(Albany, NY: May 1, 2014) Attorneys who wish to continue in public service as a prosecuting attorney or public defender can receive help with their student loan debt from New York State.

The Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) announces $2.43 million available in loan forgiveness funding through the NYS District Attorney and Indigent Legal Services Attorney Loan (DALF) Program, which is offered to retain experienced attorneys in critical legal service areas across the State.

“The DALF program creates an incentive for experienced attorneys to continue their practice in essential legal service areas where the need is great,” said Elsa Magee, Acting President of HESC. “Eligible attorneys can be awarded as much as $20,400 in student loan debt forgiveness, which ultimately benefits both the public and these public servants.”

To qualify for the DALF Program, an applicant must be a New York State resident, for at least one year, have qualifying student loan expenses, and be employed full time as a District Attorney, Assistant District Attorney, or Indigent Legal Services Attorney in a city, county or non-profit organization in New York State providing criminal or civil legal services for the poor for at least four years.

Eligible attorneys may apply for DALF beginning in their fourth through ninth year of service in these legal service areas. Applications must be submitted by May 15, 2014. The application and program details are available on HESC.ny.gov.

About HESC: HESC is New York State’s student financial aid agency that helps people pay for college and a national leader in providing need based grant and scholarship award money to college-going students. At HESC’s core are programs like the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), numerous state scholarships, federal college access grants and a highly successful College Savings program. HESC puts college within the reach of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers each year through programs like these and through the guidance it provides to students, families and counselors. In 2012-13, HESC helped more than 342,000 students achieve their college dreams by providing more than $979.4 million in grants, scholarships and loan forgiveness benefits, including $931 million awarded through the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).