Public Service Jobs Becoming Viable for Law School Graduates


    Jan. 21, 2005
    St. Louis Daily Record

    Higher numbers of law school graduates are able to pursue public service jobs than previously because of the increasing availability of loan repayment assistance programs and public interest scholarship programs. The programs are helping to offset the rising cost of a legal education, which forces many law students to assume debt burdens that can reach "home mortgage proportions" of $100,000 or more.

    This is according to a survey released by Equal Justice Works, an organization that trains and supports public service-minded law students and creates summer and postgraduate public interest jobs.

    "If you owe $100,000 for your education, you're probably going to have a difficult time accepting a public service job paying $35,000 because you have to deal with that crushing debt burden," said Mary Mulvenon, Equal Justice Works program manager for research. "The good news in the survey is that since our last report in 2000, the number of law school LRAPs has increased by more than 50 percent, and that's helping to pave the way for new lawyers to pursue a public service career that might otherwise be impossible for them."

    The survey studied loan and scholarship programs at 243 law schools, both American Bar Association-accredited and non-accredited institutions. Called "Financing the Future: The Equal Justice Works 2004 Report on Law School Loan Repayment Assistance & Public Interest Scholarship Programs," the survey details law school LRAP administrative structures, benefits and funding sources.

    The study found that 81 law schools now have LRAPs, compared with 47 in 2000; the number of public interest scholarship programs has risen from 14 in 2000 to 31 in 2004; at least 22 law schools are actively working on establishing an LRAP; and the total amount of LRAP funds disbursed by law schools has increased by more than $3 million.

    Mulvenon noted the rising cost of a legal education is forcing law students to borrow at increasingly higher rates, creating skyrocketing debt burdens.

    "When this combines with relatively stagnant public service attorney salaries, it becomes progressively more difficult for public interest and government employers to recruit and retain attorneys," Mulvenon added. "But the survey shows a glimmer of hope."

    David Stern, chief executive officer of Equal Justice Works, noted loan repayment assistance programs are vital in ensuring justice for many who are most in need.

    "We need to find ways of keeping tuition costs down, and we have much to do to ease the tuition debt burden on law students because if only the wealthy can afford to become lawyers, only the wealthy will be able to afford lawyers," Stern said. "LRAPs are key to making certain that the next generation of lawyers will be able to pursue and to afford public service careers. And LRAPs require the contributions of many stakeholders, including policy-makers, law schools and employers."

    The survey also provided information about existing LRAPs and public interest scholarship programs. For more information, visit http://www.equaljusticeworks.org and click on the "Finance a Career" section.



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