Qualifying Employment

Printer-friendly versionQualifying public service employment is full-time paid work in:

• the government;
• a 501(c)(3) nonprofit;
• an AmeriCorps position;
• the Peace Corps; or
• for a private “public service organization”

The vast majority of public interest lawyers work for 501(c)(3) nonprofits or the government. Both legal and non-legal staff with significant debt employed by government and 501(c)(3) nonprofits may benefit from Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

For those attorneys that do not work for a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or the government, employment can still qualify if the employee provides “public interest law services” for a “public service organization.” Public interest law refers to legal services provided by a “public service organization” funded at least in part by a local, state, federal or tribal government and is not organized for profit, a labor union, a partisan political organization, or an organization engaged in religious activities.