The Legal Aid Society and the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys – UAW Local 2325, in response to the national pause on student loan payments now lifted after more than three years, called on Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Speaker Carl Heastie to pass legislation that would bolster the New York District Attorney and Indigent Legal Services Attorney Loan Forgiveness Program (DALF).

New York City is currently in the midst of the worst affordability crisis of the last two decades, with half of the city’s households struggling to pay rent, access sufficient food and basic health care, and afford transportation. Skyrocketing post-pandemic inflation rates and rent prices have also contributed to widespread attrition among public defender organizations, with attorneys being forced to seek higher salaries in the private sector in order to pay their mounting bills. If this trend continues, low-income New Yorkers who rely on these providers will be further marginalized and disconnected from critical legal services.

“Attorneys serving the public interest play a vital role in our legal system, ensuring that low-income New Yorkers have the zealous representation that they need and deserve,” said Twyla Carter, Attorney-In-Chief and Chief Executive Officer at The Legal Aid Society. “But with the return of student loan payments, coupled with New York’s skyrocketing cost of living, rent, and inflation, our inability to compensate staff a wage commensurate with the market, each day, more are leaving the profession entirely.”

“This harms the people we represent, causes case delays and hinders true access to justice,” she continued. “Increasing student loan assistance could ease this burden, and we call Albany to enact this legislation immediately next session.”

“Lawmakers must prioritize legislation to bolster student loan assistance. Many ALAA members and other lawyers serving the public interest come from the very communities they seek to serve, but the high cost of law school and low pay in the non-profit and government sectors makes this career choice increasingly more difficult to sustain,” said Lisa Ohta, President of the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys – UAW Local 2325. “This upcoming session, Albany has a real opportunity to support their own constituents by ensuring experienced lawyers who are dedicated to serving the public are able to afford to stay in their jobs.”