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V O L . X X I X N O. X X V I N OV E M B E R 1 3 , 2 0 2 3 22 L AW / P O L I C Y would not learn until after graduation — and gives them the confidence to work a full-time legal job even before graduation. And, she adds, "It also allows the community to benefit from the knowledge that law students have that people wouldn't otherwise benefit from until after graduation." Lyndsey Davolio took part in the clinic's summer session. In Aroostook County, she found a welcoming culture not only in the community but in the legal field. "You can be in the hallways of a courthouse and talk with an attorney who's been trying cases for 30 years," Davolio says. "e attorneys themselves are the resource in Aroostook County." Potential model Saufley says Fort Kent is one of only a few rural clin- ics in the country. "It is our understanding that the Rural Practice Clinic is one of the first of its kind in the country," says Saufley. She continues, "is model, if it works — and it gives every appearance of working really well — could be replicated throughout Maine and so many of our sister states." Maine Law is considering expanding the Fort Kent clinic to three students per segment and establish- ing another clinic in another rural county that has a University of Maine presence. "We're thinking about the potential for expanding to Farmington in Franklin County. We're also looking at the potential for Machias," Saufley says. e combination of the rural fellowship program — now in its sixth year — and the clinic "is making it clear that rural practice is respected, needed and remu- nerative," Saufley says. It's too early to measure the clinic's ability to gener- ate rural lawyers. But the fellowship program has some tangible impacts: Law firms are asking for fellows and the number of graduates going into rural practice is better than expected. "More than 30% of the people who do these pro- grams are finding careers in rural Maine," says Saufley. at could include Fowler, who says he'll always stay in a rural practice, perhaps in Aroostook County. "I find it fulfilling," Fowler says. "To be a small piece of that community, to be able to help people, make their lives potentially easier, offer them more opportu- nities for success — you can see it and feel it." L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r , M a i n e b i z s e n i o r w r i t e r , c a n b e r e a c h e d a t l s c h r e i b e r @ m a i n e b i z . b i z Your goals. Your vision. Your success. Our focus. At Dentons, we are here to help you grow, protect, operate and finance your organization. Local. National. Global. Wherever you need us. dentons.com © 2023 Dentons. Dentons is a global legal practice providing client services worldwide through its member firms and affiliates. Please see dentons.com for Legal Notices. Grow | Protect | Operate | Finance Hannah King Partner Andrew Helman Portland Office Managing Partner Malina Dumas Senior Managing Associate Kate Drabecki Shareholder Kyle Smith Associate » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E F O C U S A lot of people would say, 'Why would you go to Fort Kent? Why would you move hours away from the big city?' — Emma Pooler Eaton Peabody P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Emma Pooler, a Maine Law 2023 graduate who was part of the Rural Practice Clinic's inaugural semester and now works for Eaton Peabody, says the clinic is great for helping aspiring attorneys experience the rewards of living in a rural area.

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