4 Best Chicago Student Loan Attorneys for Forgiveness, Settlement, Repayment Help & More

• Chicago has top-rated attorneys who specialize in federal repayment issues, student loan forgiveness programs, and private loan disputes.

• If you are struggling with inaccurate billing or unfair servicer practices, you can receive legal advice to resolve these issues.

• Many student loan challenges—like consolidations, wage garnishments, or forgiveness—can be handled remotely without hiring a local attorney.

Looking for Chicago student loan attorneys? Below are four top-rated local attorneys who assist borrowers with resolving federal and private student loan issues.

Although our firm is not based in Chicago, borrowers in the city and across the country trust us for help with challenges like wage garnishment and loan forgiveness due to our specialized expertise.

If you need a local attorney or prefer access to nationwide experience, you’ve come to the right place.

Related: How Much Does a Student Loan Lawyer Cost?

Finding the right attorney can make all the difference in managing your student loan debt. Below are four top-rated options in Chicago, including those that specialize in bankruptcy or debt resolution.

Our firm stands out for its nationwide focus on student loan solutions. Use this list to find the best attorney that fits your needs.

1. Tate Esq, LLC

• Specialty: Exclusive focus on federal and private student loan law, with proven strategies for loan forgiveness, settlements, and bankruptcy discharge. Over a decade of nationwide experience reducing millions in student loan debt.

• Why Choose Us: Unlike general bankruptcy firms, we focus solely on student loans. Our lead attorney, Stanley Tate, is a national leader who trains other lawyers on student loan law. We don’t just know the rules—we know how forgiveness programs work, which settlement offers are achievable, when bankruptcy makes sense, and how to stop wage garnishments. This real-world expertise comes from helping thousands of borrowers solve every type of student loan problem.

• Ideal For: Borrowers with any student loan problem—from qualifying for forgiveness programs to stopping wage garnishment, negotiating private loan settlements, or using bankruptcy. If other solutions haven’t worked, our specialized expertise can help find a permanent fix.

• Contact: Visit tateesq.com/book-a-call or call 314-884-1886.

2. Kaplan Law Firm

• Specialty: Assisting borrowers with student loan bankruptcy and debt resolution.

• Why Choose Them: With over 20 years of experience, attorney Rae Kaplan specializes in guiding borrowers through adversary proceedings to discharge student loans under the Bankruptcy Code.

• Ideal For: Borrowers who need expert legal help to address overwhelming student debt through bankruptcy.

• Contact: Visit financialrelief.com.

3. Edelman Combs Latturner & Goodwin LLC

• Specialty: Consumer protection lawyers experienced in defending borrowers against debt collectors and resolving student loan disputes.

• Why Choose Them: They offer free consultations and focus on defending borrower rights under Illinois law. Their team has extensive experience with disputes involving loan servicers and collection agencies.

• Ideal For: Borrowers dealing with debt collection harassment or servicer disputes.

• Contact: Visit edcombs.com.

4. Smith Ortiz, P.C.

• Specialty: Legal assistance for student loan debt, including filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Chapter 13 bankruptcy, and debt settlement.

• Why Choose Them: With over 25 years of combined experience, Smith Ortiz offers personalized solutions, helping clients manage forgiveness programs, discharge options, and refinancing.

• Ideal For: Borrowers exploring bankruptcy or seeking loan modification solutions.

• Contact: Visit smithortiz.com.

Student loan attorneys in Chicago handle federal and private loan burdens through specialized services such as loan discharge applications, default resolution, income-driven repayment plans, and defense against collection lawsuits.

They also negotiate with lenders, review loan documents, and guide you through bankruptcy options.

Let’s explore each service in detail:

Qualify for Loan Forgiveness Programs

President Biden made big changes to loan forgiveness programs, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness and the one-time account adjustment.

These programs helped hundreds of thousands of borrowers until legal challenges to the SAVE Plan ground the Department of Education’s forgiveness programs to a halt. With Trump winning the election and having called forgiveness programs “vile” during his campaign, there’s a lot of uncertainty moving forward.

Lawyers help you submit correct documentation, track payments, and meet deadlines to qualify for current programs while addressing any upcoming changes.

Get Out of Default

The Fresh Start Program has ended, and the Department of Education will soon restart collections through wage garnishment, Social Security payment offset, and tax refund seizure.

Borrowers in default now have just two options: consolidation or loan rehabilitation. Making the wrong choice could cost you thousands in fees, damage your credit score for years, or make you ineligible for future loan benefits.

Lawyers can immediately stop garnishments and collections while helping you choose the best path out of default. They ensure you get the lowest possible monthly payment based on your income and family size, protecting you from future default.

Negotiate a Settlement

Private student loan interest rates have soared during the pandemic, causing monthly payments to double or triple for many borrowers. With rates now in the teens, many people can’t keep up with payments.

Private lenders offer only temporary fixes like forbearance, while refinancing is out of reach for those with high balances, lower credit scores, or insufficient income. This leaves many borrowers falling behind or heading toward default.

Lawyers can negotiate with private lenders to settle your loans for less than you owe, especially if you’re behind on payments or your loans have been charged off. This can save you thousands and help you avoid the tax consequences of forgiven debt.

Lower Monthly Payments

The Department of Education’s SAVE Plan cut payments to zero for millions of low-income borrowers. But court challenges have frozen the program, and the government isn’t processing new applications.

With SAVE likely to end in court and no appeal expected from the Trump administration, you’ll need to switch to another payment plan quickly. Options like Income-Based Repayment (IBR) and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) have different rules about payment amounts and forgiveness timelines.

Lawyers help you choose the right plan to avoid payment spikes and protect your progress toward forgiveness. They ensure you keep essential benefits when switching plans and lock in the lowest payment you qualify for under current rules.

Defend Against a Lawsuit

Private student loan companies are increasingly selling defaulted loans to debt buyers, who then file lawsuits to collect. These buyers often rush to court, hoping borrowers won’t respond.

Many lawsuits have serious flaws. The debt buyer might be suing after the statute of limitations has expired, or they may lack proper documentation showing they actually own your loan.

Lawyers review these cases for critical legal defenses, from expired time limits to improper documentation. They can often get suits dismissed or negotiate better settlements because they know what evidence debt buyers must legally produce in court.

Discharge Loans in Bankruptcy

The Biden administration’s new guidance lets borrowers discharge federal student loans by showing “undue hardship” through a simpler process. More bankruptcy judges now recognize how predatory lending and soaring interest rates burden borrowers.

Complete discharge happens in rare cases. But, most borrowers achieve significant debt relief through settlements. Private lenders often agree to reduce loan balances by 20% to 60%, depending on your financial situation and loan details.

Lawyers can guide you through the bankruptcy process to negotiate affordable payment plans lasting 5 to 20 years, usually with minimal interest (0-1%). For example, a $100,000 private loan could become a $40,000 balance with $200 monthly payments.

With over a decade focusing solely on student loans, our Chicago attorneys have reduced millions in private loan debt through settlements and bankruptcy. We’ve built relationships with major lenders like Navient and Sallie Mae, knowing exactly what they’ll accept and when.

Most clients see 35-60% balance reductions through settlements within 6 months. For tougher cases, we use bankruptcy to achieve even better results, often cutting balances by more than half while setting affordable payments. Unlike general bankruptcy firms, we handle the entire process in-house.

Recently, we helped an Art Institute student reduce their $200,000 balance to $80,000 with $300 monthly payments. For another client, we settled $150,000 in Navient loans for a $60,000 lump sum. Our fees are often less than what you save in a single settlement.

If you’re looking for help with your federal or private student loans—or managing your monthly payments—consider contacting one of the Chicago student loan attorneys listed above.

Our firm offers online consultations via video, making it easy to connect with us no matter where you’re located. We don’t offer free consultations, but our paid sessions deliver clear, actionable strategies designed to address your specific needs.

Book a consultation with our team to learn how we can help you take control of your student loans.

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