Alleviate Debt and Make Legal Aid a Possibility (Sen. Tom Harkin)

I know from first-hand experience that working as a Legal Aid attorney is one of the most rewarding career choices a young lawyer can make. Unfortunately, skyrocketing law school debt is currently discouraging many young lawyers from joining Legal Aid.

Given the key role Legal Aid attorneys play in protecting the safety, security, and health of low-income citizens, we cannot afford to have promising law graduates discouraged from entering this line of work for financial reasons.

This is why I have introduced a bill to provide a loan repayment program for new law graduates who join legal aid. I hope this legislation will encourage more young attorneys to join Legal Aid and provide low-income citizens with the services they need.