Oct. 2, 2019 – Many younger lawyers gravitate to more urban centers when beginning their legal careers, but there are opportunities are in smaller communities, too.
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2019 Wisconsin Solo and Small Form Conference (WSSFC), Oct. 24-26 in Wisconsin Dells. Thinking about starting your law practice in a smaller or rural community? The WSSFC has various sessions to help lawyers establish and build your practice, including tracks in technology, practice management, substantive law, ethics, and work-life balance.
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Out of Luck: Need a Rural Family Law Attorney? – Wisconsin Lawyer (September 2019). Two attorneys explore the challenges that underserved and rural communities are facing, especially in the area if family law. Included are tips for lawyers thinking about a rural practice, and how the State Bar can be a resource.
“There are great advantages to being a lawyer in a smaller community,” said District III Wisconsin Appeals Court Judge Lisa Stark, based in Wausau. “It helps you be involved in your community. You want to attract clients, but you also want to give back.”
Judge Stark said lawyers working in smaller communities develop relationships with other attorneys in the area, which helps lawyers develop referral networks.
After graduating from law school, Judge Stark returned to Eau Claire and started working at a small firm. Two of the firm’s lawyers had established practices in family law and insurance defense, but needed someone to do everything else.
“I got a very broad spectrum of work early on,” said Judge Stark, noting lawyers in smaller towns tend to develop a camaraderie and civility that may be lacking elsewhere.
“Even with people you regularly oppose, you can argue like heck in the courtroom and have lunch or dinner with opposing counsel afterwards,” she said.
Judge Stark noted a lack of lawyers in the northwest part of the state in particular. “I would highly encourage [people] to go to those communities,” she said. “They will welcome you, and you will have great opportunities that you might not have elsewhere.”
The Greater Wisconsin Initiative: Considering a Rural Practice? Need Advice? Want to Help Fill the Justice Gap?
The State Bar’s Greater Wisconsin Initiative encourages attorneys to consider practicing in rural communities. In prior years, the initiative sponsored a bus tour that introduced interested members to rural communities directly and networking with local lawyers, judges, and community leaders.
The State Bar’s commitment to help ensure residents in rural parts of the state have access to justice is stronger than ever. Lawyers transitioning out of practice and lawyers interested in moving to rural Wisconsin will soon have access to more resources on the State Bar website, wisbar.org. In the meantime, contact the following for assistance:
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Kim Burns for areas in Wisconsin needing attorneys or program suggestions on serving rural parts of the state, kburns@wisbar.org;
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Michelle Sherbinow (Ready.Set.Practice. mentoring program) on help for young lawyers looking to expand their professional knowledge and experience, msherbinow@wisbar.org, www.wisbar.org/readysetpractice;
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Mary Spranger (WisLAP) for health and wellness support, mspranger@wisbar.org, www.wisbar.org/wislap, Helpline (800) 543-2625;
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Christopher Shattuck (Practice411™) for practice management and technology information, cshattuck@wisbar.org, www.wisbar.org/practice411, (800) 957-4670;
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Aviva Kaiser or Tim Pierce (Ethics Program) for help with ethical issues related to starting or transitioning a law firm, akaiser@wisbar.org, tpierce@wisbar.org, www.wisbar.org/ethics, Ethics Hotline (800) 254-9154, (608) 229-2017;
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Jeff Brown (Pro Bono Program) for opportunities to help fill the justice gap in rural areas, including through Wisconsin Free Legal Answers, an online resource in which qualified consumers get answers to civil legal matters, jbrown@wisbar.org, www.wisbar.org/probono;
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Lawyer-to-Lawyer Directory to access hundreds of lawyers willing to share their career and practice knowledge with other lawyers through free, brief consultations (sign up to be part of this peer network), www.wisbar.org/lawyertolawyer; and
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Katie Wilcox (Lawyer Referral Programs) for lawyers interested in expanding their client base and Wisconsin residents who are in need of legal help, kwilcox@wisbar.org, www.wisbar.org/lawyerreferral.