In the article, “Online Law School: An Oasis in Indiana’s Law School Deserts?” Justin Forkner, the Indiana judiciary’s chief administrative officer, explores our state’s critical attorney shortage and takes the position that more lawyers alone won’t solve the problem. In fact, it isn’t just an attorney shortage—it’s a shortage of legal professionals across the board—and it requires a new take on how legal services are delivered.
Forkner notes the problem is exacerbated by the aging population of rural lawyers in areas of the state where new lawyers aren’t emerging and the closure of two of Indiana’s five law schools.
To study these trends and make recommendations, in April 2024, the Supreme Court established the Commission on Indiana’s Legal Future—a body comprising 23 lawyers, including practitioners, academics, judges, and legislators. The commission members formed five work groups to explore the causes of and potential solutions to the state’s lawyer shortage and its legal deserts.
In an interim report published July 30, 2024, the commission made 12 recommendations regarding funding, 4 proposed legislative changes, and 11 suggested changes to Indiana’s rules of court. In an order dated October 3, 2024, the Supreme Court responded to each of the 27 recommendations with approvals, support, and other guidance.
For example, the court approved a new program to help offset student loan debt for lawyers entering practice in areas of the state that are underserved by legal professionals, to be paid from the Attorney Services Fund. In addition, the court expressed support for a statute change that would decriminalize the practice of law by allied legal professionals when such practice is part of an initiative of the Supreme Court. The court also approved two rule amendments and directed further actions on others.