As the only statewide general bar association in Illinois, the ISBA is working to address the shortage of attorneys in rural areas of Illinois. The ISBA’s Rural Practice Fellowship Program is designed to connect rural and small town law firms looking for law clerks and associates with law students and attorneys interested in practicing law in rural communities in Illinois.
Deadline for applications is February 7, 2025.
Thank you to everyone helping to support this program!
Rural Practice Fellowship Program Fellows
2024 Summer Clerk Fellows
- Fellow: Peyton Jones, Washburn University School of Law
Firm: Keisha L. Morris, Attorney at Law, LLC (Pike County) - Fellow: Evan Spiros, Indiana University McKinney School of Law
Firm: Grosboll Tice Barr & Courtney (Menard County) - Fellow: Rachel Holtmeyer, Southern Illinois University School of Law
Firm: Blickhan, Timmerwilke & Woodworth (Adams County) - Fellow: Matthew Ellefson, Southern Illinois University School of Law
Firm: Alford Law Office (Massac County) - Fellow: Dallas Morrow, Southern Illinois University School of Law
Firm: St. Clair, Gilbreth & Steppig LLC (Monroe County) - Fellow: Andrew Cristea, Southern Illinois University School of Law
Firm: Alan W. McIntyre, Attorney at Law (Johnson County) - Fellow: Jeremiah Dunahee, University of Illinois College of Law
Firm: Martensen, Niemann & Galvin, LLC (Ford County)
2024-25 Associate Fellows
- Fellow: Kiera Kamedula, Northern Illinois University College of Law
Firm: Tobin, Ramon & Barber Law Firm (Boone County) - Fellow: Austin Willis, University of Iowa College of Law
Firm: Meents Law, P.C. (Grundy County) - Fellow: Zachary Vancil, Southern Illinois University School of Law
Firm: Clark & Glasgow, LLC (Warren County) - Fellow: Callah Wright, Southern Illinois University School of Law
Firm: Black Ballard McDonald (Jefferson County) - Fellow: Alexandria Zeigler Schramm, Southern Illinois University School of Law
Firm: Basi Basi & Associates (Williamson County)
Illinois Faces a Shortage of Rural Attorneys
Many Illinois counties have no more than two or three lawyers—and many of these are approaching retirement with no prospect of younger attorneys to take their place. Because of the cost of law school, younger lawyers are not able to afford to start practice with the generally lower salaries available in rural areas.
This shortage of attorneys creates several problems. Established practitioners struggle to find newer or mid-career attorneys to transition or expand their practices, resulting in firms closing or lawyers continuing to practice longer than they would like practice. Clients, on the other hand, often face a challenge in obtaining the legal help they need. The shortage of attorneys poses the greatest hurdle for lower income individuals and others for whom traveling long distances to see a lawyer is difficult or simply not feasible.
- More about the shortage of rural attorneys
- Number of Private Practice Attorneys in Illinois by County
- Number of Private Practice Attorneys in Illinois by County per 1,000
ISBA Rural Practice Initiative
To address this issue the ISBA Rural Practice Initiative committee created two complementary programs.
- The Rural Practice Summer Fellows program aims to connect law students with rural practitioners and to give them a taste of rural practice before they leave law school. The program includes a $5,000 fellowship grant and mentoring.
- The Rural Practice Associate Fellows program aims to place graduating law students and attorneys as permanent associates with rural practitioners. The program includes a $5,000 stipend at the beginning of employment, and an additional $5,000 stipend if the associate is still working for the same firm after one year.
These programs provide benefits to both the fellows and the lawyers who oversee them.
Rural Practice News
- See coverage of the ISBA Rural Practice Fellowship Program in the News.
Questions?
Please email RPFellows@isba.org