Journal Title
Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics
Volume
23
Issue
3
First Page
971
Document Type
Article
Publication Information
2010
Abstract
This Note argues for the creation of a public interest recruiting and placement organization like Teach for America, in the tradition of Edgar and Jean Cahn's call for federally funded neighborhood legal services and TFA founder Wendy Kopp's call for the creation of a national teacher corps. Part I argues that such a recruiting and placement organization should be implemented now, in light of the constitutional and legal limitations of federally funded legal services; an excess supply of lawyers coupled with a disparity in those receiving legal services; cutbacks in public interest positions such as legal aid and public defender offices; law student interest in working in public interest law; and increased student loan forgiveness for law students. Part II explains how such an organization could be structured, including potential funding sources, organizational form, the recruitment and application process, pay scale, and community integration. Ultimately, this Note argues that a broad recruitment and placement program for new lawyers into public service would succeed at addressing the shortage of effective legal representation for low-income communities in the United States.
Recommended Citation
Gregory M. Zlotnick, One Day, All Americans..: Considering a TFA-Style Lawyer Corps (note), 23 Geo. J. Legal Ethics 971 (2010).