Pulse Magazine

Legal Deserts: Millions Across America Struggle To Access Lawyers

  September 15, 2026, 4:42 PM EDT

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 0.5 to 1 attorney per 1,000 residents. Roughly 24 million Americans reside in these counties.

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