Law Grads Can't Afford to Fight the Good Fight

Still, he says he could never turn his back on his clients. Carlisle currently handles 75 cases, many involving seriously ill people in culturally conservative communities who have nowhere else to turn.

"I will always do this kind of law -- I'll just get another roommate." Or, he says, he might sell his house.

Carlisle's work is made possible in part by Equal Justice Works, a group that provides financial assistance to young attorneys practicing public service law. They helped him find a fellowship funded by the pharmaceutical firm Pfizer that includes loan repayment assistance.

Heather Jarvis, program manager for law school advocacy and outreach at Equal Justice Works, says debt levels are starting to dwarf starting paychecks for all but the most fortunate graduates. "The truth is unless you go to certain elite law schools, most lawyers earn more modest salaries," she says.

Richard Ludwick, vice president for enrollment management and student affairs at Albany Law School in Albany, N.Y., says financial concerns are ever-present on campus. Tuition at his school is around $37,000 per year. Some who attend will be repaying loans into their 40s and 50s, complicating efforts to buy a house, start a family or save for retirement.

Low-paying but vital jobs working as prosecutors, defenders or public interest lawyers are not an option for many. "As students' debt load goes up, that clearly affects their choice of employer and where they feel like they can practice," Ludwick says.