Background

Rural-designated regions compose nearly 75% of the country. Approximately one out of every five (or 20%) of Americans call a rural community home. These are highly resilient and increasingly diverse regions, with vibrant local economies and many underrated assets. Rural communities serve as principal providers of natural resources, key originators of food supply chains and points of access to tourism and outdoor recreation. 

However, rural areas face unique challenges given factors like geographic and social isolation, the frequent lack of Internet service or technology, the low density of legal-aid and other human service providers, and the distinctiveness of different rural populations. These barriers exacerbate the immense justice gap in rural areas wherein around 10 million rural residents have family incomes below 125% of the federal poverty line. According to LSC’s 2017 Justice Gap Report, 75% of rural households experienced at least one civil legal problem the prior year—including 23% that experienced six or more problems. However, only 22% of rural households contacted legal aid providers for assistance, while 86% received no or inadequate help for their legal issues. The COVID-19 pandemic will likely increase the poverty—and legal needs—confronting rural Americans.

In spring 2021, LSC’s Board of Directors enacted a Rural Justice Task Force to explore challenges associated with providing high-quality legal services in rural and remote areas. Officially launched in December 2021, the Task Force comprises an interdisciplinary group of thought leaders (listed below), including legal aid and human service providers, business and philanthropic leaders, educators, court professionals and members of the judiciary. The mission of the Rural Justice Task Force is to enhance access to justice in rural communities by: 

• Raising awareness about the rural justice gap; 
• Profiling model legal service and related programs; 
• Identify best practices for supporting rural attorneys and serving rural clients; and 
• Encourage the exchange ideas and conceptualize improvements on topics such as how to recruit and retain attorneys in rural areas, reach people with limited or no Internet or cell phone service, use videoconferencing and other technology to provide services, cultivate effective community partnerships and pro bono initiatives, and build trust with people who live in rural communities. 

To read more about the work of LSC’s other Task Forces, click here.

Project Partners

The national law firm Quarles is providing invaluable pro bono project assistance to the Task Force, and Ascendium Education Group, Inc., a philanthropy and federal loan guarantor committed to increasing access to and success in post-secondary education and training, is generously supporting the project.

Rural Justice Task Force Co-Chairs

Task Force Working Group Co-Chairs

Rural Justice Task Force Members

(^) denotes member of the LSC Board of Directors; (*) denotes member of LSC's Leaders Council or (**) Emerging Leaders Council. 

Additional members of the Quarles pro bono project team:

• Cameron Arthur, Associate (Phoenix, AZ)
• Patrick J. Bitterman, Partner (Chicago, IL)
• Dawn Caldart, Director, Pro Bono (Milwaukee, WI)
• Megan B. Center, Partner (Washington, DC)
• Theresa DeAngelis, Associate (Washington, DC)
• Kaitlyn L. Fydenkevez, Associate (Washington, DC)
• Madison T. Hartman, Associate (Indianapolis, IN)
• Michael Levey, National Pro Bono Partner (Milwaukee, WI)
• Jennifer Michalski, Pro Bono and Learning & Development Coordinator (Milwaukee, WI)
• Jared W. Miller, Associate (Phoenix, AZ)
• Michael Mostow, Partner (Chicago, IL)
• Grace Stewart, Associate (Madison, WI)
• Shaylynn Veeder, Associate (Phoenix, AZ)