While much attention has been given to attracting and retaining professionals in rural areas generally (particularly doctors and allied health professionals), there has been very little research undertaken in Australia which looks specifically at the problems of recruitment and retention of lawyers in rural, regional and remote (RRR) areas and the factors which contribute to it.

This literature review has reviewed the available information and materials as it exists in NSW and other Australian jurisdictions. It considers the extent of the recruitment and retention problem, the potential factors which contribute to it and identifies a range of existing strategies that have been adopted to address the issue in rural areas.