1. International Bridges to Justice
2. Asylum Access
3. Youth Represent

All are social entrepreneurship type organizations funded by Ashoka, Skoll Foundation, Echoing Green, etc. As these organizations expand, more lawyers can join their ranks!

We need more leaders to join the sector to create more jobs. But, change is definitely possible!

I think I'll write a follow up post to answer your question in more detail about how we can get more public interest lawyers in place. I think we require something like teach for america – for lawyers, on a massive scale. Not just in the U.S. but around the world. I also think there's many ways law schools and law firms can really foster public interest law. Law schools need to provide better opportunities for post-graduate public interest fellowships, and also improve their loan repayment programs. I think the federal government should also start paying law school tuition for students who commit 10 years to public interest law. Firms can also pitch in for these types of initiatives.

Secondly, yes, I have come across law firms that are for-profit but also serve the public sector. A lot of these are called plaintiff-side law firms, and some like Cohen & Milstein (a great example) get involved in human rights cases as well. Pretty cool. However, these organizations are not able to serve the POOREST of the poor and have to turn away those who cannot pay at all. They still have to make money so they can't fill that gap. The salaries do tend to be better here though, so this is definitely a good option for those who want to combine both worlds. But, it's not an option for the most needy…

I think the best way to get people to be passionate about social change is for them to go see the problems first hand. Travel and go to the developing world. Get into the poorest communities in your backyard and begin volunteering whether it is helping people with tutoring or computer skills.

Another thing is that people want to feel like they are part of something bigger than them. That's why Obama got such support – he was able to create a movement. People want to feel invested and part of a broader movement that is exciting. That's also why the anti-genocide movement is so successful. I think fostering some sort of community spirit in a movement can be really effective in making people enjoy contributing!

Education in the U.S., however, is some of the best education you can get worldwide. It's extremely expensive and not at all egalitarian, I'd agree, but at the same time having studied outside the U.S. I do think we have great education here and I'd definitely want to come study here if I was an international student. But I do think the U.S. has a long way to go in making education affordable for the average joe.

Additionally, at least this year, many graduates have not found themselves with multiple job offers to pick from and in fact have had offers rescinded or deferred. Many deferred associates in Biglaw have taken the few public interest positions available because their firms have provided them with stipends and helped place them with nonprofit organizations. Graduates without such stipends really cannot afford to work for these organizations and still somehow pay off their loans and live above the poverty line.

Finally, a recent survey revealed that many of the deferred associates have surprisingly enjoyed public interest work and some are looking to stay in the public interest arena instead of rejoining private practice and Biglaw. So there are recent grads, including millenials, that are interested in public interest work and are doing it. The majority of us are willing to take pro bono cases (it is after all our professional and ethical duty) and still have some idealism within us. The real world including our loans has simply forced us to become more realistic.

@Carlos Couldn't have said it better.

Re your comment about “money is the incentive behind hard work”:

I was at an event about a month ago and that very same topic came up. One particular discussion really stuck with me. The facilitator shared this example:

A lot of kids actually enjoy reading, and they are more than happy as a hobby, in their spare time. But once schools and teachers start implementing programs such as “for every 10 books you read, you get a free slice of pizza”, with the intention to encourage them to read, more kids start to choose to read shorter and easier books. So they get more free pizza.

Moral of the story: The problem with reward systems is that it works. To a point where we are brought up in such a way that we don't want to do anything anymore unless we're rewarded for it. The definition of “volunteer” is problematic in itself. Things that we're supposed to do and supposed to be (ie. take care of one another, take care of the planet, don't be selfish, to share, to love) – all of a sudden becomes activities that only “nice people” do. While others will politely say, “it's not for me”.

What would be the incentives for people to focus on what matters? How could programs and systems be set up such that more people would recognize and acknowledge that perhaps money isn't the only incentive?

“We need to work towards a world where a public interest legal career does not involve sacrifice – but instead, where serving our fellow citizens is considered the norm, rather than the anomaly.” – Well said. But I'd be interested to hear what ideas you have. How do we begin to make it the norm?

Have you come across any examples of law firms that are structured as a for-profit social enterprise? ie. making money but still serving the public sector?