Harvard Law School announced today that it would waive the third year of tuition for all future students who agree to spend at least five years after graduation in public-service jobs.

To be eligible for what amounts to a $41,500 grant, students must demonstrate a commitment to public service during law school. They will earn credits for public-service activities such as relevant summer jobs and internships.

“I want all of our students to have the ability to make public service their first choice after law school,” said the school’s dean, Elena Kagan. “We have tried in many ways to make this choice easier, particularly for students who have accumulated significant debt in college and law school.” The law school also offers a loan-repayment program for students who pursue public-service careers.

Across the country, many law students graduate owing more than $100,000, making it difficult, if not impossible, for them to consider low-paying public-service jobs. To deal with the problem, not only for law students, but for those in other fields as well, Congress last year created a loan-forgiveness program for public-service employees who spend 10 years working for a government or tax-exempt organization. —Katherine Mangan