Aging and Fewer Attorneys in Rural Michigan
Posted by: Michael Naughton 3 weeks, 4 days ago
We have conducted a review of statistics from the State Bar of Michigan. You can find some of the research here. Many attorneys in rural Michigan are nearing retirement, and an insufficient number of younger lawyers are stepping forward to replace them. According to the State Bar of Michigan Demographics by County, 2024, a full 40% of attorneys in the State of Michigan are 60 years or older. This number is dramatically higher in rural counties. In Cheboygan County, 67% of attorneys are 60 years of age or older; 61% in Emmet County; 66% in Benzie County; 80% in Antrim County; and 90% in Presque Isle County. Additionally, in 2014 the State Bar reported 463 attorneys practicing in counties in the Upper Peninsula. In 2024, the reported number is 422. This is a -8.86% drop in the number of attorneys practicing in the Upper Peninsula in the span of 10 years. The problem is severe in many Lower Peninsula areas as well. Ogemaw County, which is located in the northern central part of the Lower Peninsula has seen a drop from 30 attorneys in 2014 to only 13 attorneys in 2024, a 57% decrease in the number of attorneys. This trend is exacerbated by a sharp decline in law school enrollments since 2013, further depleting the pool of qualified criminal defense attorneys.