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Dear Firstname Lastname,
Article I, Section 16 of the Constitution of the State of Ohio guarantees that,
“All courts shall be open, and every person, for an injury done him in his land, goods, person, or reputation, shall have remedy by due course of law, and shall have justice administered without denial or delay.”
Yet today, over 6.5 million Ohioans in 82 counties reside in an underserved community – one with an insufficient number of attorneys to meet their most basic legal needs. People living in these communities are far less likely to have access to lawyers as they navigate complex legal issues related to health care, housing, food assistance, criminal defense, juvenile cases, abuse, and delinquency.
As a lawyer and leader in an underserved county, you are very much aware of this gap in access to justice. You also know that it has been felt the hardest in rural Ohio, as nearly three-quarters of Ohio’s attorneys are practicing in just six metropolitan counties. So, while the state continues to see a steady influx of new attorneys annually, there is a clear need to foster efforts that drive new legal support to you and your communities. It is with this goal in mind that I am reaching out to you today; to provide important details of a new initiative that may directly benefit you and to request your assistance in our campaign to ensure its success.
On January 18th of this year, the Ohio Department of Higher Education began accepting applications for the Rural Practice Incentive program. A result of recent legislation passed by the General Assembly, the program addresses the issue of access to justice in rural Ohio and provides a unique opportunity for new attorneys to reduce their student loan debt. In describing the program in more detail here, I remind you of our prevailing duty to our communities and our state. I hope that you will not only see the incredible benefit it offers to you, but the immense value it will provide to our underserved populations.
The Rural Practice Incentive program provides loan repayment on behalf of newly licensed attorneys (in good standing and licensed for eight years or less) in areas designated as underserved communities and who are employed by:
(1) the state public defender,
(2) the prosecuting attorney of a county,
(3) a county public defender commission, or
(4) a joint county public defender commission to represent indigent persons.
Loan repayment is also available for attorneys who work as counsel appointed by the court or selected by an indigent person, provided they work in an underserved community for a minimum of 520 hours each year. Current attorney applicants must also:
(1) Be a citizen of the United States, a national of the United States, or a permanent resident of the United States; and
(2) Not be enrolled in any other state or federally funded student loan repayment or debt forgiveness program, including the public service loan forgiveness program or the John R. Justice Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act of 2008.
Applicants who are selected to participate in the Rural Practice Incentive program will be required to enter into a contract with the Ohio Department of Higher Education for a minimum of three years of service. Loan repayment, which will be issued upon execution of the contract, will provide for up to $10,000 per year for a total of up to $30,000. Applicants may subsequently request to serve one or two additional years for a total repayment amount of $40,000 or $50,000, respectively.
For a full description of the Rural Practice Incentive program and to view the application, please visit the Ohio Department of Higher Education’s website at: https://highered.ohio.gov/initiatives/workforce-development/rural-practice-incentive-program
**Applications must be submitted on or before March 15, 2024, and must be submitted via email to the Ohio Department of Higher Education at: ruralpractice@highered.ohio.gov. **
As you continue your path in our noble profession, I congratulate you on your immeasurable impact on rural practice and your community. Your commitment to the support of small communities has led to big changes in how rural Ohioans experience the legal justice system. I am hopeful that you will take advantage of this wonderful new initiative as well as share your experiences with other attorneys and students in pursuit of their new careers. The Rural Practice Incentive program offers them the rare prospects of sincere community engagement, a strong sense of belonging, and an ability to advocate for their friends and neighbors.
I wish you all the best in your practice of law and look forward to working together on this most important of causes.
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