Public Interest Law

M3 i ecmannek + Needed: More Attorneys In Public Interest Law (NAPSA)—Here’s good news for young lawyers whoare interested in public interest law. New programs are being cre- ated that may encourage the best and brightest legal minds to enter public service. That’s significant because important public sector jobs protect the most basic human rights. 4 .\i7 fF ( ~ git \ Zz J BY (A J a ws KESY AIP , an sy SS: \\ ae BO SAV GRD Loan repayment assistance programs make it easier to repay studentloans. The new initiatives are loan repayment assistance programs— or LRAPs—that help pay lawschool debts if attorneys pursue careers in social justice. A law degree can cost over $100,000. Manypublic sector attorneys have the same school loans as private sector lawyers, but receive much smaller paychecks. Heavy debt and low salaries have resulted in what’s been called an epidemic problem of recruitment and retention in public law. LRAPs are not yet offered nationwide or by every law school but the numberof programsis growing each year. For more information, visit equaljusticeworks.org.