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The Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law’s commitment to access to justice, the legal profession, and service to the state of Indiana, the nation and the world permeates the strategic plan we adopted in fall 2023. Among other goals, our school commits to “work to ensure that lawyers and legal services are available in all parts of Indiana, especially in rural and urban areas with immense need.” IUPUI (soon to be IU Indianapolis), the Indiana University campus to which we belong, recognizes that, collectively, we “must be a leader in helping to address some of our state’s most vexing challenges.”
There is a critical shortage of attorneys who work in rural counties in Indiana, with several communities reporting numbers of practicing lawyers in the single digits. Programs such as IU McKinney’s Supporting Rural Justice Initiative (an initiative which is also in place at the IU Maurer School of Law) seek to introduce more law students to the opportunities for fulfilling lives and careers experienced by those who practice in rural communities.
Now in its fifth year, this summer, our Supporting Rural Justice Initiative placed seven students who will serve in counties across Indiana. The program began by placing students with judges. Since then, it has been expanded to include placements of rising third-year students with prosecutor and public defender offices in rural counties as certified legal interns. Participating students commit to working at least 200 hours during the summer. Certified legal interns meet with and represent clients under attorney supervision, while students working with judges provide research and analysis on specific legal topics or questions, assist in updating local court rules or forms for self-represented litigants, and work on tasks that help the court better function and the student learn.
Our students get outstanding legal experience and get to know the rhythms, challenges and satisfaction of rural practice while helping the judges, prosecutors and public defenders who serve the legal system throughout our state. Some of our students who themselves are from rural parts of Indiana take advantage of the initiative to return home for the summer and work in or near their hometown legal system. For other students, this may be their very first time experiencing extended periods in a rural part of Indiana. Regardless of rural, urban or suburban backgrounds, IU McKinney students who have taken part in the program report feeling welcomed with open arms and speak glowingly of the meaningful work they were able to contribute.
The law school is incredibly grateful to the participating judges and supervising lawyers, many of whom are IU McKinney alums. White Circuit Judge Jason Thompson has hosted law students in his court twice since the launch of the initiative. Judge Thompson grew up on his family’s farm north of Idaville. He noted that his love of Idaville is such that, other than for educational purposes, he has never really left this community. He reports that law students who work as externs during the summer provide vital support to the local justice system.
“I really hope the program helps our local law school students think about returning to their hometown community and serving,” Thompson said. “They are seeing the need for good legal representation, as well as getting a behind-the-scenes look at judicial administration in rural counties.”
Professor Joel Schumm, director of the law school’s Judicial Externship Program, leads our school’s Rural Justice Initiative, overseeing its operations. A committee composed of Schumm, professor Lahny Silva and Assistant Dean Sonja Rice selects each year’s externs from among the many student-applicants who, in addition to the professional skills and exposure they gain, earn experiential credits toward their degree and are paid an externship stipend. Schumm is from a rural Ohio county that borders Indiana and is passionate about our school’s commitment to rural populations and their access to legal services.
He notes that “this program provides help over the summer to underserved legal markets and serves as an important pipeline to address the dire need for more lawyers in many rural counties around the state.” Schumm will be one of many participants in a full-day summit for rural justice in Wabash on Oct. 13.
Nearly 30 IU McKinney Law students have participated in the Rural Justice Initiative since its inception. We can do more. We want to do more. In collaboration with the IU Maurer School of Law, we will continue to seek ways to expand this program and the service to the state of Indiana and its most needy. We are Indiana’s law school, and we live out our commitment to the state every day.•
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Karen Bravo is the dean of Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
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