Bill > S816

This bill proposes to encourage lawyers to practice public interest law by allowing a tax credit for graduates of accredited Massachusetts law schools who are repaying law school loans. This credit would be equal to the amount paid for law school loans, but it cannot exceed the total tuition paid and is contingent on the graduate actively practicing public interest law, as determined by a newly established public service commission. The public service commission's role is to evaluate and categorize public legal services, including those provided by legal aid organizations, public defender offices, district attorney offices, attorney general offices, and other non-profit organizations, to ensure they qualify for the tax credit. Additionally, the commission is tasked with studying ways to promote participation in public law services and recommending tuition reimbursement programs to alleviate law school debt, with its findings to be reported by March 31, 2016.