Rural Americans | The Justice Gap Report

Low-income Americans in rural households did not receive any or enough legal help for 94% of their civil legal problems in the past year.

The 2022 Justice Gap Measurement Survey showed that 77% of low-income rural households experienced at least one civil legal problem in the past year, and 40% experienced at least five. The most common types of problems related to consumer issues, health care, and income maintenance. Individuals from low-income rural households sought legal help for 21% of the problems that substantially affected them.

Scroll down for an infographic summarizing key findings related to low-income rural households or download a PDF of the infographic.

Download Now (PDF)

Snapshot of Key Findings for:

People in Rural Areas

Today’s Low-income America

8 million people living in rural areas have household incomes below 125% of poverty.

Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2021 Annual Social and Economic Supplement.

The Prevalence of Civil Legal Problems

77% of low-income households in rural areas had at least 1 civil legal problem in the past year.

40% had 5+ problems in past year.

23% had 10+ problems in past year.

Common problem areas:

Consumer Issues (57%)

Health care (44%)

Income maintenance (37%)

n = 419 households in rural areas

Data source: 2021 Justice Gap Measurement Survey.

Seeking and Receiving Legal Help

Sought legal help for 21% of substantial problems.

Did not receive any or enough legal help for 94% of substantial problems.

n = 593 substantial problems

Data source: 2021 Justice Gap Measurement Survey.

Comparing Income Groups

At or below 125% of FPL (n=419):

45% are confident they could find and afford a lawyer if they needed one to help resolve a serious civil legal problem.

Between 125% and 400% of FPL (n=412):

56% are confident.

At or above 400% of FPL (n=93)*:

77% are confident.

Data source: 2021 Justice Gap Measurement Survey.

Reports from the Field

In partnership with Equal Justice Works, LSC has placed 190 law student fellows in 64 legal aid organizations serving rural clients through the Rural Summer Legal Corps (RSLC) program since 2016.