Nearly half of Iowa's counties have 10 or fewer practicing attorneys. As retirements accelerate and fewer new lawyers choose to practice in rural communities, the question facing Iowa's legal profession is no longer whether there is a shortage—it is what comes next. That conversation will take center stage during the Rural Practice Symposium at the 2026 ISBA Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 25.
Rather than simply examining statistics, the symposium brings together attorneys, educators, policymakers, and community leaders to discuss practical solutions for strengthening rural legal practice and ensuring Iowans across the state continue to have meaningful access to legal services.
The day begins with Professor Hannah Haksgaard of the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law, who will explore successful strategies for attracting and retaining attorneys in rural communities. Attendees will then hear directly from Iowa practitioners who have built rewarding careers outside metropolitan areas, sharing the professional opportunities, community connections, and diverse practices that make rural law both challenging and deeply fulfilling.
The symposium concludes with a unique roundtable discussion featuring leaders from law, agriculture, higher education, economic development, and public service—including former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. Together, the panel will examine how attorneys contribute to the long-term vitality of rural communities and why access to legal services is essential to economic growth, civic leadership, and the future of rural Iowa.
For attorneys who practice in rural communities, the symposium offers an opportunity to share ideas and collaborate with others facing similar challenges. For attorneys in larger communities, it provides valuable insight into an issue that increasingly affects the entire legal profession. And for law students and newer lawyers, it presents a closer look at career paths that offer meaningful courtroom experience, close client relationships, and opportunities for leadership from the very beginning of practice.
The Rural Practice Symposium reflects the ISBA's continued commitment to addressing one of the most pressing challenges facing Iowa's legal profession. Whether your interest is access to justice, attorney recruitment, public policy, or the future of legal practice, the discussions on June 25 promise to be timely, practical, and forward-looking.
If you're attending the ISBA Annual Meeting, make plans to be part of the conversation.
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