Unmanageable student debt is a growing social problem in the commonwealth. For many low-income borrowers, student debt prevents them from taking care of themselves and their families. The Bankruptcy Code, in turn, provides for the discharge of student debt – but only upon a showing of “undue hardship” on the student borrower and his/her dependents.
Recognizing that the student borrowers most likely to be eligible for an “undue hardship” discharge in bankruptcy will not have the resources to hire a trial lawyer, the Massachusetts Bar Association has established a panel of pro bono attorneys and law firms willing to represent student borrowers in adversary proceedings seeking to discharge student debt in their bankruptcy cases.
On Oct. 23, the MBA will provide training and mentoring for volunteer lawyers willing to represent student borrowers on a pro bono basis. Attendees will receive a comprehensive training manual, developed by the National Consumer Law Center, for representing debtors in student loan discharge cases