RLOP names incoming participants
RLOP is an initiative aimed at increasing the number of lawyers practicing in rural Nebraska communities.
By News Channel NebraskaBY: Chadron State College, College Relations
CHADRON, Neb. – The following students have accepted a position in the Rural Law Opportunities Program (RLOP) for the 2026-27 academic year: Samuel Anderson of Kimball, Neb., Fallon DuBlois of Bridgeport, Neb., Lena Groetzinger of Aurora, Neb., Joe McMurtrey of Ainsworth, Neb., Evellyn Milano of Scottsbluff, Neb., Nevaeh Spurling of Milford, Neb., Elaina Strong of Chadron, Asha Thompson of Genoa, Colo., and current CSC student Brianna Barney of Hickman, Neb.
RLOP is an initiative aimed at increasing the number of lawyers practicing in rural Nebraska communities by offering undergraduate tuition, mentoring, law school visits, and provisional acceptance into the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Law upon graduation, provided a student maintains a 3.5 grade point average and earns a specified minimum score on the Law School Admission Test.
Last year, RLOP expanded to include prospective students from Lincoln, Omaha, and surrounding states if they have a family or other connection to rural Nebraska. Additionally, CSC’s number of RLOP positions increased from 5 to 10 under a January 2025 agreement with the UNL College of Law. Currently, 12 CSC students are part of RLOP.
RLOP Project Coordinator Kate Pope said the college is excited to welcome the students to the program.
"With the increased slots we can give more students the opportunity to explore their interests in law through our Legal Studies program at Chadron State. Students gain strong connections with faculty, peers, and local attorneys and judges, and travel to UNL College of Law annually. RLOP students will have the skills and confidence to succeed at law school, and the connections to return to rural Nebraska to practice law," Pope said.
Impetus for developing the program came from the Nebraska State Bar Association. Started at CSC, Wayne State College, and the University of Nebraska Kearney in 2017, RLOP is patterned after the successful Rural Health Opportunities Program that CSC pioneered with the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1990.