FL: turning over in Fort Myers

From the News-Press:

Attorney turnover taking its toll - State attorney, public defender fight to retain staff

Look into any Lee County Justice Center criminal courthouse and you’re sure to find as many younger, eager attorneys as older, experienced counsel.

Many of those young attorneys are prosecutors and public defenders. But lingering law school loans, the lure of private-sector salaries and desire to try a new trade are problems State Attorney Steve Russell and Public Defender Robert Jacobs deal with yearly. Turnover is a constant challenge for each office, and both elected leaders have tried increasing salaries, guaranteeing lots of courtroom experience and promoting in-office teamwork as a way to attract new talent.

According to Judicial Administration Commission numbers from 2005-2006, the most recent available, Russell’s office had a 25 percent turnover rate, fourth highest among Florida State Attorney Offices for that period. The turnover rate for Jacobs’ office was 26.5 percent, ninth highest among the 20 public defenders. “The people out of law school have these huge loans,” Jacobs said. “They want to make a commitment, but they can’t. They want to make as much as they can and you can’t blame them...”