Contact: Laura Figueroa
512.32.0099 ext. 14
lfigueroa@txiolta.org

Texas Access To Justice Commission (TATJC) To Assist Public Interest Attorneys with Law School Loan Repayment
TAJTC will commit $100 per month per qualified civil legal aid attorney.

AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Access to Justice Commission (TATJC) today announced the establishment of the Loan Repayment Assistance Program, a bold initiative designed to encourage new attorneys to seek careers in public interest, as well as assist current civil legal aid attorneys in remaining in their existing positions. The Commission, created by the Supreme Court of Texas only 15 months ago, will distribute $100 per month for one year to as many qualified applicants as funding will allow.

According to Texas Lawyers Care, the pro bono project of the State Bar of Texas, in 2000, the starting salary for a public interest attorney was $33,000 per year. During the same time period, the average law school graduate carried $80,000 in student loan debt. An attorney would have to pay $900 per month for ten years to pay off the law school debt. With the cost of living in Texas at an all-time high, the enormous debt incurred by attending law school often precludes attorneys from choosing a career in legal aid.

Sadly, the need for legal aid attorneys is also at an all-time high. According to the American Bar Association Legal Needs Study conducted in 1998, there were approximately 1.3 million Texan households whose income was below 125 percent of poverty level.  Of those households, 47 percent had one or more civil legal need with which legal aid may have assisted.

"The Texas Access to Justice Commission is committed to implementing innovative programs to augment the civil legal services delivery system in Texas," John Jones, Commission chairman, said. "Every person in Texas, regardless of income, deserves access to the civil justice system. Meaningful access to justice can only occur if we have the resources to help Texans who can't afford to hire attorneys."

The Loan Assistance Repayment Program is funded by private donations. The program was developed to help meet the critical need for loan assistance until the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board receives the funding to administer its loan repayment program, which was authorized by House Bill 2323 during the 77th Texas Legislative Session.

For more information regarding the Texas Access to Justice Commission's Loan Repayment Assistance Program, to find out more about donating to the program, or to download an application, visit www.texasatj.org. Applications must be postmarked by September 20, 2002.

The mission of the Texas Access to Justice Commission is to develop and implement policy initiatives designed to expand access to, and enhance the quality of justice in civil legal matters for low-income Texans. The Supreme Court of Texas created the Texas Access to Justice Commission to identify and assess the legal needs of low-income Texans and to coordinate services for people who need legal help but may not be able to afford it or find it.