Rural Pathways: New Progam To Entice Lawyers to Rural Areas

By BILL BELLENMILFORD

Anyone who has had to navigate the legal system in the rural counties of New York State—Otsego County included—can tell you that it is not nearly as easy as it used to be to find proper legal assistance.

Populations of judges, attorneys and lawyers in Upstate New York have been steadily declining over the last few decades, as professionals reach the age of retirement with no newcomers to take their place. This creates a dire state of affairs for those in our region who find themselves in need of the legal advice or assistance that only these professionals can offer.

“Populations of professionals in Upstate New York; it’s just not as what it was. It’s become really hard for people who need to have a will done, get divorced, get custody of their kids or, God forbid, have a criminal matter, to find an attorney in the area,” said Sarah Cowen, associate court attorney for Otsego County Court Judge Michael F. Getman and president of the Otsego County Bar Association.

“I totally am of the mind that upstate New York summer is the best; the lakes, the hikes, the everything. If we could get people to come up here, there’s no reason why they wouldn’t like it as well.”