ISBA Rural Practice Section Council Attorney Profile: Cari Rincker
Background and introduction
Full Name: Cari Rincker
Hometown or Current Residence: Shelbyville, IL for both!
Law School Attended and Year of Graduation: Pace University 2007 (transferred from Regent University, School of Law)
Year Admitted to the Illinois Bar: First admitted in 2007 (New Jersey); admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2025
Current Role or Status (e.g., practicing attorney, judge, retired): Attorney in private practice; principal of Rincker Law, PLLC
Brief overview of your current or most recent practice: Rincker Law is a practice focusing on Food, Farm and Family. We help multi-generational family farms focus on business planning, estate planning and estate planning while navigating family changes—marriage (prenups!), divorce and death (i.e., probate and trust administration). We also help the agriculture sector with intellectual property and real estate matters.
Career path and practice
What inspired you to pursue a legal career, particularly in a rural setting?
I was an intern on Capital Hill through the Texas A & M University, College of Agriculture and Life Science’s agriculture policy program. I originally went to law school because I was interested in agriculture policy.
After spending a decade in New York City, it was ultimately family that brought me back home to a rural community. My desire to start a family and then later after my children were born to live where I could have more family support.
I spent a decade worried about the change of running my law practice from a metropolitan area to a small town—my only regret is not doing it sooner!
What areas of law have you focused on throughout your career?
Early on in my career, I did Door Law. I took what came in through the Door. And eventually my first divorce came my way. There is a saying that lawyers don’t find their law practice, their practice finds them. That is how I feel about my family law practice. In a sense, family law is a calling insofar that we are helping families navigate these difficult transitions.
Presently, my family law practice is more geared towards high net worth farm divorces and mediation. I particularly enjoy helping farm families navigate the divorce and separation because divorce is one of the Big D’s that can destroy a family farm—but with the right care and attention, it can be preserved for succession throughout the process.
I grew up on a multi-generational family farm. Working in the area of food and agriculture law has always been in my wheelhouse. Specifically, I have counseled farmers, agri-businesses and food entrepreneurs on starting, growing, merging or ending their businesses. A goal that I have for 2026 is to develop a fractional General Counsel program for farms and agri-businesses on a subscription basis.
Did you always intend to practice in a rural area? Why or why not?
No, I did not. For a while, I ran from it into the Borough of Manhattan in New York where the population of my hometown fit into a few city blocks. But my country heart yearned for some space, freedom and fresh air again. Although I love going back to NYC, I haven’t regretted my decision to move home for one minute. It has been a welcomed change of pace.
Describe your typical client base and the community you serve.
I have had some challenges as my food and agriculture law practice is more national while my family law practice is more local. This dichotomy is challenging from a business standpoint, especially as my law practice grows to be more concentrated with agriculture law.
What did you enjoy most about your legal career?
It’s the hard that makes it good, right? I do not love the battle of litigation or the war rooms before trial but some of my biggest accomplishments were fighting my way through 2, 3, 5, 7 day trials throughout my career. One case in particular was rewarding to me as my client was being alienated from the other parent and he is now the sole custodial parent—this trial was particularly memorable because my son was 5 months old making the long nights before each day of trial more difficult.
What aspects of the practice were most challenging or frustrating?
Moving from a larger metropolitan community to another smaller community can always be difficult, especially if you are used to doing things in a different way. Learning the new culture and procedures are always a challenge.
Was there anything you actively worked to change or improve in the legal system or in your practice environment?
I tried to work on some new case management orders, similar to another county in Illinois, along with a small group of attorneys. Change is hard when certain county bars are used to certain procedures. I have also been an advocate for financial mediation on family law matters believing that courts should maintain a roster of mediators who are able to mediate child support, spousal maintenance and the division of assets/debt in a divorce.
How has rural legal practice changed over the course of your career?
The most notable change is Zoom court/remote hearings that have been available post pandemic that has made it easier to practice in multiple counties.
Accomplishments and contributions
What professional accomplishments are you most proud of?
Early in my career, my Food & Agriculture Law Blog made the Top 100 Blawg list. I won the Excellence in Agriculture Law (Private Practice) from the American Agriculture Law Association (AALA) and the Early Career Award from Texas A & M University.
Have you been involved in community service, local organizations, or bar association work? Please describe.
I serve on the board of directors for a not-for-profit trying to raise monies to build a daycare in my hometown. I volunteer as general counsel to a junior college foundation board. I am also the editor of the newsletter for the ISBA Agricultural Law Section Council.
Are there any cases, projects, or experiences that stand out as especially meaningful or impactful?
I was a graduation commencement speaker at Lake Land College, Circa 2019. It was surreal being at my alma mater speaking to over 2,000 graduates and families. I am a big believer in the junior college educational system.
Looking ahead
What advice would you give to young attorneys considering rural practice?
In 2025, technology allows for virtual staff and offices. I have remote employees and independent contractors in numerous positions.
Don’t be afraid of AI. Instead of hiding from it, learn to embrace it. It’s here to stay.
What opportunities do you think exist today in rural law practice that didn’t exist earlier in your career?
Virtual mediation! Mediators can help facilitate conversations with litigants from the comforts of their own locations. This is something that was rarely done early pre-pandemic. This should be embraced by mediators, rural practitioners and litigants alike.
How can the Rural Practice Section Council better support attorneys in rural areas?
I would love to see a Rural Practice Section Council directory with information organized per practice area so it is easy to find a quality referral in a certain practice area with another attorney in a rural community.
Are there services, programs, or initiatives you'd like to see the Illinois State Bar Association expand or implement?
Yes, I would love to see more CLE programs that are more step-by-building-step. The family law section did an excellent How To Series on a myriad of family law topics and this would be welcomed in different practice areas such as estate planning, real estate, trademarks, business planning, bankruptcy, etc.
Anything else you'd like to share with your peers or the broader legal community?
Like any organization, the ISBA has come alive for me now that I have joined two Section Councils. Anything you can do to help get involved would only strengthen this Section Council and your individual experience with ISBA. Please consider contributing to the newsletter or get involved in a committee.
Sara, an attorney with Mahoney & Mahoney, LLC, serves as the general practice branch of the firm as well as supports the large litigation practice of Mahoney & Mahoney.
Ean R. Albers is an associate attorney with Hasselberg Grebe Snodgrass Urban & Wentworth, located in Peoria and Lacon, Illinois.