Bill Overview
Title: Legal Aid for Americans Act of 2022
Description: This bill establishes a pro bono service requirement for law school graduates who borrow federal student loans for their graduate legal education. Specifically, such a borrower must agree to perform pro bono legal work for not fewer than 50 hours per year for three years after the borrower obtains a license to practice law in a state (or for three years after completing the program of study, for borrowers who already had a license to practice when they received the loan). The bill exempts certain individuals from this requirement, including a borrower who is employed in a public service job.
Sponsors: Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2]
Target Audience
Population: Law school graduates with federal student loans
Estimated Size: 75000
- The bill applies to law school graduates who have borrowed federal student loans for their legal education.
- The requirement is specifically for those who have taken loans for their graduate legal education and are not employed in a public service job.
- Pro bono legal work is required for law graduates who are not employed in public service, impacting those entering private practice or other legal sectors.
- Those who already hold a license at the time of receiving their federal loans are also impacted, as they must complete pro bono work after graduation.
Reasoning
- The policy impacts those who have borrowed federal student loans for their legal education and who do not work in a public service job. This excludes graduates working in legal aid, government, and non-profits from the requirement.
- The policy could impose additional work on these graduates, potentially affecting their work-life balance, income, and job satisfaction as they fulfill the pro bono requirement.
- The policy aims to provide legal aid to underserved communities but places a new obligation on law graduates in private practice or other non-public services roles.
- The budget constraints will determine the number of graduates that can fulfill the requirement without financial support, given that $5 million is available in the first year and $15 million over ten years.
- The 50-hour annual requirement over three years mainly adds to the workload but also can provide practical experience which could be seen positively or negatively by the individuals depending on their personal circumstances.
Simulated Interviews
Corporate Lawyer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the pro bono requirement is a great initiative to give back to the community.
- It's going to be challenging to fit 50 hours into my busy work schedule, but I see it as an opportunity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Public Defender (New York, NY)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am exempt from the requirement due to my job, so it doesn't impact me directly.
- I support the policy as it can help ease the access to justice for many.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Solo Practitioner (Austin, TX)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The pro bono work is a nice gesture, but I feel overburdened already.
- It's likely to cut into my time to acquire private clients.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Litigation Associate (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 26 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about how to manage the pro bono hours with the demanding hours at my firm.
- I hope this experience will enrich my skills, but it feels like added pressure right now.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Legal Aid Attorney (Rural Georgia)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I am exempt, the policy will help channel more legal support to areas like mine.
- It won't affect my work directly, but I hope it alleviates some of the workload in deep rural areas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Technology Law Consultant (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate the intent of the policy, but planning for 50 hours is not straightforward.
- Anyone in the private sector should be compensated or allowed more flexibility.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Field Assistant in Law Firm (Miami, FL)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I opted for non-legal work after law school, so the policy doesn't affect me.
- I see it more as a way to involve more people in community legal services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Environmental Law Attorney (Cleveland, OH)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The pro bono requirement should be implemented with flexibility in mind, especially for niche fields.
- It could play positively or impede my professional practice. Balanced execution is key.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Law Professor (Seattle, WA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy adds new dimensions to legal education and post-graduation plans. It will redefine law school objectives.
- As a professor, I don’t participate but guide students to engage responsibly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Intellectual Property Lawyer (Boston, MA)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The requirement is going to be tough with my schedule, but it could be fulfilling.
- I believe in supporting those with less access to legal services, even if it affects my personal time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 2: $4500000 (Low: $2500000, High: $6500000)
Year 3: $4000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $6000000)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Additional oversight and administrative functions will be required to ensure compliance with pro bono requirements.
- Exemptions for public service jobs reduce potential impact scope, requiring precise identification of eligible individuals.
- Potential to significantly augment capacity of legal aid services, benefiting underserved communities and individuals.
- Enforcement mechanisms need to be effectively planned and executed to minimize non-compliance.