Please join Massachusetts Bar Association leadership at a reception to launch the MBA’s Student Loan Bankruptcy Assistance Project on Wednesday, Jan. 24, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the MBA in Boston. Click here to RSVP.
According to some commentators, federal student loan debt is a looming economic crisis for the commonwealth. For many low-income borrowers, the crisis is already here. Unmanageable student debt prevents them from taking care of themselves and their families. At present, the Bankruptcy Code provides for the discharge of student debt, but only upon a showing of “undue hardship” on the debtor and his/her dependents.
Recognizing that student borrowers most likely to be eligible for an “undue hardship” discharge in bankruptcy will not have the resources to hire a lawyer, the MBA, in partnership with the Attorney General’s Office and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, has established a panel of pro bono attorneys and law firms willing to represent student borrowers in adversary proceedings seeking to discharge student debt. The initiative was a recommendation of the Student Debt Working Group, established by Attorney General Healey and Boston Chamber CEO Jim Rooney in 2016 to bring together leaders from the business community, legal community, and government to exchange ideas and develop concrete proposals for improving the state of student debt and access to higher education in Massachusetts.
Remarks will be provided by:
- Hon. Frank J. Bailey, United States Bankruptcy Court for District of Massachusetts
- Attorney General Maura T. Healey
- John Rao, National Consumer Law Center
- Jim Rooney, CEO, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
Program co-chairs:
- Francis C. Morrissey (pictured)
- Michael J. Fencer
- Euripides D. Dalmanieras