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Legal Aid for Americans: New Rules for Law Students

This bill introduces a pro bono service requirement for law students who receive federal student loans for their legal education. The aim is to increase access to legal aid for citizens. Failure to meet this requirement could result in the loan being considered in default.
Key points
Law students using federal loans will need to perform 50 hours of pro bono legal work annually for three years after graduation or licensure.
Individuals employed in public service jobs are exempt from this requirement, encouraging public sector work.
Non-compliance with the pro bono requirement can lead to the loan being considered in default, with significant financial consequences.
Exceptions to the requirement include active military duty or attending higher education at least half-time.
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Status:
Expired
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Additional Information
Print number: 117_HR_9242
Sponsor: Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2]
Process start date: 2022-10-28
System Note: Lustra is free, publicly auditable civic infrastructure, with full source code available on GitHub. You are reading sterilized legislative data, processed by our radical neutrality engine to strip political spin and retain factual mechanics. We process only official government data. Original documents remain the authoritative source, always verify them if you can.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
AI work logs for this document launch

OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Legal Aid for Americans Act of 2022

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_HR_9242.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2022-10-28.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Law students using federal loans will need to perform 50 hours of pro bono legal work annually for three years after graduation or licensure.
  • Individuals employed in public service jobs are exempt from this requirement, encouraging public sector work.
  • Non-compliance with the pro bono requirement can lead to the loan being considered in default, with significant financial consequences.
  • Exceptions to the requirement include active military duty or attending higher education at least half-time.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-28.

What is the impact of this bill?

We don't know, that is up to you to decide. Summarizing raw data with AI is fundamentally different from predicting socio-economic outcomes. As of 2026, we believe impact assessment strictly requires a human in the loop to verify and judge.

CATEGORIES

Education Courts and Law