Legal Aid for Americans Act of 2022
Bill: H.R.9242 | Sponsor: Rep. Burchett, Tim (R-TN)
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Legal Aid for Americans Act of 2022
This bill establishes a pro bono service requirement for law school graduates who borrow federal student loans for their graduate legal education.
Specifically, such a borrower must agree to perform pro bono legal work for not fewer than 50 hours per year for three years after the borrower obtains a license to practice law in a state (or for three years after completing the program of study, for borrowers who already had a license to practice when they received the loan). The bill exempts certain individuals from this requirement, including a borrower who is employed in a public service job.

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a pro bono 
 service requirement for individuals who borrow Federal student loans 
         for graduate legal education, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Legal Aid for Americans Act of 
2022''.

SEC. 2. PRO BONO SERVICE REQUIREMENT FOR LAW GRADUATES.

    Section 455 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(r) Pro Bono Service Requirement for Law Graduates.--
            ``(1) In general.--As condition of receiving a loan under 
        this part for graduate legal education, a borrower shall enter 
        into an agreement with the Secretary pursuant to which the 
        borrower agrees to perform legal work, on a pro bono basis, for 
        not fewer than 50 hours per year during each year of the 
        applicable service period.
            ``(2) Annual certifications.--
                    ``(A) In general.--On an annual basis during each 
                year of the applicable service period, a borrower 
                subject to an agreement under paragraph (1) shall 
                submit to the Secretary a certification indicating 
                whether or not the borrower has complied with the 
                requirements of the agreement.
                    ``(B) Exemption for public service employees.--A 
                borrower who is employed in a public service job (as 
                defined in subsection (m)) during the applicable 
                service period, as demonstrated by an annual 
                certification of such employment submitted to the 
                Secretary by such borrower, shall be deemed to be in 
                compliance with the pro bono service requirement under 
                this subsection and shall not be required to perform 
                any additional pro bono service pursuant to this 
                subsection.
            ``(3) Noncompliance.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
        of this Act, a borrower subject to an agreement under paragraph 
        (1) who does not comply with the terms of the agreement for any 
        year of the applicable service period shall be treated as in 
        default on any loan to which such agreement applies until the 
        date on which the borrower certifies that the borrower is in 
        compliance with the agreement.
            ``(4) Exceptions.--The requirement to perform pro bono 
        legal service pursuant to an agreement under paragraph (1) 
        shall not apply during any period in which the borrower--
                    ``(A) is serving on active duty during a war or 
                other military operation or national emergency;
                    ``(B) is performing qualifying National Guard duty 
                during a war or other military operation or national 
                emergency; or
                    ``(C) is attending an institution of higher 
                education on not less than a half-time basis.
            ``(5) Applicability.--The requirement under paragraph (1) 
        shall apply to loans made under this part for graduate legal 
        education after the date of enactment of the Legal Aid for 
        Americans Act of 2022.
            ``(6) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Applicable service period.--The term 
                `applicable service period' means--
                            ``(i) with respect to a borrower who is 
                        licensed to practice law in a State before 
                        receiving a loan under this part for graduate 
                        legal education, the first three years 
                        following the date on which the borrower 
                        completes the program of study for which the 
                        loan was obtained; and
                            ``(ii) with respect to a borrower who is 
                        not licensed to practice law in a State before 
                        receiving a loan under this part for graduate 
                        legal education, the first three years 
                        following the date on which the borrower 
                        obtains a license to practice law in a State.
                    ``(B) Graduate legal education.--The term `graduate 
                legal education' means any program of study leading to 
                a graduate degree or graduate certificate in a legal 
                field (as determined by the Secretary), including any 
                program of study leading to a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, 
                Master of Laws (LLM) degree, or Doctor of Juridical 
                Science (SJD) degree.''.
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