WASHINGTON, DC, August 4, 2008 — Newly minted attorneys longing for a career of helping others, but forced into the private sector because of tremendous law school debt, may soon have a new option that will allow them to make a living and to serve indigent defendants at the same time. On July 31, both houses of Congress passed the John R. Justice Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act as part of the Higher Education Act reauthorization bill. The bill passed the Senate by 83-8 and the House of Representatives by 380-49. It has been sent to the president and is awaiting his signature.

Once it becomes law, lawyers who commit to working as public defenders or prosecutors for at least three years will be able to have a sizable chunk of their student loans paid. The law will provide payments of up to $10,000 a year, to a cap of $60,000. In addition to attracting attorneys who might not otherwise find public legal service a feasible alternative, the program is expected to stem high turnover rates, which will provide offices with better trained and more experienced staff. The bill will cap the spending for this program at $25 million a year. NLADA has been a strong advocate of Sen. Dick Durbin’s (D-IL) work to get this monumental bill passed.

“This bill represents an incredible opportunity for thousands of recent law school graduates to follow their hearts and help others achieve equal justice, without sacrificing their own personal well-being,” said NLADA President and CEO Jo-Ann Wallace. “In addition, it will help public defense offices build experienced and trained staffs and not have to worry about attorneys leaving just so they can afford the necessities of life. This action by Congress is one step closer to making sure all people have fair and equal access to our legal system. Let’s hope they will also extend this promise of hope to the noble individuals who provide civil legal services to those members of our society most in need.”

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The National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA), founded in 1911, is the oldest and largest national, nonprofit membership organization devoting all of its resources to advocating equal access to justice for all Americans. NLADA champions effective legal assistance for people who cannot afford counsel, serves as a collective voice for both civil legal services and public defense services throughout the nation and provides a wide range of services and benefits to its individual and organizational members.