28-03-2025
Ohio State Bar Association warns of attorney shortage in rural counties
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Ohio State Bar Association is warning of a legal service crisis in rural counties. In 82 of the state's 88 counties, there are not enough attorneys for the population.
'When there aren't attorneys around or available to help folks sort of protect their rights or help folks navigate through some of the difficult bureaucracies to get public benefits and things like that, then people just don't get those things,' said Sondra Bryson, Senior Attorney with Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio.
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According to the Ohio Bar, the ideal ratio is one attorney for every 700 residents. Franklin County is the only one in central Ohio that meets this criterion. Some of the other attorney to population ratios include:
Delaware County: 1/1,148
Fairfield County: 1/1,731
Licking County: 1/1,680
Pickaway County: 1/2,097
Union County: 1/1,781
Bryson said this leaves attorneys stretched thin.
'We just can't help everybody,' she said 'There's a larger need for our services than what we're able to meet.'
Bryson said this causes attorneys and clients to have to travel further for legal services.
'Folks would have to travel outside of the community where they may not feel as comfortable, where they may not understand the cultures, where the attorneys may not understand the people that are coming to them to be represented,' she said.
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The Ohio Bar said many current attorneys are nearing retirement. They said the median age of private practice lawyers in Ohio is 54.5 years old. In some rural areas, it's up to 60 or 70 years old.
'There's just not newer people coming in to replace that,' Bryson said. The Ohio Bar said they are working on several different initiatives to get attorneys in these rural counties including expanding the Rural Practice Incentive Program. It provides loan repayment assistance to attorneys who practice in underserved areas.
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