"This gift will invigorate the School's rich tradition of public service by graduates at the federal level," said Dean Robert C. Clark in the release. "Perhaps this program will help produce the next Elizabeth Dole or Archibald Cox."

According to data from HLS' career placement office, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, 40 to 50 out of about 550 HLS graduates entered government work, according to the Post article. But by June, 1998 the number had declined to between seven and 10 graduates.

Part of the reason for this decline is the large amount of debt incurred by present law students, which was not the case in the past, Schlanger said.

"The average debt for a graduate is $70,000, but it is common to have $90,000 to $100,000 of debt, and not unheard of to have $120,000," she said, adding that she got her numbers from the HLS financial aid office.

Also, the discrepancy between private and public sector salaries has significantly increased.

In 1978, first-year jobs in the federal government and a Boston law firm earned about the same amount--about $60,000, adjusted for inflation, after taxes and loans, according to a recent Boston Globe article on Nov. 13.

But now a student taking a job with the government would earn only $51,000 after taxes and loans versus $103,000 for a Boston firm, said the same article.

Heyman said he hopes similar programs will be created at other law schools and universities.