Employment law Help (Bakersfield, August: 2014, student loans, attorneys)

[needlegalhelp]

Hello,

I am in need of some assistance with an employment contract.


My employeer was a school that I also (still) attend for a BA program. They offered me discounted school. In July 2013 was my last payment for the school.
When I started working there I signed a contract that says that:
"I have to pay $15.000 if I leave prior to the completion of 24 months of full time employment after I finish my bachelor program".
I left my job in August of 2013. I still go to school to where I used to work. I will finish my program in June 2014. Knowing that they might want the money, I applied for a student loan for that amount.
The statement we have received (July 2013) shows that the school had to reimburse us the student loan because the school was paid off.
The second statement (January this year) shows that the school took the student loan and applied it towards the school costs.

Now, they are coming after us to pay the $15.000. Are they correct to do so, even if I left before the completion of the bachelor program and also I paid for the said amount with a student loan, the one they applied to the school tuition instead of reimbursing me?

Appreciate any help. Attorneys are very expensive and they said that there can be 10-20 hours only for letters back and forth.

Thank you!

[russlancea]

Wow, I know I have problems with reading comprehension, but I'm totally lost. From what I understand, your contract requires you to work 2 years after you get your Bachelor's, but you quit that job before completing your degree? Sounds like you owe the $15k. You got a $15k school loan to cover that, but what happened to it? The school took the $15k and applied it to your tuition, books, etc.? and they're still coming after you for the $15K because you didn't fulfill the contract?

Why did you quit that job? 2 years go by fast.

My friend is up to his ears in student loans because he went to law school, but he finally, finally got a job in his field and if he stays there for 10 years, he said his loans will be cancelled. I told him to stay put. 10 years is so worth it. I know Bakersfield is not much to hoot about, but I would suffer it out for 10 years to get the $100k+ loans forgiven. Yikes.