The federal College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 is
hailed by Equal Justice Works as "one of the most significant
breakthroughs for public interest lawyers in a generation."
Qualifying 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 borrower must make 120 income-based payments as part of the
Direct Loan program in order to obtain this benefit, but the
payments don't have to be consecutive. The individual can take time
off to start a family, for instance, with payments resuming upon
re-entry to public-sector employment.