In recent days, my steep learning curve as a new D.A. has been getting national attention.

“An Unlikely Prosecutor Is Now the Law in Texas Oil Country,” a New York Times headline declared. The article noted that I entered office in West Texas’s 143 Judicial District with a big backlog of felony cases, and I had no prosecutorial experience. 

“It hasn’t been easy,” the piece explained, noting that in rural areas like this, locals who make up a jury “frequently give the benefit of the doubt to the accused, who might be a friend, or a cousin, or the friend of a cousin.” I lost a case that I thought was a slam dunk, and had a mistrial on another case because of my procedural flub. But in the second trial, I got a conviction.

It’s daunting work. But I would not give up this job. Because it has opened my eyes and shown me a desperate need. Justice can’t work without lawyers -- and in much of the country, that means the people aren’t getting the law and order they deserve.

My district, made up of three rural counties, is among the nation’s many legal deserts. “Nearly 1,300 counties in the U.S. have less than one lawyer per 1,000 residents,” according to a 2020 report from the American Bar Association. Overall, 40% of all counties and county-equivalents have ratios that small. 

But the figures don’t have to be that low for the wheels of justice to come to a screeching halt. So even areas that might not be considered legal deserts are pretty close.

Don’t get the wrong idea, though. Working in an area like this is a fantastic experience. So I have a message for fellow attorneys nationwide: You just might want to consider doing what I’m doing. In fact, you might even want to come work with me.

Off the traditional path

I originally followed a pretty typical trajectory. I graduated at the top of my law school class and went to work for private firms. I figured the partner track and financial opportunities would lead the way to a relatively stable, maybe even predictable career.

But when life took turns I didn’t expect, I found myself out in rural Texas, living on a friend’s ranch. That's when I discovered how many oil wells were unplugged, leaking dangerous chemicals into fresh water supplies, and damaging crops. As I began exposing these problems, I saw how the people responsible were failing to act. Out here, farther away from cities, you can sometimes see especially clearly how much the government fails to do.

The fight to clean up oil wells led to attention and a foray into politics, as I ran for the Texas Railroad Commission, a misleadingly named agency that has nothing to do with railroads and is supposed to regulate the oil and gas industry. I didn’t win that longshot race, but more people learned about me, including the fact that I’m a lawyer. So when residents of my district became fed up with the previous D.A.’s failure to act against criminals, they turned to me. 

They knew I had no prosecutorial experience. But they knew I’m a hard worker who cares about this region and is unafraid of a fight. So I said yes, ran, won, and took office in January.

Purpose-driven work

Already, this is the most fulfilling work I’ve ever had as a lawyer. The results are immediate, and the impact is clear. I’m working to put away violent criminals, thieves, and others who have escaped justice for far too long. 

My office has the chance to vastly improve life in tangible ways. At a time when attorneys are increasingly looking for a sense of purpose in their work, entering the justice system in a legal desert can provide that in droves.

It’s also the best hands-on experience you can get. You’ll try cases at a rapid pace, and cut your teeth in ways you never saw coming. Out here, there's no need to wait for a senior partner to give you a shot. Opportunities abound.

So here’s my message to excellent attorneys nationwide: Consider doing what I’m doing. Spend time in a legal desert, either by running for D.A. or working for one. In fact, I’m hiring an assistant district attorney. Or set up a practice as a defense lawyer, equally essential for our justice system. If you expand your job searches, you’ll find that legal deserts across the country want you.

In the coming months and years, I’ll certainly have more stumbles -- and, I hope, more successes. One thing I can count on is that I’ll be making a difference in ways I never expected. You can too.

All views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of The National Law Review.