Rural, impoverished areas of Alabama lack access to attorneys

By: Ralph Chapoco

Outlets: Alabama Reflector

Published: August 17, 2026

Words: 1,484

Last Updated: 1 day, 11 hours ago

Key points

According to a nonprofit, almost two-thirds of counties in Alabama are legal deserts, defined as having less than one attorney per 1,000 people.
The shortages are particularly acute in impoverished areas and minority communities, limiting access to legal representation in proceedings like evictions.
Suggested remedies include loan forgiveness for working in rural areas and improved technology access.

Large swaths of Alabama lack a sufficient …

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