November DEI – Anti-Rural Bias and Paralegals
November 2024
By Angela A. Oberle, ACP
When I was looking for a topic to write about, I received a suggestion for anti-rural bias. I started researching this concept and ended up with about 10 different topics, from politics to education to health care. I decided to write about something that I see every day in my rural community: bias against paralegals.
Rural areas exist outside of cities and towns. They are less densely populated than urban areas, with more open spaces and undeveloped land. According to the US Census Bureau, rural areas “encompass about 97% of the total land area in the United States,” but only about 20% of the population lives in those areas.i
Anti-rural bias refers to prejudice, neglect, or systemic disadvantages faced by rural populations. Rural paralegals face many biases based on their location, including lack of recognition, lower pay, fewer educational opportunities, and less potential for growth.
Lack of recognition refers to the fact that many older attorneys do not recognize the title of paralegal, instead using the outdated title of legal secretary. Some of the attorneys have transitioned to using legal assistant, but very few use paralegal.
Despite the fact that these legal professionals often do the same work as their urban counterparts, they do not receive the recognition and respect that come with the title of paralegal. This can cause rural paralegals to feel undervalued, which can lead to burnout and job dissatisfaction.
Rural paralegals are usually paid quite a bit less than urban paralegals. Some contributing factors are a lower cost of living and law firms with smaller budgets. However, given the fact that rural paralegals have similar responsibilities to urban ones, their wages should reflect that regardless of living costs.
When law firms and other employers of paralegals in rural areas cannot afford to pay their paralegals as much as their urban equivalents, rural paralegals may find themselves either settling for lower wages or having to relocate to earn higher wages, which is not plausible for everyone.
Rural paralegals also have fewer opportunities for education through community colleges or universities. Most institutions in rural areas do not offer any paralegal certificates or degrees. This means that many rural paralegals end up learning solely through on-the-job experience.
In addition to the added difficulty of finding a job without having a formal education, the absence of a degree or certificate could result in lower pay. Working for an employer who is unwilling or unable to provide the proper training could create an uncomfortable work environment.
There is less potential for growth among rural paralegals since there is a shortage of paralegal organizations and networking opportunities in rural areas. Paralegals who live and work outside of big cities do not have access to the same growth opportunities as urban paralegals. This makes it harder for them to move forward in their careers, especially in areas with limited employment prospects.
Rural paralegals who feel undervalued or underpaid can take advantage of NALA’s Utilization & Compensation Report (free for members) to determine if their wages and responsibilities align with those of other paralegals with similar demographics.ii Armed with this information, they can negotiate for higher wages and additional recognition.
The rise in digital educational offerings allows rural paralegals to overcome the lack of colleges and universities in their area by obtaining degrees, certificates, and certifications online. The first part of NALA’s Certified Paralegal Exam, the Knowledge Exam, can be taken online. The Skills Exam is currently only offered in person, but there are testing centers all throughout the country.iii NALA’s library of live and on-demand webinars is constantly expanding.iv
Remote work allows paralegals living in rural areas to earn the pay they deserve from a company with the resources to provide it. This opens up new opportunities for growth since they can advance their career as they gain more experience. Joining online communities for paralegals and participating in virtual networking events gives them access to resources and relationships not available in their region.
Urban paralegals can support rural paralegals by sharing their resources, offering training and mentorship, and advocating for recognition and expanded opportunities. I talk to paralegals from all over the country on a daily basis. This continued communication is crucial for forming mutually beneficial relationships.
When urban and rural paralegals work together to form a support network, they can expand their horizons beyond their geographic region. It is important for paralegals who live and work in rural areas to remember that they have the power to overcome anti-rural bias if they take advantage of resources that transcend location.
i https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/acs/acs_rural_handbook_2020_ch01.pdf
ii https://portal.nalamember.com/publication-details?id=d42f811a-d9af-ee11-92bd-6045bd7ec9c8
iii https://nala.org/certification/
iv https://nala.org/education/
Angela A. Oberle, ACP, is employed as a paralegal with Watkins Calcara, Chtd., in Great Bend, Kansas. She works mainly in the areas of corporate law, real estate, probate, workers’ compensation, and general legal. She is a Director for the Kansas Association of Legal Assistants*Paralegals and a member of the Kansas Bar Association – Paralegal Division. She received her Certified Paralegal credential in 2012 and has three Advanced Certified Paralegal credentials. She is also a graduate of the 2015-2016 LEAP class. She has served on the Continuing Education Council and as Area 2 Director for NALA. aoberleacp@gmail.com
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