October 14, 2024 |
PHOTO – Carbon County Courthouse – Bigfoot99 file photo
Carbon County officials agreed to increase the starting salary for attorneys in an effort to increase the number of applicants interested in working here.
As reported by Bigfoot99, candidates for the proposed hospital district board of directors recently blamed many of Memorial Hospital of Carbon County’s problems on the difficulty of recruiting and retaining qualified staff to the area.
The Carbon County Prosecutor’s Office is no different. At the October 1st board of commissioners meeting, County Attorney Ashley Davis said a budget oversight has left the prosecutor’s office with only $54,000 to hire another attorney. Davis asked the board to add half the funds from an unfilled grant writer position to the starting attorney’s salary.
Attorney Davis said finding attorneys to live and work in Rawlins is difficult. The county attorney explained that only two law students attended a recent meeting of western prosecutors. However, neither student is likely to work in Carbon County.
Attorney Davis said 30 people recently passed the Wyoming State Bar exams. County Prosecutor Sarah Harkins is attempting to attract the graduates to Rawlins. Attorney Davis said $54,000 is too little pay, even for a starting salary.
Attorney Davis asked the board to approve a starting salary of $74,000. The county attorney said she will approach the board for an increase if a highly qualified candidate is found in the future.
Commissioner John Espy said finding qualified applicants has become increasingly difficult, especially in rural areas like Carbon County. Espy said most Wyoming State Bar graduates choose to practice law in other parts of the country.
County Attorney Davis said fewer people are looking to become prosecutors. Public prosecutors face more scrutiny, she said.
Attorney Davis said she is finding it increasingly difficult to recruit from the dwindling pool of available prosecuting attorneys.
Commissioner Espy asked if the Carbon County Prosecutor’s Office can offer paid internships to law school students. Attorney Davis said many interns are paid, which isn’t in her budget. In the past, local law students would be given a small amount of money to work in the county attorney’s office. Davis added that finding out-of-town law students to intern in Rawlins is challenging.
Attorney Davis referenced a mentorship program for law students at the University of Wyoming College of Law. However, the county attorney said no students have chosen to spend their academic break in Rawlins.
Attorney Davis explained that the state bar association is offering a grant for students who want to train in Rawlins. Despite the financial incentives, Davis said the students seem unwilling to come to Carbon County.
Following the conversation, the board agreed to increase the starting salary for the open county attorney position from $54,000 to $74,000 a year.
