When Verna L. Williams graduated from law school in 1988, she carried $80,000 in student debt and aspired to work in civil rights. Instead, financial realities pushed her toward the private sector. It took years of payments and careful spending before she could afford to pursue the work she had originally intended.

Nearly four decades later, Williams argues that the choice between a dream job and becoming debt-free has only grown more difficult — and that federal policy changes are compounding the problem.

One in five student loan borrowers is now in default, representing a record 9.5 million people who are nine or more months behind on payments. That figure has surged from 5.3 million just a year ago, accelerating after the end of pandemic-era payment pauses and grace periods that had temporarily shielded borrowers from the consequences of missed payments. Concurrently, the Trump administration has eliminated the SAVE repayment plan — an income-driven option introduced under the Biden administration that lowered monthly payments for millions of borrowers — and continues to pursue sweeping changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which forgives remaining federal student loan debt after 120 qualifying payments for workers in eligible public service roles.

Williams, now CEO of Equal Justice Works — an organization that mobilizes the next generation of public-interest lawyers — warns that these moves jeopardize America's ability to build and sustain the public service workforce that communities rely on.

PSLF serves as one of the federal government's primary tools for recruiting and retaining public servants. By making careers in teaching, nursing, public safety, and public interest law financially viable, the program ensures that those who wish to serve their communities can do so without the rising cost of higher education serving as a barrier.

In the legal field, Williams observes the consequences firsthand. Families facing eviction, individuals navigating immigration proceedings, and survivors seeking protection are frequently left to navigate complex legal systems without representation because they cannot afford it.

The result is a widening justice gap. According to the Legal Services Corporation's latest Justice Gap Report, 92% of civil legal problems experienced by low-income Americans receive inadequate or no legal assistance. In 27 states, there are fewer than one civil legal aid attorney for every 10,000 people living below 200% of the federal poverty level. Legal aid organizations from California to Maryland report persistent difficulties recruiting and retaining attorneys, largely because public service salaries cannot compete with private-sector compensation.

Public interest attorneys play a critical role in closing this gap by educating individuals about their rights, resolving legal problems before they escalate into life-altering crises, and ensuring access to legal help regardless of zip code or personal connections. However, when careers in public interest law become less financially sustainable or predictable, recruiting attorneys becomes even more challenging.

Public interest attorneys routinely graduate with more than $150,000 in student loan debt while entering careers where median starting salaries amount to less than one-third of that figure. Their situation reflects a broader student debt crisis: four years of undergraduate education averages $35,210 in federal loans per borrower, and more than 1 million Americans carry student loan balances of $200,000 or more. Income-driven repayment plans like SAVE were designed to address precisely this gap between debt loads and public service salaries, making their elimination particularly consequential for borrowers who cannot rely on loan forgiveness through PSLF.

Without workable repayment options, Williams contends, many young lawyers in situations similar to hers will forgo public service because they simply cannot afford it. When fewer attorneys can choose public service, fewer people receive the legal help they need — reinforcing the perception that the legal system is unfair and justice is out of reach.

A recent survey found that nearly 80% of respondents reported mistrust of the legal system, with 61% believing that a person's income affects whether courts deliver fair outcomes.

Williams emphasizes that PSLF provides aspiring public servants with confidence that the government values their commitment to community needs and will offer concrete support for their work. The program's impact extends well beyond the legal profession, helping communities recruit teachers, nurses, social workers, and other professionals who choose service over higher-paying private-sector careers.

While these professions differ in their missions, they share a common reality: public service often requires choosing purpose over higher pay. That choice, Williams argues, is only feasible when people can trust that the commitments supporting those careers will remain reliable.

As policymakers weigh the future of student loan repayment and civil legal aid funding, Williams urges them to recognize that today's policy decisions will shape who chooses public service tomorrow. Protecting the PSLF program, she concludes, is essential to ensuring that America can continue recruiting and retaining the public servants upon whom communities depend.

Verna L. Williams is the CEO of Equal Justice Works, which works to mobilize the next generation of public-interest lawyers.

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