Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) programs were instituted by many states as a method of funding legal services providers.  During a strong economy, these funds generated millions of dollars for local legal aid offices, but over the past year the downturn in the economy has severely depleted these funds.  As a result, legal services providers have smaller budgets and fewer staff to meet the rising demand for legal assistance.  This Daily Times Reader article examines the impact of a 90% cut in IOLTA funding for a Mississippi legal aid.  (continued)

According to an article by ExecutiveGovernment.com, the federal government increased use of federal loan repayment programs by 22 percent from 2007 to 2008, citing the programs as a key recruitment and rentention tool (according to an Office of Personnel Management report).  During calendar year 2008, 35 federal agencies provided 6,879 employees with $51.6 million in student loan repayments.  Agencies can contribute as much as $10,000 annually, and $60,000 total, per employee; in return, recipients must to commit to three years of federal service.  Of participating agencies, the Justice Department provided the most assistance, spending $23,420,746 on loan relief for 2,610 employees. Other major participants included the Defense and State departments, Government Accountability Office, and Securities and Exchange Commission. (continued)

Welcome to the 2009-10 school year!  The WCL Office of Public Interest (OPI) is excited to have our upperclass students back on campus and to welcome a new class of 1L students.  OPI educates law students about their professional responsibility to perform public service work as practicing attorneys, fostering a lifelong commitment to public service. (continued)

The Peggy Browning Fund is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate and inspire the next generation of advocates for workplace justice. Through fellowships, workers’ rights conferences, networking and other programs, the Fund provides unique opportunities for law students to work for economic and social justice.

The Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia seeks an attorney to serve as an Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellow to work on a foreclosure prevention project. The Project will engage in outreach, counseling and litigation to assist low-income homeowners to prevent loss due to foreclosure or foreclosure related fraud. The selected attorney will engage in a range of activities to assist low-income individuals and families to prevent the loss of a home through foreclosure. Tasks will include community education, client counseling, negotiation with lenders and litigation.  Click here to read the full job description.  The position must be filled by September 30, 2009.