Your Voice In Government

By Janna M. Chernetz, Esq. Assistant Legislative Counsel for NJSBA Many people decide to go to law school because of their love of the law, compassion for justice, and profound commitment to ensuring access to justice and the courts for all persons. Many even plan on careers in the public interest sector, such as legal aid, government work and special interest groups. However, many must forgo their dreams of working in public interest because of high law school loans and even undergraduate loans. Research has shown that law school graduates carry the highest debt load of all professions, often in excess of $100,000.00. In fact, law school graduates also have the highest default rate on student loans of any profession. Compare that to the average starting public interest salary of $36,000.00 and you can easily see why many law student are forced out of public interest. Of those who do decide to go into public interest despite the low pay and high loans, many find their careers short lived or they will make personal sacrifices to remain in the public sector. The NJSBA has a deep commitment to those who choose to pursue careers in the public interest sector. The legislative department of the NJSBA closely follows legislation in Washington, D.C. and Trenton and lobbies for the support of bills which pertain to student loan repayment assistance programs for public sector lawyers to the benefit of our New Jersey lawyers. In fact, this past April, the NJSBA participated in ABA Lobby Day in Washington, D.C. where student loan repayment assistance was a priority in speaking with our New Jersey delegation in D.C. This fall, Lynn Fontaine Newsome, President of the NJSBA will be meeting with several New Jersey legislators in hopes of gaining their support for current student loan repayment legislation. In addition, the Young Lawyers’ Division is actively engaged in researching the possibilities of creating legislation addressing a Loan Repayment Assistance Program for Public Interest Lawyers here in NJ. Please click here to read the NJSBA letter in support of S.442/H.R.916 which establishes the John J. Justice Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act of 2007. Click here to search/track this and any other bill in the U.S. Congress. Click here to search a bill in the N.J. Legislature. Please feel free to contact our Legislative Department with any questions you may have regarding your State and Federal Government at 732-937-7513.