TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Amelia Ferrell Knisely on Aug 28, 2015

The TBA supports funding for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program that allows recent law school graduates and other professionals to enter and continue working full-time in public service jobs in government and the nonprofit sector. Under the program, individuals may qualify for forgiveness of their remaining loan balance. The TBA has joined the ABA and a broad range of groups in support of the program as it could be eliminated by Congress.

To build support, the TBA is sharing stories of those who have benefited from the program with senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker and the Tennessee congressional delegation. Kevin D. Balkwill, disciplinary counsel for the Tennessee’s Board of Professional Responsibility, is one who has benefited. Balkwill entered the program in 2009, restructuring his loan payments so he would be debt-free following 10 years of public service. He passed on taking more lucrative opportunities and said ending this program would force him to pay towards his loans longer. “Ending the PSLF program does not seem fair to many persons who have relied upon the program for so many years seeking an opportunity to be truly debt free of their student loans,” Balkwill said.

The TBA is seeking support for the PSLF program and is also requesting lawyers share their experience with the program.