There are about five to 10 attorneys that do student loan work in Wisconsin, Bigsby said. She wishes there were more so they could share information and help students and their parents. She said she is a part of a loosely organized national network of attorneys who share notes on what they’re seeing in their federal court district, where the cases are handled.

“It would help if more attorneys got more knowledgeable about it,” Bigsby said. “If more people were looking into the facts of the loans, then they could do a better job for their clients.”

Bigsby’s work as a student loan defense attorney means she defends borrowers who are being chased by creditors, either private banks or the federal government. With private lenders, Bigsby works out payment plans and attempts to negotiate better terms for her clients. With the government, there’s less one can do.

“You don’t want a judgement against you. It can follow you for a long time,” she said. “We’re trying to settle them and get them in payment arrangements they can live with.”

Bigsby often focuses on cases where a student took on debt to attend a non-traditional educational program like culinary or cosmetology school.