For years, The Iowa State Bar Association (ISBA) has highlighted the growing shortage of attorneys serving rural Iowa. Nearly half of Iowa's counties have 10 or fewer attorneys, and many qualify as legal deserts, or communities with too few lawyers to meet the legal needs of residents.
The consequences extend well beyond the legal profession. Rural employers struggle to recruit attorneys, courts see increasing numbers of self-represented litigants, and Iowans often travel long distances or forgo legal assistance altogether because representation simply isn't available close to home.
While there is no single solution to reversing these trends, making it easier for employers to connect with attorneys is an important step. To help increase awareness of rural legal opportunities, the ISBA Career Center is offering employers located in qualifying rural and legal desert counties a free 30-day job posting through the end of 2026.
Eligible employers can use promo code RURAL to receive either:
- One free 30-day Single Job Posting, or
- One free 30-day Attorney Job Posting.
The promotion is part of the ISBA's ongoing efforts to strengthen rural practice and improve access to justice by connecting attorneys with communities that need them most. Rural practice offers attorneys opportunities that can be difficult to find elsewhere, including meaningful courtroom experience, close relationships with clients, leadership within the community, succession and practice ownership opportunities, and an exceptional quality of life. Whether you're a law firm seeking a successor, a county attorney's office filling a vacancy, a judicial district recruiting staff, or another legal employer in an eligible county, the Career Center promotion provides an opportunity to reach attorneys across Iowa at no cost.
Employers are encouraged to review the list of qualifying counties and submit their postings while the promotion is available through Dec. 31, 2026.
Explore the ISBA Career Center
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