Tens of millions of Americans live in towns and counties across the nation with limited or no access to legal services. By one estimate, at least a third of the nation's counties qualify as a "legal desert," having only one or no attorney per 1,000 residents. Roughly 24 million Americans reside in these counties.

The consequences of limited legal services are far-reaching, affecting both the local economy and the well-being of rural communities. Without enough attorneys, everything from prosecuting crime to purchasing property to setting up a business becomes harder.

In a series of stories this week, Law360 Pulse looks at the lawyer shortages spreading across many parts of America.

One County, One Lawyer: Legal Deserts Take A Human Toll

By Aebra Coe and Daniel Connolly | September 14, 2026

Divorce is often hard — but it's harder still when there's just one lawyer in town. A divorcing couple in Michigan's Upper Peninsula shares the financial costs and emotional pain of living in a legal desert, helping explain the lawyer shortages spreading throughout rural America

What Happens When The Only Lawyer In Town Retires?

By Rachel Rippetoe | September 15, 2026

Many rural attorneys, often the only lawyer in town, work until they die or simply close their practices when they retire. But small to mid-sized firms looking to expand into rural markets could help to make succession planning a real possibility for these solo practitioners.

Getting To Court Can Pose Barrier To Justice In Rural America

By Emma Cueto, Aebra Coe and Lynn LaRowe | September 16, 2026

In rural areas of the U.S., many people live great distances from courthouses and other legal services, creating major barriers to accessing justice and taking a toll on residents, lawyers and legal personnel.

Patchwork Efforts Grow Lawyer Pipeline To Reach Legal Deserts

By Anna Sanders and Anna Scott Farrell | September 17, 2026

A patchwork of local pipeline programs aims to educate and bring the next generation of attorneys to rural communities and legal deserts across the country.

Strict Rules Limit Paraprofessional Ranks In Legal Deserts

By Jack Karp | September 18, 2026

Legal paraprofessionals can offer much-needed legal aid to those who can't find attorneys, but difficulties scaling up nascent state licensing programs and getting paraprofessionals to rural areas is limiting their impact.

Firms Seek To Help 'Most Vulnerable' In Rural America

By Daniel Moritz-Rabson and Kevin Penton | September 18, 2026

Major law firms across the country regularly deploy pro bono resources to help people in areas with few lawyers, and they rely on nonprofit and corporate partners with close community ties to direct those resources to where they are needed most.

Expert Analysis

How In-House Lawyers Can Help Fill The Legal Aid Gap

September 14, 2026

Corporate legal departments can expand access to justice in legal deserts in ways that don't require court appearances, as many client needs can be met through advice, brief service or pro se support, say Todd Stillerman at Wells Fargo and Allison Constance at Legal Aid North Carolina.

Tech Plays An Indispensable Role In Addressing Legal Deserts

September 16, 2026

While building the Free Legal Answers platform, we have seen how technology can overcome barriers of time and space to make it easier for lawyers to help in legal deserts, meaning we must turn to big, bold measures, or the justice gap will continue to grow, says Buck Lewis at Baker Donelson.

Community Is Key To Addressing Rural Legal Deserts

September 18, 2026

Pipeline programs for current and prospective lawyers to find and build careers in legal deserts should be designed with relationships and connection uppermost in mind and priority, says Presiding New York Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Garry.