Prosecutor seeks to recruit lawyers
Staff writer
With only one law office left in the county, and that being a half-day satellite office of a McPherson County office, Marion County’s 11,690 residents are seriously underserved.
Bob Brookens, the county’s last full-time lawyer, retired in October.
Newly installed county attorney Michelle Brown has ideas to recruit lawyers to the county.
She is suggesting that some of her salary be set aside for such things as tuition reimbursement or bonuses for new attorneys who open offices in the county.
One year’s tuition for the University of Kansas School of Law is $25,607. A year’s tuition and fees at Washburn University is $26,459.
Brown, elected attorney in both Marion and Morris counties, will be dividing her time between Marion and Council Grove.
One thing that would lower costs for counties in the district would be if the 18th Judicial District had a district attorney, as opposed to counties each having their own attorneys. That would shift costs onto the state.
Brian Bina, of Karstetter and Bina law firm with offices in McPherson, Marion, and Lindsborg, said his firm has had to turn away clients in order to provide the clients they take with the time they need.
The single greatest hurdle the firm has in attracting lawyers when they think the towns served by the firm are too small.
He sees another hardship as well.
“I don’t think the law schools are attracting enough rural students who want to go to law school and go back home,” Bina said.
Marion County is far from alone in its shortage of lawyers.
Kansas Supreme Court Justice Marla Luckert told legislators last week that a statewide shortage of lawyers puts justice itself at risk.
“There are more active attorneys with a Kansas law license practicing in Kansas City, Missouri, than in all our Kansas rural communities combined,” she said. “And in 98 of the 100 Kansas counties classified as rural, there are two or less active attorneys per 1,000 residents, which is half the number reportedly necessary to meet demand.
“This shortage impacts Kansans with legal needs. But there are other consequences because attorneys run small businesses, they employ people, and they and their families generally strengthen the fabric of their communities as they often take on leadership roles.”
Luckert said legislators could not be complacent about the shortage of lawyers.
She made 10 recommendations to address major barriers to recruiting and retaining rural attorneys, including asking the Supreme Court to collaborate with the legislature and law schools to establish a rural attorney training program and tuition reimbursement incentives for those who attend a Kansas law school and practice in rural Kansas.
Five similar initiatives already exist to address shortages of professionals in rural Kansas, such as doctors and veterinarians.