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RLOP

Rural Law Opportunities Program (RLOP)

What is RLOP? Pre-Law Scholarship and Program Benefits

The need for attorneys in rural Nebraska is greater than ever. The Rural Law Opportunities Program (RLOP) is a special partnership between Wayne State College and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln designed to meet this need. The current shortage of attorneys requires those who need legal services to drive hundreds of miles for matters such as real estate transactions, wills, and business needs. The RLOP program recruits and educates students from rural Nebraska to become lawyers who will return to rural communities and practice law.  As a pre-law student, you can choose any major for your undergraduate studies.

Program Benefits*

  • Full tuition scholarship at Wayne State College (does not apply to summer session courses)
  • Presumptive admission into the Nebraska College of Law
  • Visits to Nebraska College of Law and participation in activities
  • Mentoring from WSC and Nebraska College of Law
  • Internship in rural Nebraska
  • Eligible for loan forgiveness program in Nebraska after completion of law school

*Benefits are contingent upon successfully maintaining and completing the program requirements. Those not selected for the program will be considered for other scholarships.

Eligibility for the RLOP Program

To be considered for RLOP, students must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a rural Nebraska resident (students from the following cities and towns are not considered rural and therefore not eligible to apply to RLOP: Omaha, Ralston, Boys Town, Elkhorn, Lincoln, Bellevue, Papillion, La Vista, Chalco, and Offutt Air Force Base).
  • Have applied and been accepted to Wayne State College. Apply now
  • Demonstrate strong academic potential.
  • All materials must be sent to and received by WSC by Dec. 1 for the following school year.

Selection details and program continuance

 

American Bar Association Brown Select Award Winner, 2018

Winner out of 43 Nominees

American Bar Association Brown Select Award Winner, 2018

American Bar Association

Abigail Ruda

"RLOP provides invaluable experience and opportunity to gain insight into our academic and professional careers. The program encourages us to pursue academic excellence at Wayne State. It also prepares us for law school by taking us to visit UNL Law, offering LSAT prep, and giving us the chance to speak with current law students and professors. Additionally, RLOP students are set up for professional success through discussion of the realities of practicing rural law with current attorneys."

 

Abigail Ruda

Hometown: North Bend, Neb.
Majors: Political Science, History

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