Newly minted lawyers may soon get added incentive to serve indigent defendants.

On July 31, both houses of Congress passed the John R. Justice Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act as part of the Higher Education Act reauthorization bill. The bill passed the Senate by 83-8 and the House of Representatives by 380-49. It has been sent to the president and is awaiting his signature.

If the measure becomes law, lawyers who commit to working as public defenders or prosecutors for at least three years will be able to have a sizable chunk of their student loans paid. The law will provide payments of up to $10,000 a year, to a cap of $60,000.

Supporters say the measure will also stem high turnover rates at public-interest law agencies, which will provide those offices with better-trained and more experienced staff.

The bill will cap the spending for this program at $25 million a year.

"This bill represents an incredible opportunity for thousands of recent law-school graduates to follow their hearts and help others achieve equal justice," said Richard Goemann, director of defender legal services for the National Legal Aid & Defender Association. "This bill puts us one step closer to ensuring that experienced and qualified public defenders remain on the job, making our justice system fair and efficient and our communities and neighborhoods safer."