Law Student Loan Forgiveness

Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act

Last Updated: January 30, 2006

Rep. Scott (R-GA) and Sen. Durbin (D-IL) have introduced legislation in the House (H.R. 198) and Senate (S. 2039) that would extend to public defenders and prosecutors the same program of student loan repayment assistance as is already available to federal government attorneys and congressional staff – up to $6,000 to $10,000 per year in repayment relief, up to a cap of $40,000 to $60,000, for attorneys making a commitment to such governmental service.

• "Today's law students graduate with staggering amounts of student loan debt" – up to $140,000 among public defenders. (Senate Judiciary Committee in its report in 2003.)
• Student loan debt is the number one obstacle to recruitment and retention of qualified attorneys to careers in a public defense agency. The problem is worst, "for low-income students with the highest loans, consisting disproportionately of minorities." (Senate Judiciary Committee in its report in 2003.)
• These problems equally affect prosecutors. The National District Attorneys Association and has made student loan forgiveness for prosecutors and public defenders one of their highest legislative priorities for the 109th Congress.

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