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April 14, 2008 | Vol. XI, Issue 29 Center for Governmental Responsibility Fellows
Southern Legal Counsel, Inc. (SLC) is a not-for-profit public interest law firm that vehemently advocates for, and tirelessly seeks, equal justice for underrepresented interests. SLC’s clients include children and adults with disabilities, public housing tenants, residents of state institutions, historic communities, public school students, and others who have been denied access to the courts. As a Florida Bar Foundation CGR Public Service Law Fellow, I have had the tremendous honor of interacting with both the SLC staff and SLC clientele. Through these interactions, I have become acutely aware of the pivotal role that public interest lawyers, and public interest law firms, play in obtaining justice for a large segment of the population whose interests are too often overlooked. This awareness led me to explore avenues by which my legal career could be of a similar impact. I was able to locate countless public interest law institutions that provided similarly stellar assistance to underrepresented communities, however these institutions shared a common disadvantage. The salaries that accompanied these wonderful jobs were often inadequate. Frustrated, I began to speak with other law students who were similarly passionate about the practice of public interest law, and discovered that my frustration concerning the salaries that accompanied these jobs was shared by many. Too often, talented law students reject the idea of practicing public interest law due to a combination of exorbitant school loan payments and low salaries. Though these factors have served as a significant deterrent to practicing public interest law, the College Cost Reduction Act (CCRA) appears to be the solution that many have been waiting for. The CCRA was signed into law in September 2007 and contains two provisions that may financially assist law students who want to pursue a career in public interest law, but feel that their school loan payments render them financially unable to do so. The first provision creates a new repayment program that significantly reduces monthly loan payments for high debt/low income borrowers. Under this provision, monthly loan payments may be reduced in excess of five hundred dollars per month. The second provision also provides significant assistant by providing for the cancellation of all remaining school loan debt, for public servants, after 10 years of full-time public service employment. For many, including myself, the CCRA represents a realistic opportunity to engage in practicing within the rewarding field of public interest law. More information on the CCRA may be obtained by visiting www.equaljusticeworks.org. Florida Bar Foundation Public Interest Law Fellows are funded by the Florida Bar Foundation Home | Email to a friend | Print article | Contact FlaLaw Online |
Making a Career in Public Interest Law Possible