Reducing your Monthly Student Loan Payments: DOJ Policies, Brunner Updates, and Innovative Non-Bankruptcy Solutions

Bryan Sisto
Bryan Sisto
Frost Brown Todd LLP

Bryan joined Frost Brown Todd in 2019 in the firm’s Bankruptcy and Restructuring Group and has broad experience across all facets of bankruptcy practice, including commercial and consumer cases, and bankruptcy litigation.

Joshua Cohen
Joshua Cohen
Cohen Consumer Law, PLC

Joshua R.I. Cohen’s journey into consumer protection law began during his time as a college student at Brandeis University, where he gained firsthand insight into the challenges of student loans while working in the financial aid office.

Live Video-Broadcast: April 11, 2025

2 hour CLE

Tuition: $195.00
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Program Summary

Session I - An Update on Student Loans and Bankruptcy – Bryan Sisto

Bryan Sisto will discuss the current state of student loans and bankruptcy after the change in leadership at the Department of Justice, including what has changed and what has stayed the same, and an update on which courts are still using the Brunner standard. The discussion will cover the attestation process utilized in undue hardship lawsuits where United States is a defendant, and also how FFELP guarantors, like Bryan’s client Educational Credit Management Corporation, utilize the attestation process. Bryan will also discuss the non-bankruptcy student loan payment solutions available to borrowers, such as income-driven repayment, total and permanent disability, closed school discharge, and several others.

Key Topics

  • Update on DOJ policies
  • Update on Brunner
  • Non-bankruptcy payment solutions
  • Non-bankruptcy discharge solutions

Session II – Student Loan Relief: Insights on SAVE, PSLF, and Private Loan Solutions - Joshua Cohen

This session will address critical topics surrounding student loan law and relief options. First, we'll explore the potential implications of the 8th Circuit's involvement in the national SAVE lawsuit following the recent demise of the SAVE program. Then, the session will cover strategies for helping clients navigate Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) programs, including how to attract clients seeking this relief. Finally, we'll delve into practical approaches for assisting clients with private student loans, examining solutions beyond federal forgiveness and repayment programs. This session provides essential guidance for attorneys working in student loan law.

Key Topics

  • What may come from the 8th circuit in the national SAVE lawsuit now that SAVE is dead
  • PSLF – How to get clients in the door
  • How to help clients with private student loans

Date / Time: April 11, 2025

  • 1:00 pm – 3:10 pm Eastern
  • 12:00 pm – 2:10 pm Central
  • 11:00 am – 1:10 pm Mountain
  • 10:00 am – 12:10 pm Pacific

Closed-captioning available

Speakers

Speaker_Bryan Sisto_myLawCLEBryan Sisto | Frost Brown Todd LLP

Bryan joined Frost Brown Todd in 2019 in the firm’s Bankruptcy and Restructuring Group and has broad experience across all facets of bankruptcy practice, including commercial and consumer cases, and bankruptcy litigation. During his time at the firm, Bryan has represented debtors, creditors, trustees, and committees in large, complex chapter 11 cases, and consumer cases under chapter 7 and chapter 13.

Prior to joining the firm, Bryan served for five years as the Career Law Clerk to the Honorable Charles M. Caldwell at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio. At the Bankruptcy Court, Bryan drafted dozens of judicial opinions in adversary proceedings and contested matters in cases small and large, and helped Judge Caldwell manage the Court’s significant chapter 13 docket.

Bryan has extensive experience with student loans in bankruptcy, having defended Educational Credit Management Corporation in nearly one-hundred undue hardship adversary proceedings, as well as contesting the treatment of student loans in chapter 13 in dozens of cases.

 

Joshua Cohen | Cohen Consumer Law, PLC

Joshua R.I. Cohen’s journey into consumer protection law began during his time as a college student at Brandeis University, where he gained firsthand insight into the challenges of student loans while working in the financial aid office. This experience opened his eyes to the financial devastation student loans could cause if not managed carefully. He continued his studies at Quinnipiac University School of Law, where he became deeply involved in consumer protection law. His passion for advocating for underserved populations led him to work with Connecticut Legal Services’ Consumer Law Project for Elders (CLEP), where he became the first law student to ever work with the program. There, he helped an elderly retiree who was facing the threat of having his Social Security benefits garnished due to overdue student loan payments, successfully preventing the offset and negotiating a manageable repayment plan.

Following law school, Josh worked briefly for a well-known collection harassment lawyer before founding the Law Office of Joshua R.I. Cohen in 2008, later rebranded as Cohen Consumer Law in 2014. Through his firm, Josh has been dedicated to assisting individuals with student loan issues, defending clients against debt collection lawsuits, suing debt collectors for harassment and abusive practices, fighting inaccurate credit reporting, and helping clients resolve overdue private student loan debts.

Agenda

Session I – An Update on Student Loans and Bankruptcy | 1:00pm – 2:00pm

  • Update on DOJ policies
  • Update on Brunner
  • Non-bankruptcy payment solutions
  • Non-bankruptcy discharge solutions

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

Session II – Student Loan Relief: Insights on SAVE, PSLF, and Private Loan Solutions | 2:10pm – 3:10pm

  • What may come from the 8th circuit in the national SAVE lawsuit now that SAVE is dead
  • PSLF – How to get clients in the door
  • How to help clients with private student loans

Credits

Alaska

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Our programs are CLE-eligible through Alaska’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity.
Alabama

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Arkansas

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Arizona

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

California

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Colorado

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Connecticut

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

District of Columbia

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Delaware

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Florida

Approved via Attorney Submission
2.5 General

Receive CLE credit in Florida via attorney submission.
Georgia

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Hawaii

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 General

Iowa

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Idaho

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Illinois

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Indiana

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Kansas

Pending CLE Approval
2 Substantive

Kentucky

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Louisiana

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Massachusetts

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Maryland

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Maine

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Michigan

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Minnesota

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 General

Missouri

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 General

Mississippi

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Montana

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

North Carolina

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

North Dakota

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Our programs are CLE-eligible through North Dakota’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity. Section 1, Policy 1.14
Nebraska

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

myLawCLE reports attendance to Nebraska on each attorney’s behalf for all programs. Please do not self-report.
New Hampshire

Approved for CLE Credits
120 General

As of July 1, 2014, the NHMCLE Board no longer provides pre- or post-approval of courses. Attendees must self-determine whether a program is eligible for credit, and self-report their attendance online at www.nhbar.org, based on qualification provisions of Rule 53.
New Jersey

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 General

Our programs are CLE-eligible through New Jersey’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity, except for the courses required under BCLE Reg. 201:2
New Mexico

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Nevada

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

New York

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 General

Our programs are CLE-eligible through New York’s Approved Jurisdiction Group “B”.
Ohio

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Oklahoma

Pending CLE Approval
2.5 General

Oregon

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Pennsylvania

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Rhode Island

Pending CLE Approval
2.5 General

South Carolina

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

South Dakota

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Tennessee

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Texas

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Utah

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

Virginia

Not Eligible
2 General Hours

Vermont

Approved for CLE Credits
2 General

Washington

Approved via Attorney Submission
2 Law & Legal

Receive CLE credit in Washignton via attorney submission.
Wisconsin

Pending CLE Approval
2.4 General

West Virginia

Pending CLE Approval
2.4 General

Wyoming

Pending CLE Approval
2 General

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