Maximize Your Public Interest Salary: Strategies for Surviving on a Public Interest Salary

Summary

Public interest jobs offer the great opportunity for individuals to serve their community and make a difference, but these positions may not necessarily come with a hefty salary. [Public interest salary/salary in public interest jobs] Many public interest attorneys and non-lawyers make less than the average salary of their private sector counterparts. [Lower salary than private sector/salary gap] Surviving on a public interest salary can be a challenge, requiring budgeting, diligence, and sacrifice. [Survive/budget/diligence/sacrifice]

Although public interest jobs offer a chance to make a difference, [Public interest jobs/making a difference] they typically come with a lower salary than the private sector. [Lower salary than private sector/salary gap] The American Bar Association reported that in 2018, the median starting salary for public interest lawyers was $52,000, while the median starting salary for private practice lawyers was $146,000. [Median salaries/starting salaries/2018 salary] To make ends meet, public interest lawyers must come up with creative ways to survive on a limited budget.

To survive on a public interest salary, it is important to budget. [Survive/budget] Having a budget in place will help you track your spending to determine where money can be saved. [Track spending/save money] A budget should take into account expenses like rent, utilities, food, and transportation. [Expenses/rent/utilities/food/transportation] Additionally, it is important to save as much as possible. [Save money] Setting aside a portion of your paycheck each month will add up over time, and will give you a financial cushion if there is an unexpected expense. [Financial cushion/unexpected expense]

It is also important to be mindful of the additional costs of public interest work. [Additional costs] For example, many public interest lawyers take on pro bono cases, which can be time-consuming and expensive. [Pro bono cases/time/expense] When taking on pro bono work, it is important to consider how much time and money will be needed to complete the case. It is also helpful to look for free or low-cost resources that can help with pro bono work. [Free/low-cost resources]

In addition to creating a budget and saving money, another way to survive on a public interest salary is to take advantage of tax deductions. [Tax deductions] There are numerous tax breaks available to public interest workers, such as deductions for travel and childcare expenses. [Travel/childcare expenses] It is also important to note that many public interest employers offer loan repayment assistance, which can help reduce the amount of money that needs to be spent on loan repayment each month. [Loan repayment assistance/lower loan repayment]

Surviving on a public interest salary requires diligence, budgeting, and sacrifice. [Diligence/budget/sacrifice] Although public interest salaries are typically lower than those of the private sector, there are many ways to make ends meet. [Lower salaries/make ends meet] By creating a budget, taking advantage of tax deductions, and using resources to help with pro bono cases, public interest workers can make a difference in their community without breaking the bank. [Budget/tax deductions/pro bono cases/make a difference]
 

Surviving on a Public Interest Salary - is it Possible?

In light of the advancing cost of living, making a living on a public-interest salary can be an overwhelming challenge. As the 2020 economy keeps on fluctuating, the reasonability of surviving on a public-interest salary appears to be more important than ever. The economy has affected even public-interest organizations, some of which have had to significantly reduce staff numbers or their salary offerings.

However, despite the challenging times, it is still possible to make a living on a public-interest salary. Many public-interest organizations provide assistance to help employees make ends meet. There are also ways to reduce one's expenses and live within a limited budget.

Living on a public-interest salary requires careful budgeting, as well as strategies to reduce expenses and maximize income. It is important to understand the cost of living and budget accordingly. A budget should include all expenses and sources of income. It is also helpful to create an emergency fund with additional savings.

When looking for a job in public interest, it is important to research the salary offered by different organizations in the field. In addition, it is important to consider how the salary will meet your financial needs. For example, if you are living in a high-cost area, you may require a higher salary than what is offered.

As a public-interest worker, you can supplement your salary by taking part-time jobs or freelance gigs. You may also look for alternative ways to earn income, such as selling items online or setting up a blog or website to generate income. Additionally, you can look for employment opportunities with organizations that provide incentives or bonuses.

In 2003 Congress reviewed a bill that would provide financial assistance to law school graduates who choose to accept employment in a public interest position. If ratified, this bill would become the ''Public Interest Lawyer Assistance and Relief Act.'' It has become abundantly clear to the government, employers, American Bar Association, law schools, and the students pursuing public interest work that financial support is deeply needed. Surviving on a public interest salary can be difficult, but there are ways to help ease the burden.

Employment in public interest law includes: nonprofit, legal services, public defender, government work, prosecutor, judge advocate general, private practice, self employment, judicial clerkships, academics, and non-legal organizations.
 

 

According to the National Association of Law Placement (NALP), which serves as a source of information for legal career planning and recruitment, median entry-level salaries for public interest jobs start at $34,000. For specific occupations, the median entry-level salary for public defenders is $39,000, $40,000 starting for state and local prosecuting attorneys, and $36,700 for attorneys in public interest organizations.

Marnie L. Glaeberman, Director of Public Service Initiatives at NALP, stated that "there are two financial worries that plague students who choose a public interest career—paying back ridiculous loans and the salaries themselves. Loan repayment is a huge issue that weighs on people. In terms of the pay, a salary in the $30,000 range gives people who owe a tremendous amount pause."

The American Bar Association reported in 2002 that almost 87% of law students borrowed to finance their educations. Karen Lash, a former associate dean at USC Law School and current VP of Programs at Equal Justice Works, stated, "The average amount a law school student can expect to owe is $80,000; this figure does not include loans incurred during undergraduate study."

Equal Justice Works is an organization that helps provide support to public-service-minded law students. In 2004 they issued the report "Financing the Future," which discussed the financial assistance available to those in public interest law.

Ms. Lash stated that the most common form of assistance is law-school-based LRAPs, Loan Repayment Assistance Programs. LRAPs offer grants or forgivable loans to graduates in the public interest sector to help repay portions of their education debts. LRAPs can make a tremendous difference in the management of educational debt. Financing the Future reported that more than 75 law schools offer LRAPs, and more than 20 are working on establishing LRAPs. Ms. Lash recommended students thoroughly research whether their school offers LRAPs.

She continued, "All LRAPs are not created equal and depend on the student's unique circumstance."

Typically an LRAP candidate must have employment that qualifies as public interest work and falls within a certain income level. Financing the Future reported that awards can range from $500 to $10,000.

For tax purposes, students need to know if the LRAP is counted as a grant or forgivable loan. The 1997 Taxpayer Relief Act stated that the award could not be taxed so long as it was a "forgivable loan," i.e., a loan to be canceled, and not a grant that can be taxed as income. The recipient also had to be employed by a governmental unit or nonprofit.

LRAPs are not limited to law schools. There are state-sponsored and Federal LRAPs. Ms. Lash suggested students check with the American Bar Association for more information, as well as Equal Justice Works' website, www.equaljusticeworks.org.

Financing the Future reported that 15 federal government departments and 63 government agencies offer LRAP assistance to eligible employees. The federal government's human resources agency, The Office of Personnel Management, can also provide information.

Other LRAP options are employer and fellowship programs that offer LRAP benefits to those who qualify. On Equal Justice Works' website, the Finance a Career section lists organizations offering LRAP benefits to employees. During the job-search process, this can be an important issue to discuss with prospective employers. Fellowship programs can be researched either on the Internet or through a law school's career center or financial aid office.

There are also public interest scholarships. Many schools offer various types of public interest scholarships that come in the form of tuition reductions or stipends. Ms. Glaeberman described one type.

"Some schools offer a split summer program for students committed to practicing public interest law. A student gets to earn a firm-level salary by spending half the summer working for the firm and the other half working in the public interest sector. These are competitive programs but, if available, can put a big dent in total debt load."

Ms. Glaeberman offered additional survival tips for public-service-minded individuals. "In terms of morale, public service professionals should keep in touch and network with others in their field…they shouldn't compare themselves to colleagues who command a larger salary. This can be demoralizing."

She continued, "Socialize with those who do the same good work and are happy. The most important thing is to hang in there. If a person loves what they do, there is nothing that can replace that."