Small Town Lawyer Shortage

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By KSFY Staff

Story Created: Sep 6, 2008 at 4:41 PM CST

Story Updated: Sep 6, 2008 at 4:41 PM CST

As the economy continues to struggle more and more lawyers are moving away from rural areas in search of better pay and that's causing a problem in South Dakota.

According to the latest numbers more than half of the lawyers belonging to the state bar work in the two largest cities. Thirty-three percent live in Sioux Falls and nineteen percent in Rapid City. Another ten percent work in Pierre.

The reason for the shortage is that lawyers simply make a lot more money in bigger cities.

The numbers of rural lawyers have always been low, but state Supreme Court Chief Justice David Gilbertson says it's a problem that could soon become critical.

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