The largest private lender for law school students until a change in 2010 is raising its PR and public affairs profile with the creation of a new post in Washington, D.C., as it revamps its mission and legal education comes under scrutiny for its cost.

Access Group, based in West Chester, Pa., said it has created the new position of senior VP for public affairs, policy and members services, and will bring in Capitol Hill education vet Kathleen Smith in late May to fill it.

Access, which had been the top originator, holder and servicer of federally guaranteed private loans, saw its mission change after Congress in 2010 stopped most private lenders from issuing government-back loans for students. AG, originally part of the Law School Admission Council, which administers the LSAT entrance exam for law schools, is a non-profit membership organization with 191 law school members accredited by the American Bar Association.

AG said Smith will lead development of two goals from its newly adopted strategic plan: establishing the group as a "leading voice in the public debate" on legal education, and keeping and expanding programs – scholarships, conferences -- to member school administrators, students and prospective students.

Smith has been chief of staff to the U.S. Dept. of Education's acting deputy assistant secretary for policy, planning and innovation for the past four years and earlier was president, chief of staff and director of communications for the Education Finance Council, the D.C. association for student lenders.

A surge in defaults by law students during the financial crisis, coupled with a decline in legal employment has sparked internal and external debates among law schools about the costs and benefits of legal education.

The Health Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 made the U.S. Department of Education the sole provider of federally guaranteed student loans.