A coalition of public defenders, district attorneys, indigent legal service providers, and labor unions held a press conference today to call on Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature to include in the New York State Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget funding to bolster the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) and District Attorney and Indigent Legal Services Attorney Loan Forgiveness (DALF) program, which provide student loan assistance for attorneys serving the public interest.

In recent years, public defender and district attorney offices across the state have suffered from high rates of attrition due to low salaries and high law school debt burdens that make it difficult for attorneys to remain in vital public interest roles that serve fellow New Yorkers. 

“When our offices lose experienced attorneys to the private sector simply because they cannot afford to stay in public service, it is the people we serve — vulnerable, low-income New Yorkers — who pay the price through case delays, court backlogs, and strained resources,” said Twyla Carter, Attorney-in-Chief and Chief Executive Officer at The Legal Aid Society. “We urge Governor Hochul, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Speaker Heastie to prioritize funding for this modest, bipartisan expansion of the HESC and DALF programs to ensure that a career in public service remains desirable and sustainable for all those committed to this essential work.”

“Our members at UAW Local 2325 rely on HESC DALF to stay in jobs they love, but the program has failed to keep pace with the skyrocketing cost of living in this state. Rent, childcare, utilities, and student loan bills have all gone up since 2009, but HESC DALF has stayed flat. This is unacceptable,” said Lisa Ohta, President of the Association of Legal Advocates and Attorneys/UAW Local 2325. “An increase to the annual award and the years of eligibility would ensure our members have the financial stability they need to keep fighting for the most vulnerable communities in our state who need our representation now more than ever.”