Iowa Rural Practice Program
Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why should I participate in the program?

A: In the process of designing a program, the Rural Practice Committee heard comments from numerous members who had hired an associate, and all were aware of associates who had been hired by attorneys in smaller communities. All had heard or experienced the horror stories from colleagues about hiring one, two or even three associates, investing $40,000 to $60,000 and a couple of years of training in each, and then having them leave about the time they could begin bringing revenue into the firm. To add insult to injury, the associates often left "toxic” files for the lawyer to clean up.  

The ISBA Rural Practice summer clerkship program eliminates most of these problems. Here’s why:

• The commitment is for the summer only, with the number of weeks determined by mutual agreement between the attorney and the student. At the end, the attorney and student part ways. If the match was a good one and the student was a 1L, there is an opportunity to have him or her come back the next summer. There’s also the possibility the student may continue providing some services to the attorney during the school year.  
   
• If a 2L and the chemistry between the attorney, student and office staff is good, the student would be a high-priority hire as an associate after graduation the following year. As an associate, the student would already know the office procedures and many of the firm’s clients. The clients would have met the student and, hopefully, felt comfortable with him or her. The required time to train the student would be lower. And, the student would be familiar with the community, thus more likely to stay.
   
• Hiring a summer clerk gives you an opportunity to evaluate the student without the risks and costs of hiring him or her in a permanent relationship as would be the case with an associate. The investment is a fraction of that made in an associate, and part of the investment can be recouped by billing some of the clerk’s time.

As attorney Earl Hill from Britt explains: “No question there’s a cost, but it’s very minimal as far as I’m concerned.”

Q: What are the benefits of the program?

A: Even if you have no intention of hiring an associate at this time, the benefits you receive from hiring a summer clerk, as set out below, outweigh the costs. Hiring a clerk also helps educate students to small-town practice and, hopefully, in all cases allow the students to be a little more road-ready upon graduation. The attorneys who have hired clerks in the summer realized a number of benefits, some of which they hadn’t expected. Responses to a survey of participating attorneys  yielded these comments:

The last comment was probably the most surprising to many attorneys. As one pointed out, it’s nice to have someone with whom you can discuss legal issues, even if he or she just completed the first year in law school.

Q: What can I expect from a student?

A: Obviously the answer depends on the student’s personality, where the student is in his/her law school education and other factors. The attorneys who've participated in summer clerkship programs reported that their clerks did research, prepared documents, assisted them in preparing for trial, sat in on client meetings, did title opinions, prepared probate inventories and assisted in preparing closing documents.  

Q: How much do I have to pay?

A: The answer is up to each participating attorney. However, it is recommended that the compensation be at least $15 per hour for a 40-hour week. Almost all of the participating attorneys in the summer clerkship programs pay that amount. Many of the attorneys recouped part of that cost by billing some of the clerk’s time.

If hiring a full-time associate, the going salary rate ranges from $45,000 to $60,000 annually. Again, the amount depends on the new attorney’s knowledge and experience. A student who participates in the summer clerkship program should be more versed in the procedures used in a small law firm, as well as having been exposed to client meetings, court appearances, etc.  

Q: What about housing?

A: Students generally have yearlong leases on their apartments back at school. So housing for the summer is a cost above and beyond the rent they pay at school. Some participating attorneys had access to unoccupied homes and were able to set up their clerks in those homes. At least one attorney paid the rent on a home as part of the clerk’s total compensation. One clerk rented a room in a local attorney’s home.  

If you have further questions about the program, contact the following individuals regarding their experiences: 

Ralph Smith, Charles City, (641) 228-4533
John Sorensen, Clear Lake, (641) 357-2139
Earl Hill, Britt, (641) 843-4491
G. Rawson Stevens, Shenandoah, (712) 246-4300
Phil Garland, Garner, (641) 923-3792
Randy Caldwell, Newton, (641) 792-4160
Jennifer Zahradnick, Belle Plaine, (319) 444-3285

To participate or for more information, contact:
Phil Garland, Chair, ISBA Rural Practice Committee, garlandlawfirm@gmail.com, (641) 923-3792
Steve Boeckman, Staff Liaison, ISBA Rural Practice Committee, sboeckman@iowabar.org, (515) 697-7869

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