2017 NLADA Annual Conference

Far too often, our legal aid community focuses on the challenges faced by rural civil legal aid providers and how, if only the "rural" component were not an issue, they would fare much better. However, there are unique benefits to serving low-income clients in rural and more isolated areas. This session will highlight these benefits and show how perceived challenges are addressed for the advantage of the local community and the clients in which it serves. Big and small city session attendees alike will acquire takeaways for how their legal offices can replicate similar strategies to make a larger impact. Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance (GBLA) has provided high quality legal services to Kern County's low-income and vulnerable populations since 1968. Kern County's primary production is agriculture and oil, and it is the third largest county geographically in California. GBLA employees face unique obstacles in providing services to the entire county with one centrally located office. Staff must often travel, sometimes for several hours, to reach their clients and outlying courts. Learn how GBLA addressed rural needs to maximize cohesive service to clients, irrespective of whether they live two minutes or two hours from the legal aid office, and how you can replicate this success to build strong and lasting relationships with the local bench and bar and community organizations to assistance its client community.