2026 Equal Justice Conference

Public interest legal services organizations should be able to attract professionals to work for them despite lower salaries. And public interest professionals — legal aid attorneys, public defenders, nonprofit advocates, and government workers—should not be limited in making career choices between serving the public and managing unmanageable student debt. Yet, persistent barriers in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program deny relief to many who may qualify and the situation might be getting worse. This session will explore recent policy changes, including the Executive Order (EO) directing the U.S. Department of Education to reconsider which organizations are eligible for PSLF – potentially affecting some nonprofits and advocacy groups and their staff. The Department of Education has promulgated rules to exclude from PSLF eligibility organizations that engage in activities deemed to have a “substantial illegal purpose.” Panelists will discuss ongoing advocacy efforts, legal strategies and tools aimed at ensuring access to PSLF. Participants will gain up-to-date guidance to navigate PSLF and learn how to advocate for fairer, more accessible implementation nationwide.