural lawyer, well opportunity may just be knocking at your door. The town of Wishek, North Dakota is looking to an independent attorney to open a full time law office in the community now that their previous attorney has retired.
Wishek is a small community (pop. 1002 last time the census went through) in the rolling hills and open spaces of south central North Dakota that sees having a local attorney as a valuable commodity, so the Wishek Job Development Authority (JDA) is offering a number of incentives to help entice an attorney to set up shop and put down roots. You’ll have to talk to the JDA directly about the particulars of their incentive package but there is talk that it could include assistance in locating an office, housing and with the cost of relocation. The previous attorney may also be available for consulting and mentoring.
One word of caution – this position comes complete with upper midwest prairie winters – so if you’re not a fan (or at least some what tolerant) of snow, cold wind, and the occasional dip down to arctic temperatures, this might not be the job for you. On the other hand, if you are thinking that it might be nice to start a practice some place that actually wants a lawyer and are willing to invest in several lawyers of warm clothes then you and Wishek might be a match.
For more information, contact Duke Rosendahl, the Wishek JDA director (for contact information, check the Wishek, ND website). This is a limited time offer and the deadline for applications is December 31, 2013.
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Why don’t they also waive the bar exam requirement for lawyers admitted in other states?
That would be a question to take up with the Supreme Court of North Dakota. However, North Dakota does allow for Admission by Motion based either on eligibility by practice or eligibility by test score.
How about a non-traditional law student? I’ve worked in the legal field for over 15 years… Started with a judge, then worked in private practice and even managed a law firm. Currently attending law school, and tired of the city life. Would love to learn more about this “rural” shortage.
Well, I think there is room for the non-traditional law student out here in rural America – but then again I’m a 2nd career lawyer myself, so my biases may be showing. As for learning about the shortage of rural lawyers, much has been written about the problem (this blog is but the tip of the iceberg). The basic issue is this: there is a/has been a trend for lawyers and law firms to flock to areas of dense population (big cities) resulting in few lawyers practicing in areas where the population is sparse (rural area/small towns). While not exactly a bad thing, it does mean that, as rural lawyers retire, there are fewer and fewer lawyers available to take over and you eventually get situations like those facing South Dakota, North Dakota, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska (to name a few) where there are entire counties without lawyers at worst or only 1-2 lawyers at best.