Twyla Carter, Attorney-in-Chief and CEO of The Legal Aid Society, recently joined Reaching Out With Gregory Floyd to discuss loan forgiveness, inequity in funding the criminal legal system, and more.

Floyd, President of the Teamsters Local 237, hosts a weekly public affairs talk show that seeks to address the key issues confronting working New Yorkers.

Carter discussed the joint advocacy between Legal Aid and the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (ALAA) on increasing funding for DALF which funds loan forgiveness for attorneys serving the public interest.

“My hat goes off to everyone working in our organization, especially those who have student loans because it’s like a never-ending battle,’” she acknowledged.  “Those of us that decide to go to law school, you have choices to make: you can go into private counsel, you can go to a law firm, you can work for Google, you could become a prosecutor. Here on our side folks choose to take up the mantle for low-income people.”

While the funding for DALF didn’t come through this legislative session, Carter continues raising awareness of the issue in partnership with the union.

“Shout out to our Union chapter of ALAA  for taking on this fight,” she said. “In particular, our Legal Aid liaison Jane Fox for really leading the charge on that issue.”

Watch the full conversation below.