According to current statistics, 47 Kansas counties have fewer than one attorney per 1,000 people. Two counties have no attorneys at all. 

While judges in the Kansas legal community overwhelmingly agree that their districts have been in need of more lawyers since the 1980s, what’s especially needed are attorneys in rural Kansas, where the term “Legal Desert” applies.

The greatest impact is for low-income populations — particularly families, seniors, victims of domestic violence and others facing legal action with limited financial resources. Rural Kansans who need an attorney and have the resources to hire one can be forced to look outside their community, which can increase their costs.

 Judges are faced with a growing number of people who act as their own counsel out of necessity; with judges and court employees guiding unrepresented parties through legal processes while exercising great care not to give legal advice.

There is, however, an organization that has been filling the need since 1977. Kansas Legal Services now serves all 105 counties in the state, with nearly 70% of the clients being women, along with families, seniors and veterans. Last year, KLS served more than 23,500 Kansans across the state. Most recently, KLS has expanded to a ground-level office at the Barton County Courthouse, standing ready to provide legal advice and assistance to both Barton and surrounding counties.

The ‘canary in the coal mine’

The Dorothy Morrison Foundation funds the clinic at the Barton County courthouse. First established in April 2025, this clinic is designed for locals who need legal questions answered, but cannot afford an attorney.

KLS Executive Director Matthew Keenan is a Great Bend native and visits his hometown often. “Our clients are the working poor, veterans, homeowners and renters, families with children, farmers, people with disabilities, and the elderly,” Keenan noted. “Women — many of whom are struggling to keep their children safe and their families together — comprise 70% of KLS clients.

“Barton County has always supported legal aid for its residents,” he said. “We have good support with both law firms here — Watkins Calcara and Bauer Pike — who financially support our mission and also volunteer their time to our regional clinics.

“On the first and third Wednesdays of every month, applicants can meet with a KLS attorney to get legal advice regarding their specific issue. For applications, please contact the Barton County District Court Clerk’s office. KLS attorney Shea O’Sullivan is staffing the office on the first floor, Room 102.”

The matters handled there include:

• Family Law – Divorce, Child Custody, or Paternity

• Protection Orders

• Evictions and Landlord Tenant Issues

• Small Claims

• Expungements

• Consumer and Credit Issues

They also handle any criminal matters, Keenan said. 

Meeting the need

The Rural Justice Initiative, which was formed by the Chief Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court in December 2022, was designed to identify the challenges with fewer lawyers in western Kansas. Their report was released in December 2024.

The 20th Judicial District, which includes Barton County, plus Ellsworth, Rice, Russell and Stafford Counties, has only one attorney for every 868 residents, according to the statistics provided by the Supreme Court. That is equivalent to the attorneys in the 25th judicial district, which includes Finney, Greeley, Hamilton, Kearny, Scott and Wichita counties.

In contrast, Johnson County has one attorney for every 178 residents, while Wichita has one attorney for every 400 residents.

In the last 10 months, KLS attorneys have offered legal advice on a variety of topics. For example, KLS advised on 12 divorce cases, four of those being marriages that involved some claims of domestic violence. In addition to family law, KLS has offered advice on collections law to business organization law. Below are several examples of how we have helped the people of Barton County.

The names have been changed.

Collections: Grant was owed money by a former employer who refused to pay him. Grant had filed suit in small claims Court and won, but did not know how to get the judgment enforced and the case resolved. On a limited income and in a tight spot, Grant applied for legal advice through the Dorothy Morrison Self-Help clinic at the Barton County Courthouse.

Grant met with a Kansas Legal Services attorney, who advised him how to complete the Satisfaction of Judgment forms and file it with the Court. Grant was able to complete the form with the help of the assistance, file it with the District Court Clerks, and conclude his case in one trip to the Courthouse.

Custody Issues: After her divorce was finalized, Felicity began experiencing problems co-parenting with her ex-spouse. Their child was medically complex and was exhibiting new behavioral challenges that were not appropriately addressed by the ex-spouse. Now a single mom and working at a nonprofit herself, she did not have the resources to hire an attorney.

Felicity met with the KLS attorney, was able to express her fears, receive advice addressing those fears, and complete the necessary forms to file in court. After meeting with an attorney and receiving answers to her questions, Felicity felt confident that she now had the knowledge to pursue what is in the best interest of her child.

Estate Planning: David already had the forethought to draft and finalize his will.

But in the midst of his legal research, he learned about Transfer on Death Deeds (TODD) and wanted to know what they were, how they worked, and if they would work for him. David met with the KLS attorney and explained his situation. The KLS attorney explained how TODDs work and advised that a TODD would complement his Will and support his estate planning wishes.

Understanding changes in Kansas law: Interpreting legal statutes is challenging, and especially so when the law is new. In this case, Kathy had some prior experience with the court system, as she had been appointed the guardian of a minor child in California. Kathy moved to Kansas and needed to transfer jurisdiction of the guardianship. But because the updates to the law happened recently, Kathy was having difficulty finding resources interpreting the new laws. Kathy met with a KLS attorney, who was able to advise which documents were needed and how to complete them under the new laws.

“With the support of the Dorothy Morrison Foundation, along with the Golden Belt Community Foundation, our attorneys and paralegals are addressing a significant un-met need for local Barton County residents who need a helping hand. This clinic has no real peer across the state, and is a testament to the vision of Ms. Morrison, a fourth-generation Barton County native whose generosity continues to help Barton County and its residents grow better, safer and stronger.”

The office will be open again on March 18.