Res. No. 436
Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass legislation allowing public interest attorneys to qualify for a certain amount of educational loan forgiveness.
By Council Members Yassky, Garodnick, Gentile, James, Mealy, Seabrook, White Jr. and Mark-Viverito.
Whereas, Public interest work is one of the hallmarks of the U.S. legal system; and
Whereas, Our legal system requires dedicated prosecutors, public defenders, and public civil attorneys who make a long-term commitment to public interest work; and
Whereas, Public interest attorneys often carry significant and increasingly burdensome amounts of student loan debt that is extremely difficult to repay on their relatively low salaries; and
Whereas, Many public interest attorneys are forced to leave public service shortly after receiving the training and experience that would allow them to handle the most complex public interest cases; and
Whereas, The loss of capable public interest attorneys has an overall negative effect, by increasing the costs of public interest work and reducing confidence in our legal system; and
Whereas, The New York State Legislature has introduced A.5303 and S.329, which would allow public interest attorneys to qualify, during a specified period of service, for a certain amount of loan forgiveness relating to student loan expenses; and
Whereas, Public interest attorneys should receive loan forgiveness to repay their student loans, in order to retain the best and brightest attorneys; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass legislation allowing public interest attorneys to qualify for a certain amount of educational loan forgiveness.
HG
LS# 477
3/30/06