Still Worth It: The State of Public Service Loan Forgiveness

If you’re an attorney with legal aid or work as a public service professional in other nonprofits or government, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) may be an important tool to manage your student debt. Designed as a workforce investment for those seeking public interest careers with lower salaries, PSLF requires qualifying payments be made on a federal student loan, after which the balance is forgiven.

In a recently published article in Bench and Bar magazine, co-writers Dee Baskin, executive director of the Loan Repayment Assistance Program of Minnesota (LRAP-MN), and Heather Vlieger, grants & development manager with Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, discuss recent changes in the program affecting borrowers, how to stay on track, and why PSLF protections remain critical for those committed to serving their communities.

Although recent developments have created uncertainty, the core structure of PSLF remains unchanged and continues to make long-term public interest careers financially sustainable and beneficial to the vulnerable communities they serve. Read “PSLF is trickier now. But it’s still there and still worth pursuing” in Bench and Bar.