One major concern that is shared by most students who want to get involved in a career in public interest is whether or not they can afford it.

Law School Debt Statistics

The cost of attending law school has skyrocketed. From 1991 to 2001, the average cost of tuition for a J.D. degree doubled. While private law-school tuition increased by 76 percent, public-resident law-school tuition rose by as much as 140 percent, with public-nonresident law-school tuition a close second, up 119 percent.

Public Interest Salary Statistics

Disparity between public and private sector salaries continues to grow. In 2001, public interest positions started at a median $35,000 a year, $55,000 less per year than their private-sector counterparts. Between 1991 and 2001, the starting public-interest law salary and starting government-attorney salary only increased 37 percent, while starting private-practice salary increased by 80 percent.

In fact, the estimated total debt of a 2000 law school graduate is $84,400. Based on that figure, the payment on the loans on a 10-year repayment plan schedule is close to $1,000 a month. This amount is more than half of a starting public interest attorney’s monthly take-home salary (assuming $35,000 as a starting salary), leaving very little for necessities such as housing, food and transportation. However, help is available through what is known as the Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAPs).

• Loan Repayment Asssistance Programs
• Working in Higher Paying Jobs Through Law School