State Bar launches new programs to combat state’s rural justice gap

With legal deserts expanding across Wisconsin, the State Bar of Wisconsin has launched two new initiatives to strengthen legal access in rural communities and attract attorneys to underserved areas.

“These are communities where legal help is disappearing, and the consequences are real — from delays in court to people being left without critical legal guidance,” said State Bar Immediate Past President Ryan Billings. “We are taking concrete steps to reverse that trend by investing in the next generation of rural attorneys.”

Rural Practice Development Program

Launched this year, the Rural Practice Development Program supports attorneys who commit to practicing full time in rural Wisconsin for at least two years. Each recipient receives a benefits package valued at $15,466 including:

• Two $5,000 stipends (upfront and after completion).

• Access to legal education and research products that help improve the quality of their legal services.

• Eligibility for Lawyer Referral Service panel membership.

The program is fully funded from a generous multi-year donation by State Bar leader Kathryn Bullon, through the Wisconsin Law Foundation’s Kathryn Rasmussen Bullon Fund to Enhance Legal Representation.

Three attorneys were selected as inaugural recipients, one of which is Weston Schmidt, incoming assistant corporation counsel in Oneida County.

Rural Clerkship Program

Now in its second year, the Rural Clerkship Program places 1L and 2L students in paid summer clerkships in rural Wisconsin. The program helps students gain hands-on legal experience while providing support to rural employers.

In 2025, nine employers — including law firms in Ashland, Luxemburg, and Medford, and multiple State Public Defender offices—hired 19 students through the program.

“The persistent shortage of attorneys in rural Wisconsin is an escalating crisis,” said Billings. “These programs are a hopeful and proactive step toward strengthening legal access for all Wisconsinites.”