15 May Is my student eligible for loan forgiveness?

Q. My daughter is going to start law school next fall. We have saved some money but she will need to borrow. But she plans to have a public service type of job where after 10 years, some of the loans can be forgiven. How exactly does this work?
— Still working

A. Congratulations to your daughter.

Paying for higher education is tough. And expensive.

You’re talking about a federal program called Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). It can significantly reduce student loan burdens for law graduates who go into public service careers.

If a student uses eligible federal Direct Loans, works full-time for a qualifying employer such as a government agency, public defender’s office, prosecutor’s office, legal aid organization or nonprofit, and if the student makes qualifying payments under an income-driven repayment plan for about 10 years, the remaining federal loan balance may be forgiven, said Bill Connington of Connington Wealth Management in Fairfield.

“Because public-interest legal jobs often pay less than private-sector law positions, this program can make law school debt much more manageable, especially when combined with Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) assistance offered by some law schools,” he said. “The key is to borrow through eligible federal loan programs, stay on top of the paperwork and employment certifications, and avoid refinancing into private loans, which usually eliminates eligibility.”

More information is available through the Department of Education here.

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This story was originally published in May 2026. 

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