There are advantages to law apprenticeships. Apprenticeships allow students to study law and sit for the bar without incurring law school debt. Law apprenticeship programs could be particularly beneficial to those who experience significant obstacles to attending law school, including cost and location. People already working in a law office in a non-attorney role have utilized these programs to develop an in-office legal education plan with a mentoring attorney without having to relocate for law school. Because of these advantages, law apprenticeships could be part of the solution to alleviate the shortage of attorneys in rural areas.

There are advantages to law apprenticeships. Apprenticeships allow students to study law and sit for the bar without incurring law school debt. Law apprenticeship programs could be particularly beneficial to those who experience significant obstacles to attending law school, including cost and location. People already working in a law office in a non-attorney role have utilized these programs to develop an in-office legal education plan with a mentoring attorney without having to relocate for law school. Because of these advantages, law apprenticeships could be part of the solution to alleviate the shortage of attorneys in rural areas.

States have taken different approaches to try to alleviate this issue. North and South Dakota have implemented the Rural Attorney Recruitment Program. The South Dakota program provides attorneys with a $12,513 per year stipend in return for 5 years of practice in qualifying rural counties or municipalities. Participating local entities must pay 35% of the stipend. There have been thirty-one participants in the South Dakota program since it started in 2013. Out of the ten attorneys that have graduated from the program, seven have stayed in the rural communities to practice. The North Dakota Program is modeled off the South Dakota program and provides the attorneys with a $9,000 per year stipend for five years.

States have taken different approaches to try to alleviate this issue. North and South Dakota have implemented the Rural Attorney Recruitment Program. The South Dakota program provides attorneys with a $12,513 per year stipend in return for 5 years of practice in qualifying rural counties or municipalities. Participating local entities must pay 35% of the stipend. There have been thirty-one participants in the South Dakota program since it started in 2013. Out of the ten attorneys that have graduated from the program, seven have stayed in the rural communities to practice. The North Dakota Program is modeled off the South Dakota program and provides the attorneys with a $9,000 per year stipend for five years.

We recognize that getting pro bono hours can be a challenge for government attorneys, so we want to pass along a great opportunity for pro bono hours. The IndyBar operates a Virtual Help Desk on Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. that is in need of volunteers. 

We recognize that getting pro bono hours can be a challenge for government attorneys, so we want to pass along a great opportunity for pro bono hours. The IndyBar operates a Virtual Help Desk on Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. that is in need of volunteers. 

If you frequently work with or represent municipal governments, you can find a comprehensive summary of new laws impacting municipalities passed during the 2022 legislative session in the AIM Statehouse Report. Most of these new laws will go into effect on July 1, 2022, but some are already in effect or have delayed effective dates.

If you frequently work with or represent municipal governments, you can find a comprehensive summary of new laws impacting municipalities passed during the 2022 legislative session in the AIM Statehouse Report. Most of these new laws will go into effect on July 1, 2022, but some are already in effect or have delayed effective dates.

The 2022 session of the Indiana General Assembly came to a close during the early hours of the morning on Wednesday, March 9. The short session was short in name only, with a wide range of heavy issues debated by the legislature, including the interplay between the legislative and executive branches of state government, employment matters and tax reform. On May 17, 2022, join the seven of the General Assembly’s lawyer-legislators to discuss the impacts that the 2022 legislative session will have on the practice of law in Indiana.

The 2022 session of the Indiana General Assembly came to a close during the early hours of the morning on Wednesday, March 9. The short session was short in name only, with a wide range of heavy issues debated by the legislature, including the interplay between the legislative and executive branches of state government, employment matters and tax reform. On May 17, 2022, join the seven of the General Assembly’s lawyer-legislators to discuss the impacts that the 2022 legislative session will have on the practice of law in Indiana.