Students in a classroom at UNL Law

Rural Law Opportunities Program

For rural students interested in law school, RLOP offers free tuition at WSC with guaranteed admission into the Nebraska College of Law.

About RLOP

The Rural Law Opportunities Program (RLOP) is a special partnership between Wayne State College and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln designed to meet the needs of rural attorneys in Nebraska. 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. Participants in the program receive their bachelor’s degrees at WSC and are then automatically admitted into the Nebraska College of Law.

As a pre-law student, you can choose any major for your undergraduate studies. Suggested majors include criminal justice, psychology, political science, communication, English, history, journalism, or business. Regardless of major, students should complete courses that require rigorous analysis of complex issues and that teach how to communicate ideas in writing. Academic experiences should focus on writing; analytical, critical, and logical thinking; and philosophy.

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 (below). Those not selected for the program will be considered for other scholarships.

Important dates

For students applying for the 2026-27 school year:

Application deadline:
All materials must be sent to and received by Wayne State College by Nov. 15, 2025.

RLOP Interview Day:
Dec. 4, 2025

For more info, contact:

Dr. Ron Loggins
Dean of the School of Science, Health, and Criminal Justice

Office: Connell Hall, Room 101B
Phone: 402-375-7030
Email: [email protected]

Get the Details

RLOP program requirements

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.
  • Demonstrate strong academic potential.
  • All materials must be sent to and received by WSC by Nov. 15, 2025, for application consideration for the 2026-27 school year.

We are looking for well-rounded students who are dedicated to the law profession and have demonstrated commitment to the rural areas of Nebraska. As a student in the program, you should be willing to work hard and have a demonstrated intellectual ability to complete the rigorous academic programs of WSC and the Nebraska College of Law. Numerous factors are always a part of the selection process, but special emphasis is placed on:

  1. Academic potential as demonstrated by GPA, letters of recommendation, ACT/SAT scores, and program interview
  2. Commitment to return to rural areas of Nebraska and practice law
  3. Knowledge of the profession, community service and leadership activities, and knowledge of the RLOP program
  4. A personal essay stating why you want to be in RLOP, as this becomes the foundation for the interview/selection process

Once accepted into the RLOP program, successful completion of the WSC portion of the program includes the following:

  • To maintain status in the program, students must maintain a 3.5 or better GPA for program-specific and general academic courses.
  • Alternates may also be chosen in the event that students with automatic positions do not successfully complete their studies at WSC; however, while an RLOP candidate has alternate status, they do not receive automatic admission.

WSC students accepted into RLOP will be given provisional admission to the Nebraska College of Law as long as they meet program continuance requirements in RLOP and meet the admission requirements set by the Nebraska School of Law. The College of Law will publish requirements for provisional admission by June 15 each year and will extend RLOP students who meet the requirements for admission an offer to attend the College of Law by June 1 of the year of anticipated attendance at law school.

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RLOP helped make the idea of law school a financial possibility. It has also allowed me to meet other students interested in attending law school, build connections with law school professors, and take tours of UNL College of Law. All of my professors have challenged me and pushed me as a student to be the best that I can be. Without the personal connections I've made with my professors, I would not be prepared for the graduate level work that I'll see in law school.

Kyle Jedlicka

Schulyer, Nebraska

Majors: Political Science, Criminal Justice

 
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Kyle Jedlicka
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RLOP was the best path to achieve my career goals, all while saving money and time. It also offered the most opportunities and presents an automatic seat at the UNL College of Law, provided you get the LSAT score required. Being in RLOP has allowed me to make professional connections with individuals at UNL, various legal representatives, and justices of the Nebraska circuit courts and the Nebraska Supreme Court. I've also had the opportunity to better prepare for the LSAT and law school.

Calie Rabbass

Pender, Nebraska

Major: Criminal Justice

 
quote marks
Calie Rabass
quote marks

RLOP helped make the idea of law school a financial possibility. It has also allowed me to meet other students interested in attending law school, build connections with law school professors, and take tours of UNL College of Law. All of my professors have challenged me and pushed me as a student to be the best that I can be. Without the personal connections I've made with my professors, I would not be prepared for the graduate level work that I'll see in law school.

quote marks
Kyle Jedlicka

Kyle Jedlicka

Schulyer, Nebraska

Majors: Political Science, Criminal Justice

quote marks

RLOP was the best path to achieve my career goals, all while saving money and time. It also offered the most opportunities and presents an automatic seat at the UNL College of Law, provided you get the LSAT score required. Being in RLOP has allowed me to make professional connections with individuals at UNL, various legal representatives, and justices of the Nebraska circuit courts and the Nebraska Supreme Court. I've also had the opportunity to better prepare for the LSAT and law school.

quote marks
Calie Rabass

Calie Rabbass

Pender, Nebraska

Major: Criminal Justice

A student studies in the library
Take the Next Step

How to apply for RLOP

  • Apply for admission to Wayne State College. After applying, you'll receive your campus email address, which you'll need to apply to RLOP.
  • Apply for RLOP through the Wayne State College scholarship application system and complete all requirements listed. All applications are screened by WSC and Nebraska College of Law faculty and staff. Applications are due Nov. 15, 2025, for the 2026-27 school year.
  • Complete the interview process. If selected, you’ll be invited to interview with WSC and Nebraska College of Law faculty and staff. RLOP Interview Day is Dec. 4, 2025.