Leaders of the legal profession engaged in a lively debate Saturday over how to solve two problems: rural areas lacking young lawyers and young lawyers in cities lacking jobs.

The discussion occurred at the State Bar of Georgia Board of Governors' spring meeting at Brasstown Valley Resort.

A proposal to provide an incubator training and mentoring program for young lawyers at the State Bar headquarters building on Marietta Street in downtown Atlanta drew opposition and heated questions. Lawyers from the city complained the cost of hosting and administering the program would cause bar dues to increase. Those from the country complained that a program helping young lawyers get started was more needed in rural areas. One asked, “Why is this a bar problem and not a state problem?”