The Project on Predatory Student Lending seeks a Staff Attorney to join our team of attorneys and advocates using innovative litigation strategies to end predatory practices in higher education and protect students.

The Organization

The Project on Predatory Student Lending is the first legal services practice in the country focused solely on representing postsecondary students who were harmed by predatory practices in higher education and vocational training. Started at Harvard Law School in 2012, the Project became an independent non-profit organization in August 2022. The Project primarily uses impact litigation to further its mission of ending predatory practices in higher education. The Project has prosecuted landmark litigation holding corporations and the government accountable for abusive and discriminatory actions and policies that harm students from communities historically excluded from the benefits of higher education. To date, the Project has won cancellation of over $30 billion in student debt for over 2 million former students located throughout the United States. To learn more about our current cases, please visit our website, read news coverage of our work, and listen to our clients' experiences with predatory actors in higher education.

Staff Attorney Position and Essential Functions

As a key member of PPSL's legal team, the Staff Attorney is responsible for developing and prosecuting complex and cutting-edge impact litigation to further the interests of the Project's client community and the mission of the Project.

Essential Functions Include:

• Independently prosecute existing creative impact litigation in areas including anti-discrimination statutes, higher education law and regulation, administrative procedure, consumer protection statutes, antitrust, and others
• Develop new litigation to meet strategic objectives
• Elevate client and class member voices and maximize client engagement and participation in litigation
• Work collaboratively with Project staff and external partners
• Translate legal concepts for different audiences including general public, policy advocacy community, lawmakers, student loan borrowers, and clients

Requirements and Qualifications

• JD and minimum three years of relevant legal experience
• Experience acting as lead counsel in civil litigation
• Familiarity with consumer protection, student loan law, and/or plaintiff-side class action work preferred but not required
• Licensure and good standing in at least one jurisdiction
• Ability and competence to independently investigate and engage in unfamiliar areas of law and policy
• A demonstrated interest in the Project's mission and a commitment to using litigation and advocacy to combat systemic inequality
• The ability to work collaboratively
• Case-related travel as necessary

Compensation

The minimum salary for this position is $125,000 annually; compensation will be commensurate with the experience level of the candidate.

The Project on Predatory Student Lending offers generous benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance, up to five months paid parental leave, five percent retirement matching, and a generous vacation policy.

Location Requirements

The Project on Predatory Student Lending is located in Boston, Massachusetts. This position is remote with case-related travel. PPSL will consider applicants from any location within the United States.

Diversity Statement

The Project on Predatory Student Lending encourages applicants from all races, religions, national origins, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and ages, as well as veterans and individuals with disabilities to apply to our Staff Attorney position. We are dedicated to creating a work environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and accommodating for each individual team member.

How to Apply

Please upload a resume and a written statement telling us why you are interested in working at the Project on Predatory Student Lending and an example of how you have used or intend to use litigation to advance economic or racial justice here.

• JD and minimum three years of relevant legal experience
• Experience acting as lead counsel in civil litigation
• Familiarity with consumer protection, student loan law, and/or plaintiff-side class action work preferred but not required
• Licensure and good standing in at least one jurisdiction
• Ability and competence to independently investigate and engage in unfamiliar areas of law and policy
• A demonstrated interest in the Project's mission and a commitment to using litigation and advocacy to combat systemic inequality
• The ability to work collaboratively
• Case-related travel as necessary

About Project on Predatory Student Lending

The Project on Predatory Student Lending (PPSL) is the leading legal organization representing student borrowers against predatory for-profit colleges and the policies that enable institutions to exploit and cheat students. PPSL uses bold, strategic litigation and advocacy to demand accountability in the higher education space and influence policy solutions to create a more just and affordable education system. PPSL represents more than two million student borrowers and its work has resulted in cancellation of more than $30 billion of fraudulent student loan debt.

Connections working at Project on Predatory Student Lending