NYSBA to Examine the State of Rural Law Practice in NY

"New York State Bar Association President Hank Greenberg has announced the creation of the Task Force on Rural Justice to examine the state of rural law practice in New York state. Ninety-seven percent of all New York lawyers work and live in urban and suburban areas, causing a dearth of legal services in rural areas.

"Research confirms what many attorneys in upstate New York already know - that there is an access to justice crisis in rural areas throughout New York and across the country," said Greenberg. "NYSBA remains committed to ensuring access to justice for all New Yorkers, regardless of where they live, and the important work of this task force will go a long way toward enacting the necessary reforms to achieve that goal."

The task force will investigate the impact of rural attorney shortages on access to justice, challenges in delivering legal services in rural areas, and the unique practice needs of rural practitioners. The task force will also make recommendations for potential changes in law and public policy and will identify viable solutions to support rural law practice and greater access to justice across New York's rural communities. 

Hon. Stan L. Pritzker, an associate justice on the Appellate Division, Third Department, and Taier Perlman, staff attorney at Albany Law School's Government Law Center (GLC) and the leader of its Rural Law Initiative, will co-chair the task force. 

In April of this year, the GLC published a report on rural law practice in New York, which was based on a survey of rural attorneys conducted between August and October 2018. The research revealed the following illuminating trends:..."

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