Washburn Law School set to expand rural programs following generous donation

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Washburn Law prides itself on its dedication to investing in students looking to practice in rural areas, and a recent donation will allow it to expand those programs.

The university received a one million dollar gift from the Patterson Family Foundation, a Kansas City-based organization dedicated to rural initiatives.

”No matter what the density of population is in an area people have the same needs for access to legal advice and counsel,” Washburn president Dr. JuliAnn Mazacheck said. “We need to make sure that there are attorneys that are serving those communities.”

While the need is high, the interest in practicing in rural areas takes a bit more convincing.

“Practicing law in a rural area is incredibly underrated,” Dean of Washburn Law Jeffery Jackson said. “People worry about, you know, ‘How will I find cases?’ when in fact there is a surplus of work in rural areas because of the scarcity,”

Washburn currently has more lawyers in rural areas of Kansas than any other law school and says the experience can influence the next generation.

“They need some contact with professionals to encourage them to say ‘yeah you can go do this and you can come back and make an incredible life for yourself,’” Jeffery said.

The Patterson family’s mission is “Working together to help rural communities thrive,” so they are perfect for a partnership with Washburn.

“For what it will allow Washburn Law to doandn what it will allow rural attorneys to do and they are the kinds of organizations that just do good in the world.”