Student Loan Forgiveness for Lawyers
Law graduates average $130,000-$140,000 in debt. Public interest salaries start under $60,000. Without forgiveness, the math doesn't work. Here's how to make a public interest career financially viable.
BigLaw starting salaries: $215,000+. Public interest starting salaries: $50,000-$60,000. With $137,500 in average law school debt, standard 10-year repayment means payments of ~$1,500/month—impossible on a public interest salary. PSLF is the only way the math works.
Primary Options for Lawyers
What it offers: 100% forgiveness of remaining balance, tax-free
Time required: 10 years (120 qualifying payments)
Qualifying employers:
- Federal, state, local, tribal government agencies
- Public defender offices
- Legal aid organizations (501(c)(3))
- Prosecutor/DA offices
- 501(c)(3) nonprofits
Requirements: Direct Loans, income-driven repayment plan, full-time employment
What it offers: Up to $6,000/year for attorneys, up to $60,000 total
Who qualifies: DOJ attorneys (federal prosecutors, civil division, etc.)
Note: Can be used alongside PSLF—payments made by DOJ still count toward 120
Many state bars offer LRAPs for attorneys in public interest or government roles:
- New York: Up to $7,000/year through LRAP
- California: State Bar LRAP for legal aid attorneys
- Texas: State Bar Student Loan Repayment Assistance
- Florida: Florida Bar Foundation LRAP
Check your state bar association for available programs.
Many law schools operate their own loan repayment assistance programs for graduates in public interest:
- NYU, Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Columbia have robust programs
- Typically income-based, supplementing PSLF
- Some cover the gap between salary and loan payments
Check with your law school's career services office.
Making It Work: The Strategy
- Get on an income-driven plan immediately — IBR or PAYE. This caps payments at 10-15% of discretionary income.
- Submit PSLF Employment Certification — Do this when you start and annually. Confirms your employer qualifies.
- Stack programs — Use school LRAP + state bar LRAP + PSLF simultaneously. Some programs even pay your IDR payment for you.
- Keep detailed records — Save every employment verification, payment confirmation, and correspondence.
Example: Public Defender with $150K Debt
Salary: $55,000 → PAYE payment: ~$300/month
10 years × $300 = $36,000 paid
Remaining balance forgiven: $150,000+ (original principal plus any accrued interest)
Without PSLF: Standard payment would be ~$1,700/month—30% of gross salary.
Which Employers Qualify?
Definitely Qualify:
- Federal agencies (DOJ, SEC, FTC, USPTO, etc.)
- State and local government (AG offices, public defenders, prosecutors)
- Legal Services Corporation (LSC) grantees
- 501(c)(3) legal aid organizations
May Not Qualify:
- Private law firms (even doing pro bono work)
- For-profit companies with legal departments
- Law school clinics (depends on structure)
Uncertain After July 2026:
The new "substantial illegal purpose" rule may affect some 501(c)(3) legal organizations, particularly those providing immigration legal services. See our PSLF Employer Eligibility 2026 guide.
Common Mistakes for Lawyers
- Starting at BigLaw "just for a few years" — Those years don't count toward PSLF. Each year delays forgiveness.
- Not certifying employment early — Some discover after years that their employer didn't qualify.
- Staying on Standard Repayment — Only income-driven plans count for PSLF. Standard 10-year pays off the loan before forgiveness.
- Not consolidating FFEL loans — If you have older FFEL loans, they must be consolidated to Direct Loans for PSLF eligibility.