Welcome back! Today, we’re talking with Ashley Matthews, Program Manager for Law School Engagement and Advocacy at Equal Justice Works, about preparing for a career in public interest work. Public interest is a competitive field to break into, and it comes with its own unique set of challenges. If you’ve decided you want to pursue a career in public interest law, this episode is a must-listen!
In this episode we discuss:
- The challenges facing people who seek a career in public interest law
- Options for managing student loan debt for people in public interest careers
- Competitiveness in the public interest field
- What public interest employers are looking for
- Programs offered by Equal Justice Works for law students, recent grads, and more experienced lawyers
- The current controversy over validity of student loan forgiveness program approval letters
- The future of loan forgiveness and assistance programs
- Which law schools have LRAPs, and how to start one at your law school
Thanks for listening!
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Resources:
- Podcast Episode 38: Can You Really Afford Law School?
- Equal Justice Works Fellowships
- Equal Justice Works Rural Summer Legal Corps Program
- Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps JD
- Podcast Episode 92: Top 1L Questions: The Money Edition
- Podcast Episode 96: How to Rapidly Pay Off Law School Debt (with Guest Financial Panther)
- Equal Justice Works Free Student Debt Webinars
- Cowley, Stacy. “Student Loan Forgiveness Program Approval Letters May Be Invalid, Education Dept. Says.” N.Y. Times, Mar. 30, 2017.
- John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program
- Law School LRAPs
- How to Get to Know Your Professors in Law School
- Equal Justice Works 2017 Conference and Career Fair
- Equal Justice Works on Twitter
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