Rural practice is a better training ground than big firms

Moving to—or back to—a rural area isn’t the goal of most attorneys, but it was always something you wanted to do. Tell me about that. 

There’s a misconception that rural practice is somehow “lesser” legal work than what happens in larger cities or big firms.

In reality, rural attorneys often have to be more versatile, more independent and more courtroom-ready than many of their urban counterparts. In a rural office, a young prosecutor may handle everything from misdemeanors to homicides, working directly with victims and appearing in court constantly.

You do not get siloed in rural practice. You learn quickly, you get substantial responsibility early and you become a better attorney because of it.

There is also a strong sense of collegiality in rural communities. Everyone understands that the system only works if people work together. Some of the best attorneys I have ever worked with have spent their entire careers in rural areas.

And yet many rural areas are becoming legal deserts, where there aren’t enough attorneys to go around. What does it look like on the ground when a rural county can't fill a prosecutor position?

When a rural county cannot fill a prosecutor position, the effects are immediate and widespread. Cases start piling up, victims wait longer for resolution, defendants sit in limbo and overworked attorneys are asked to carry caseloads that simply are not sustainable.

In many rural communities, there may only be one or two prosecutors for an entire county. If even one position becomes vacant, it can create a crisis. Trials get continued, plea negotiations slow down, hearings are postponed, and offices may be forced to prioritize only the most serious cases while lower-level offenses go unaddressed.

The shortage also affects public safety and morale. Victims can lose faith in the justice system when they feel their cases are not moving. Law enforcement officers become frustrated when the cases they investigated are delayed. Remaining prosecutors burn out because they are trying to do the work of multiple people.

The reality is that rural prosecutor shortages are not just staffing problems. They are access-to-justice problems.

What does the defense side of the equation look like?

The same shortages affecting prosecutors also affect the defense bar. Rural communities often struggle to recruit and retain public defenders, contract defense attorneys and conflict counsel.

That means defendants can face delays in getting appointed counsel, attorneys can be burdened with overwhelming caseloads and courts may have difficulty moving cases efficiently.

This is not just a prosecution issue. It is a broader rural justice issue. If either side of the system lacks the resources to function, the entire process slows down.

Strong justice systems require capable prosecutors, capable defense attorneys, victim advocates, law enforcement and courts all working together.

You noticed this and decided to do something about it. In a nutshell, what is the Center for Rural American Justice (CRAJ)? 

CRAJ is a nonprofit law firm. We primarily operate through a contract prosecution model. 

Rural jurisdictions that are struggling to recruit and retain prosecutors can contract with us for assistance. Those jurisdictions can then appoint our attorneys as special prosecutors to handle whatever is needed. 

And what are you finding is needed?

It varies. Our clients are generally counties, municipalities or judicial districts that need additional prosecutorial support. That may mean providing an attorney to handle an entire caseload, assisting with backlogged cases, helping with charging decisions and motions practice or handling specific complex cases.

If this model is successful, what does that look like? 

If CRAJ succeeds, rural communities in 10 years will be better supported and no longer feel overlooked in the justice system.

Rural offices will have stronger pipelines for recruiting young attorneys. They will have better training resources, stronger mentorship and more flexibility to bring in outside help when vacancies arise.

Victims will not have to wait years for a resolution simply because they live in a rural area. Prosecutors and defense attorneys will have access to the support they need. Courts will be able to move cases more efficiently.

Do you think this model could be implemented elsewhere?

We absolutely hope to expand what we are doing. Our goal is not only to continue providing contract prosecution services, but also to build national models for training, recruitment, retention and workforce development in rural and tribal communities.

The rural prosecutor shortage is not unique to Arizona or New Mexico. It is a national issue, and we believe the solutions can be national too.

That’s a very ambitious goal!

One of the best pieces of advice I received came from a mentor and longtime career prosecutor whom I consulted prior to leaving my prior job. He told me, “It’s going to work because you say it’s going to work. Run toward your idea and don’t look back.”

That advice stayed with me. I never thought I would leave my prior position, but I saw a larger problem that needed to be solved, and I felt a responsibility to try. I've run towards it every day since and haven't looked back.

If you are thinking about doing something similar, make sure you are running toward something meaningful, surround yourself with people who make you better every day, and have the courage to trust your vision even when the path ahead feels uncertain.

(Photo credit Cassidy Wahl)