The Task Force on Rural Justice shall examine the current state of rural law practice in New York. Topics of investigation will include the impact of rural attorney shortages on access-to-justice, challenges in delivering legal services in rural areas, and the unique practice needs of rural practitioners. The Task Force will make recommendations for potential changes in law and public policy and will identify viable solutions to support rural law practice and greater access-to-justice in New York’s rural communities.
The report and recommendations of the Task Force on Rural Justice was adopted at the April 4, 2020 meeting of the House of Delegates.
The House of Delegates at its meeting on July 27, 2020 also adopted a resolution calling on the State of New York to to prioritize and appropriate funding sufficient toprovide affordable high speed broadband access to all corners of New York State, with emphasis and urgency on rural areas.
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Task Force in the News
New York State Bar Association to Examine the State of Rural Law Practice, NYSBA News Release, July 2, 2019
Lawyers Retire, Move Out of Rural Upstate NY at Alarming Pace, New York Law Journal, July 1, 2019
Bar association: Rural New York facing access-to-justice crisis, NY Daily Record July 3, 2019
‘Crisis Point’ Approaches as Rural N.Y. Loses its Lawyers, Albany Times Union, July 21, 2019
NYS Bar Association to Examine State of Rural Law Practice, The Spectator, July 25, 2019
Upstate’s Rural Towns Struggle with Shortage of Lawyers, Daily Star, July 26, 2019
The article also appeared in the Plattsburgh Press Republican and Niagara Gazette.
Rural America: Are the Pastures Greener? (Letter to the Editor), New York Times, July 28, 2019
Could a Lawyer Shortage Compromise Vermont’s Criminal Justice System?, WCAX CBS-3, July 29, 2019
Non-Lawyer Justices Play Key Role in Rural Areas, Daily Record, August 2, 2019
Towns and Villages: Lawyer Shortage Underscores Need for Non-Attorney Justice, New York Law Journal, August 2, 2019
No Country for Rural Lawyers: Small-town attorneys still find it hard to thrive, ABA Journal, February 1, 2020
Legal deserts: How Texas, New York are tackling the problem, ABA Journal, February 15, 2020
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