Law School Public Interest Programs - Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAP)
Albany Law School has always been committed to making rewarding public interest careers move viable to its graduates. To further this commitment, the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) was launched in December 2004. This program is designed to help alleviate the financial burden of educational loan repayment upon students who wish to pursue careers in public interest law, as well as city, county and state attorney's offices, and agencies operated by a city, county or state.
The LRAP allows graduates from the Class of 2004 or later to apply for forgivable loans of up to $10,000 per year for a maximum of three years.
American University Washington College of Law
For a loan assistance description see http://www.wcl.american.edu/finaid/pilrap.cfm
Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
Barry University School of Law
The Boston College Law School Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) supports recent BC Law graduates in law-related public interest careers by assisting them in the repayment of their educational debt. In recent years, annual awards ranged from $500 to $7,000. In order to be considered for the LRAP Program, first-time applicants must have graduated from Boston College Law School within the past five years and be employed on a full-time basis in a public interest job earning $57,500 or less. Applicants remain eligible in subsequent years until their earnings reach $65,000. In 2009, the law school awarded over $269, 000 to the 74 qualifying applicants.
Boston University School of Law
Under the terms of the current grant program, which has been approved by our faculty, graduates are eligible to apply for grants for up to 10 years after graduation, though preference is given to more recent graduates. Applicants apply to the Loan Repayment Assistance Program, coordinated by the School's Financial Aid Office, and a committee considers several criteria, including the ratio of salary to aggregate debt, year of graduation, spousal income and educational loans (if any), dependent responsibility and any special circumstances affecting the applicant's ability to repay outstanding debt.
Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School
BYU adminsters an interest forgiveness/deferral program for students who experience financial hardship. This program applies only to loans made from the law school and not to federal loans.
Brooklyn Law School’s LRAP provides up to $7,000 per year for up to five years to qualified graduates. Recipients must meet certain criteria including a minimum debt, income limitations, and employment at a non-profit employer. Details of the LRAP program can be found at http://www.brooklaw.edu/financialaid/lrap.php. In addition, the School’s Financial Aid and Public Service Programs Offices help students to identify other post graduate funding including private resources as well as funding from city, state and federal sources. Finally, students are educated about and provided assistance to negotiate the College Cost Reduction and Access Act.
California Western School of Law
California Western School of Law has a Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP). This competitive program offers the opportunity for some degree of loan repayment assistance to select graduates of the Juris Doctor program at California Western School of Law who work in specific public interest settings.
Specifically, to be eligible to apply for loan repayment assistance, a graduate must satisfy all of the following:
- Graduation Year: Graduates are eligible for loan repayment assistance for the four years immediately following their graduation from the J.D. program.
- Type of Employment: Graduates are eligible for loan repayment assistance if they are employed or to be employed:
1. full time;
2. in a law or law related position; and
3. by a legal aid, legal services or other nonprofit advocacy or policy organization qualifying for tax exemption under section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. - Minimum Debt Requirement: Graduates with more than $50,000 in certified law school debt are eligible to apply for loan repayment assistance.
Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law
Campbell Law Graduates have been recipients of loan repayment assistance through the North Carolina Legal Education Assistance Foundation. (NC LEAF). For eligibility guidelines, see www.ncleaf.org.
The Capital University Law School Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) Fund was established in 2004-05. This fund provides loan repayment assistance to graduates who select public interest career opportunities upon graduation.
Awards of $1,200 per year (in four $300 installments) are available to graduates of the Law School. LRAP funding is finite. There is no guarantee that every eligible applicant will be funded in a given year.
In order to apply for possible assistance from the Law School LRAP, applicants must:- Be a graduate of Capital University Law School's Juris Doctor program;
- Be a licensed attorney in good standing;
- Be employed full-time in a law-related capacity (not limited to the practice of law in the strictest sense, but substantially utilizing the legal training and skills of the law school graduate);
- By a non-profit tax exempt organization under IRS Code 501(c)(3); or
- In government law-related jobs at the local, state or federal level;
- Have a salary of $45,000 or less;
- Have an outstanding law student loan balance and must not be delinquent or in default on any educational loans; and
- Submit an LRAP application and all required documents each year.
Case Western Reserve University Law School
Catholic University of America School of Law
The CUA program has received provisional approval and is now in the process of reaching the funding level specified for beginning to make awards.
Chapman University School of Law
The Charleston School of Law Foundation provides Student Loan Repayment Assistance Grants. Any Charleston School of Law graduate who has been engaged in continuous public service employment for at least six months, has an outstanding student loan, and has been out of school for less than five years is eligible to apply. Public service is defined as “service that is performed for the benefit of the public, its institutions or its people, and rendered in the public interest for the greater good of society.” The Foundation will consider the applicant’s financial need and the impact of the applicant’s public service employment on the community. Grant awards will not exceed $2,500.00. Except in extraordinary circumstances, the Foundation will make awards on a one-time, non-recurring basis. The provision of grants is at all times subject to the availability of funds.
City University of New York Law at Queens College
The Martin Popper and Philip Jones Memorial Fundwas established in the memory of Martin Popper and Philip JOnes, both formerly partners of the firm of Wolf Popper Ross Wolf & Jones, by the firm, by senior partner Benedict Wolf, and by the families of Mr. Popper and Mr. Jones. This fund assists graduates beginning careers in public interest law to repay student loans used to finance their law school education.
Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
College of William and Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law
See www.wm.edu/law/careerservices/lrapapp.shtml
Columbia University School of Law
Basic LRAP
The Loan Repayment Assistance Program provides financial assistance to Columbia JD graduates in the form of loans from the Law School. The amounts of the LRAP loans are determined by a) the level of educational indebtedness, b) the number of years a graduate spends in qualifying employment, and c) the adjusted gross income of the graduate. There is no salary cap. Loans from LRAP are not repayable so long as the graduate remains in qualifying employment. LRAP assumes a standard ten-year repayment schedule for education loan programs and covers the graduate in qualifying employment for that period of time.
Effective July 1, 2000, graduates are expected to contribute a portion of their adjusted gross income to their annual educational loan repayment obligations. Indebtedness included in calculations for benefits is formal debt the graduate incurred for payment of educational expenses up to the standard student budget at Columbia Law School--that is, loans for law school expenses under institutionally approved and certified loan programs. Income to be included for purposes of the LRAP benefits calculation includes adjusted gross income as determined by the federal tax form, plus any untaxed income and voluntary retirement contributions. In the case of married graduates from the class of 1995 and following, the income figure used for calculations will be either the graduate's income or one-half of the joint income, whichever is higher. For participants from classes of 1996 and following, undergraduate debt payments will be subtracted from the participant's adjusted gross income before calculating the amount the graduate is expected to contribute to debt repayment.
Loans granted to graduates under the LRAP are not repayable so long as the graduate remains in qualifying employment and submits an application each year, even if the salary level rises to the point at which new benefits are no longer received. LRAP loans not yet forgiven become repayable when the graduate leaves qualifying employment. The maximum repayment term is ten years, except for loans made to judicial clerks who do not enter public interest employment upon finishing their clerkships. Their repayment is accelerated.
For any graduate who participates in the LRAP for three years or less, all funds advanced for loan repayment assistance are repayable. After three years of qualifying employment, LRAP loans are forgiven in yearly increments. Loans are totally forgiven after ten years.
Public Service Fellowships
These Fellowships are designed to supplement the benefits of LRAP and can cover as much as 100% of eligible deb servicee for loans borrowed up to the cost of Law School tuition for Fellows whose annual income does not exceed $100,000. Spouse income is not considered in calculating a Fellow's annual income. If the Fellow remains in qualifying employment for three years, all Fellowship loans are forgiven. Fellowship loans made thereafter are forgiven at six month intervals as long as the Fellow remains in qualifying employment.
For additional, see also www.law.columbia.edu/current_student/financial_aid/LRAP
Cornell's Public Interest Low Income Protection Plan provides generous grants to graduates who work in public interest and government jobs. These grants are used to assist with student loan payments.
Creighton University School of Law
See http://law.creighton.edu/lrap
DePaul University College of Law
The LRAP is now in its second year. There are six 2007 LRAP Recipients. Please visit http://www.law.depaul.edu/institutes%5Fcenters/public%5Finterest/lrap.asp for more information.
Drake University School of Law
The Law School is committed to 6 full-tuition Public Service scholarships each year (2 for students in each class, 1L, 2L, and 3L) and to 4 three-quarter tuition Public Service scholarship each year (2 for students in each of the 2L and 3L classes).
Drexel University College of Law
Drexel is currently establishing an LRAP Program
See http://www.law.duke.edu/admis/loan.html
Duquesne University School of Law
LRAP was approved by the faculty, the Law School is currently seeking funding for the program.
Emory University School of Law
For a description, please see http://www.law.emory.edu/cms/site/fileadmin/uploads/plandescription.pdf
Faulkner University Thomas Goode Jones School of Law
Florida A&M University College of Law
Not yet.
Florida International University College of Law
Florida State University College of Law
None.
Fordham University School of Law
For a description, see http://law.fordham.edu/ihtml/fa-2GradStu_LRA.ihtml?id=
The Phinney Fund: (Loan Repayment Program)
Contact: Clinton A. Hanson, Jr., Director of Financial Aid, 603-228-1541 x1104, chanson@piercelaw.edu
Eligibility: Graduates with an adjusted gross income of $35,000 or less (or an adjusted gross income of $70,000 for married/partnered applicants) in qualified employment (Legal Services, Public Defender, Non-Profits, Government, Private Practice, Non-legal public interest) may apply. Graduates are eligible for five years after graduation.
Terms: Graduates may receive loan repayment assistance for 50% of the projected/calculated annual consolidated loan payments of their eligible loans. The maximum award per graduate is $3,500 annually, for a maximum of five years.
George Mason University School of Law
George Washington University Law School
The Law School's Loan Reimbursement Assistance Program (LRAP) assists recent graduates (1990 and later) by providing "forgivable" loans to those graduates whose annual income --after taking into consideration their annual law school loan payments -- falls below a certain target income. For more details, see http://www.law.gwu.edu/Resources/Public+Interest+and+Pro+Bono/Financial+Assistance/Loan+Reimbursement+Assistance+Program.htm
Georgetown University Law Center
For information see, www.law.georgetown.edu/finaid/lrap
Georgia State University College of Law
Golden Gate University School of Law
Golden Gate sponsors a Public Interest Loan Assistance Program (PILAP) for Golden Gate Law School graduates who are working in public interest law and wish to continue doing so. The program is funded by an endowment fund which is partially supported by student fees. To qualify, an individual applicant's total income from all sources must be $42,000.00 per year or less. Qualifying applicants must work in an attorney position and must be engaged in one of the following types of work: (a) providing direct legal representation to under-represented populations, (b) providing legal assistance to organizations that provide direct legal representation to under-represented populations, (c) conducting efforts to change legislation affecting under-represented populations through policy or impact litigation work, or (d) government employment.
Gonzaga University School of Law
Law school operating expenses, student fundraising, law school fundraising, faculty contributions.
Hamline University School of Law
For a description, see http://www.lrapmn.org
For more information, see http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/finaid/lipp/ and contact:
Natasha Onken
Assistant Director for the Low Income Protection Plan & Summer Public Interest Funding
Student Financial Services
nonken@law.harvard.edu
617-495-4606
Hofstra University School of Law
For information, please see http://law.hofstra.edu/pdf/finaid_lrap_inst_criteria_2007.pdf
If you have questions regarding Hofstra's LRAP program, please e-mail lawfinaid@hofstra.edu or call (516) 463-5929.
Howard University School of Law
Howard Law does not have a loan repayment or forgiveness program.
Illinois Institute of Technology: Chicago-Kent College of Law
The Chicago Bar Foundation has a loan repayment assistance program and Chicago-Kent College of Law students are eligible to apply. See http://chicagobarfoundation.org
Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington
The program, which began in October 2006, is funded by an endowment.
Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis
Inter American University of Puerto Rico: Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Law
John Marshall Law School – Atlanta
Lewis & Clark College School of Law
For information, see http://www.lclark.edu/dept/lawalum/lrap.html
Liberty University School of Law
None at this time.
Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center
Loyola Law School: Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
Since July 1989, Loyola Law School has provided financial assistance to graduating students who accept lower-paying public interest employment, but who need help in repaying educational loans. The PILAP (Public Interest Loan Assistance Program) is available to students who are employed, at a salary of less than $38,000, by a qualified public interest program. The maximum award an applicant can receive is $8,100 annually.
Loyola University Chicago: Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Eligibility for the Loan Repayment Assistance (LRAP) program includes any graduate who has been employed full-time in the previous calendar year in a law-related capacity for an employer that is a not-for-profit corporation exempt from taxation pusuant to Section 501 © (e) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code (other than Loyola University Chicago) or a governmental entity. If the number of applicants exceeds the amount of available funds, preference will be given to graduates who were employed full time in positions whose primary responsibility is to represent or advocate on behalf of indigent persons, disadvantaged groups, or inadequately protected interests. Graduates must also meet debt and salary level eligibility requirements. The program is administered by Maureen Looker, Associate Director of Career Services and Public Service Law, 312-915-7124, and Professor Henry Rose, 312-915-7840.
Loyola University New Orleans: Loyola University New Orleans School of Law
For further information, see http://law.loyno.edu/gillislong/programs.html
Marquette University Law School
THE HOWARD & PHYLLIS EISENBERG FUND
The legacy of the late Dean Howard B. Eisenberg is important to the future of Marquette University Law School. This is true in the general sense that Dean Eisenberg worked tirelessly to inculcate in students a sense of the important public interest that lawyers serve. It is true as well in the more specific sense that the Howard and Phyllis Eisenberg Fund is a way of ensuring that today's students have the means of acting on the ideals of the profession by undertaking public interest work.
The Howard and Phyllis Eisenberg Fund helps to accomplish this by serving as a Loan Repayment Assistance Program. Dean Eisenberg himself established the LRAP in Spring 2001. After his death, the program was renamed to serve as a lasting memorial and was enhanced through memorial contributions and other donations.
What is the Loan Repayment Assistance Program?
The Loan Repayment Assistance Program provides direct financial assistance to qualifying Marquette University Law School graduates who enter public interest careers by contributing up to fifty percent (50%) of their student loan payments. A committee appointed by the Dean administers the program.
Who qualifies?
Marquette University Law School graduates of May 2002 or later may qualify if they meet the requirements for "qualifying employment" and "qualifying income."
Qualifying Employment. Marquette University Law School graduates must work full-time for a public interest or public service employer. This includes private and public employers such as legal services entities and public defender or prosecutor offices.
Qualifying income. A graduate may earn no more than $45,000 gross income per year.
How much does LRAP pay? LRAP pays twenty-five to fifty percent (25 - 50%) of a qualified graduate's monthly loan payment (based on a 30-year payment schedule) depending upon the graduate's annual gross income and other financial circumstances. Of course, the amount of funds available for LRAP may not equal the needs of all qualifying applicants, and in all events the Law School has discretion to determine the recipients of funding and the funding levels.
Mercer University School of Law
A Committee has been formed to investigate the possibility of forming a Loan Repayment Assistance Program.
Michigan State University College of Law
Mississippi College: Mississippi College School of Law
New England School of Law: New England School of Law
New York Law School: New York Law School
For a description, please see New York Law School Public Service Career Recognition Program
A combination of law school operating expenses and student raised funds.
New York University: New York University School of Law
NYU Law established one of the first and most generous Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAP) in the country to assist students who pursue low-paying law-related careers, including academia. The program may pay the full annual debt service for JD graduates for up to ten years following graduation. For further information, please visit www.law.nyu.edu/depts/financialaid/lrap/index.html.
North Carolina Central University School of Law
The state IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts) program funds NC LEAF, the NC Legal Education Assistance Foundation. NC LEAF also receives contributions from the schools. Web address: http://www.ncleaf.org/.
Northeastern University: Northeastern University School of Law
The annual program revenue, which for the 2006 Program year was $230,000, comes from a variety of funding sources including law school budget allocation; gifts from alumni/ae as well as law firms and corporations; on-campus recruitment donations; and fund-generated interest.
See http://www.slaw.neu.edu/finan/ldf.htm
Northern Illinois University: Northern Illinois University College of Law
A program is under development. PILS (the student Equal Justice Works chapter), with the assistance of the Dean and the Director of Career Opportunities and Development, is currently conducting a survey of the last five graduating classes to obtain information regarding debt totals and its impact on career selections.
Northern Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase College of Law
Northwestern University: Northwestern University School of Law
For many years, Northwestern Law has helped preserve a complete range of career choices for its graduates by providing graduates who enter public interest and government jobs assistance in repaying their law school loans. In 1984, Northwestern Law created its first such program, the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP).
The Law School has revised this program to reflect the changing economic landscape and the needs of its students, and it is now called the Public Service Fellowship (PSFP). PSFP assists graduates entering legal and managerial positions in the public and non-profit sectors.
Under the program, eligible graduates working as attorneys or managers in any government or non-profit agency will receive one-year forgivable loans for their legal education debt service. If the graduate remains in a qualifying position for one year, the loan is forgiven in its entirety. Graduates may participate in the program for up to ten years.
Those who qualify apply only a certain percentage of their earnings to their annual obligations for loan repayments; the Public Service Fellowship provides for the remainder of their obligations in the form of one-year forgivable loans. The amount of assistance granted to each participant is based upon the gross income and the amount of the indebtedness of the participant. The calculations adjust the participant's income downward to reflect annual debt service from undergraduate loans and a dependant's allowance of $5,000 per child. Married applicants are treated as having the higher of (a) his or her own income or (b) half of the joint income.
| Income Level (AGI) | % of Income Applicant is Expected to Contribute (per year) |
| $0-$30,000 | 0% |
| $30,001-$40,000 | 6% |
| $40,001-$50,000 | 7% |
| $50,001-$60,000 | 8% |
Website: http://www.law.northwestern.edu/admissions/tuitionaid/loans/lrap.html
Notre Dame: Notre Dame Law School
A committee of faculty, staff, and alumni are in the process of developing a LRAP. Initial disbursements are scheduled to be made Spring 2002. To be eligible for consideration, students must work in public interest related positions.
Nova Southeastern University: Shepard Broad Law Center
Ohio Northern Claude W. Pettit College of Law
Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law
See LRAP Policy
Oklahoma City University: Oklahoma City University School of Law
For a description see: http://www.law.pace.edu/currentstudents/lrap.html
Pennsylvania State University The Dickinson School of Law
Dickinson School of Law has a Loan Repayment Assistance Program to help qualifying graduates working in public interest fields. Please see http://www.dsl.psu.edu/finaid/lrap.cfm for details.
Pepperdine University: Odell McConnell Law Center
For a description see: http://law.pepperdine.edu/admissions/financial_aid/18loan_forgiveness_programs.html
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
Quinnipiac University School of Law
Regent University: School of Law
Available for students who meet policy requirements.
Roger Williams University: School of Law
Dean David A. Logan and the Feinstein Institute for Legal Service are delighted to announce the creation of the Roger Williams University Public Interest Loan Repayment Assistance Program. Thanks to the generosity of University President, Dr. Roy Nirschel, and Jack and Sara McConnell, we will award our first grants to graduates of the class of 2008. We expect to be able to award approximately eight grants of $4000 annually to graduates representing indigent clients in either civil or criminal proceedings. Applications will be available on our website after January 12, 2009.
Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Center for Law and Justice (Newark)
Our LRAP currently has three main sources of funding:
our LRAP endowment (35%); revenues from LRAP student fees (27%); and annual donations (38%).
For a description see: http://law.newark.rutgers.edu/students_lrap.html
Rutgers: The State University of New Jersey School of Law, Camden
Partially by student fee and partially through law school operating expenses.
For a description see: http://www-camlaw.rutgers.edu/probono/fundingpubint.html
Saint John's University School of Law
Saint Louis University: Saint Louis University School of Law
Saint Mary’s University of San Antonio: St. Mary’s University of San Antonio School of Law
None.
Saint Thomas University: St. Thomas University School of Law (FL)
St. Thomas administers John & June Mary Makdisi Loan Forgiveness Fund (established in 1999) and the Mr. & Mrs. Stanley G. Tate Loan Forgiveness Fund (established 2001). There are on-going efforts to develop additional funds for public interest loan repayment assistance.
Samford University: Cumberland School of Law
None
Santa Clara University: Santa Clara University School of Law
For a description see: http://www.scu.edu/law/socialjustice/support.html
Seattle University: Seattle University School of Law
For a description see: www.law.seattleu.edu/financialaid/lrap
Seton Hall University: Seton Hall University School of Law
Information on the Program can be found at http://law.shu.edu/csj/public_interest_loan_repayment_assistance_program.html. The Program is funded through student fundraising.
South Texas College: South Texas College of Law
As the result of a gift to the law school, South Texas College of Law has approved the Fred Parks loan repayment assistance project, which operates on a model similar to the Texas Access to Justice Commission's Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program. The program targets students pursuing a career in public interest law, particularly those recent graduates who help low-income Texans.
Southern Illinois University School of Law
Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
Southern University Law Center
Southwestern University: Southwestern Law School
The Miles and Nancy Rubin Loan Forgiveness Program - the Law School's loan repayment assistance program (LRAP) - provides financial aid to graduates who pursue public interest or government service careers. In 1987, Stanford Law School was the first law school in the country to launch such a program.
Stanford's commitment to guaranteeing career choices for its graduates is demonstrated by LRAP's success. The program reflects one of the school's key values: that public service is a worthy pursuit and that lawyers have a professional obligation to participate in public service throughout the course of their careers.
The program:
- Ensures that salary will not drive alumni career decisions.
- Helps alumni with excellent skills, motivation, and credentials find public interest jobs in both the United States and abroad.
- Lends funds to eligible applicants to help them meet their monthly educational loan payments.
- Repays a portion of educational debt if the graduate remains in qualifying public interest employment for a specified period of time.
Loan repayment assistance can be just the encouragement a graduate needs to pursue the public interest career he or she has dreamed of. Graduates can participate in LRAP for up to ten years after they receive their JD. After they meet the income and employment qualifications for three years, participants become eligible for cancellation of 25 percent of their LRAP loans; after four years, 50 percent; and after five to ten years, 100 percent.
For 2007 program details, please visit http://www.law.stanford.edu/program/tuition/assistance/
Stetson University: Stetson University College of Law
A loan repayment/loan forgiveness program is being discussed and research by the Public Service Fellows at Stetson University College of Law.
For a description, see http://www.law.suffolk.edu/offices/finaid/lrap.cfm
Syracuse University: College of Law
The Loan Repayment Program is currently in development. For information, contact Mr. Steve Coker, sdcoker@law.syr.edu.
Temple University: James E. Beasley School of Law
For a description, see http://www.law.temple.edu/servlet/RetrievePage?site=TempleLaw&page=Prospective_Public_Interest
Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law
Texas Tech University School of Law
Texas Wesleyan University School of Law
Thomas Jefferson School of Law: Thomas Jefferson School of Law
Touro College: Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center
For a description, see http://www.tourolaw.edu/tlc_net/alumni_and_development/alumni/loan_repayment_assistance_program.asp
Tulane University: Tulane University School of Law
For a description, see http://www.law.tulane.edu/admissions/jdfinaidfaq.cfm#17
University at Buffalo Law School, SUNY
University of Akron: C. Blake McDowell Law Center
University of Alabama: University of Alabama School of Law
None.
University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law
Many of our students received loan repayment assistance through the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education Loan Repayment Program. The program was created in 1990 to establish a statewide loan assistance program for law school graduates employed in programs dedicated to serving the civil legal needs of the poor. Applicants must be members of the State Bar of Arizona (this requirement can be waived for up to 24 months), employed full-time with an approved non-profit legal organization and earning an income not to exceed $45,000. http://www.azflse.org/azflse/grants/loanrepayment.cfm
University of Arkansas at Little Rock: William H. Bowen School of Law
None.
University of Arkansas School of Law
University of Baltimore School of Law
University of California - Los Angeles
University of California at Davis: University of California at Davis School of Law
The School of Law administers a loan repayment assistance program for students pursuing public interest careers.
The King Hall Loan Repayment Assistance Program was established in 1990 to assist recent graduates entering public interest/public benefit legal employment with educational loan repayment. In the past, it was difficult for many graduates to seriously consider this worthwhile and rewarding employment option because of educational debt burden and the corresponding payments. The LRAP program has effectively removed the employment barrier by offering interest free loans to qualified graduates.
The LRAP loans are used to make monthly or quarterly educational loan payments. Upon the completion of two years of public interest/public benefit employment, the School begins to forgive the interest-free loans at the rate of 25 percent per year. At the end of five years of qualifying employment, the LRAP effectively becomes a grant program and all loans are forgiven.
University of California, Berkeley: University of California, Berkeley, School of Law
The Berkeley Law Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) is designed to aid Berkeley Law graduates who earned the Juris Doctor (JD) degree and are employed by either nonprofit public interest organizations or government agencies. Under this program, the School of Law provides participants with assistance for law school loan payments made during six-month periods for up to 10 years for student loans borrowed while attending Berkeley Law. For members of the graduating classes of 2006 and beyond, the overall cap on principal and capitalized interest for all loans covered by LRAP shall be $100,000 for law school loans, no more than $10,000 of which can be for bar study loans. The amount of program assistance will be prorated for participants with annualized incomes greater than $58,000.
University of California-Hastings College of the Law
The Public Interest Career Assistance Program (PICAP) is designed to aid and encourage Hastings graduates working in public interest legal organizations or government agencies by assisting with repayment of qualifying, outstanding educational loans. PICAP distributes money to assist in loan repayment to Hastings graduates working in low salary government or public interest jobs.
The College is pleased with its history of graduates who choose to use their skills and talent to serve in the public interest. Recognizing the disparity in salary between corporate employment and public interest the College is committed to supporting PICAP ensuring that its loan repayment assistance is significant and meaningful. This commitment is strengthened each year as the terms of the program and the annual budget are reviewed.
PICAP funding is finite. Awards are dependent on the number of eligible students applying and the established annual budget.
University of Chicago: University of Chicago Law School
The Hormel Public Interest Program, or "HPIP," is not a traditional loan repayment assistance program. There is not a lengthy time requirement to receive benefits, and benefits are provided regardless of spousal income or potential family contributions. We like to think that the HPIP approach is the best way to support and encourage our graduates.
For the most up-to-date information on HPIP, please see http://www.law.uchicago.edu/files/hpip.pdf.
University of Cincinnati: University of Cincinnati College of Law
None.
University of Colorado: School of Law
For a description see: http://www.colorado.edu/law/LRAP
University of Connecticut: University of Connecticut School of Law
Students, with the support and guidance of Law School Faculty and Administrators, are currently working to craft a program which will provide meaningful financial assistance to students and graduates who decide to make a career in public interest/public service. A bill to fund such a program was passed by the Judiciary Committee of the General Assembly in the 2000-2001 general session but has not yet been adopted by the entire Assembly.
University of Dayton: University of Dayton School of Law
None, but the School of Law is exploring the possibility of establishing a program.
University of Denver: Sturm College of Law
See: www.law.du.edu/lrap
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
University of Florida: Fredric G. Levin College of Law
None.
University of Georgia School of Law
The UGA School of Law is one of only a few public law schools offering loan repayment aid to alumni in public interest positions. The school provides annual awards to four or five recent graduates who have committed their careers to public service.
University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law
University of Houston Law Center
UHLC has formed an exploratory committee (2004-5) for creation of an LRAP program.
University of Idaho: College of Law
University of Illinois College of Law
The establishment of a loan repayment assistance program (LRAP) is currently under investigation at the College of Law as a way to help alleviate the debt burdens of its graduates pursuing careers in public interest or public service work. The College of Law LRAP Exploratory Committee has called for the implementation of a loan repayment assistance program to ensure that every student who wishes to enter public service may do so, without being hindered by educational finances.
University of Iowa College of Law
Class of 2007 Loan Repayment Assistance Program
Intent: To provide Loan Repayment Assistance for alumni employed in the legal field with a low starting salary and who have a large law school debt load. While this program is not exclusive to public interest employment, many students who enter the field of public interest will likely qualify based on income.
Description: The applicant must be working in the legal field with a salary of $45,000 or less and must have law school debt of $63,000 or higher. Recipients will be selected on the basis of need. Three alumni per year will be selected to receive $3,000 each, which will be paid over two years in lump sums of $1,500. Applications will be accepted in December of each year.
Recipients: None yet, as fund raising continues.
Iowa Law School Foundation Loan Public Interest Forgiveness Program
Intent: To encourage JD graduates to pursue careers in the field of public interest law by establishing a loan forgiveness program for Iowa Law Foundation Student Loans (ILSFL).
Description: Applicants for this program must be employed on a full-time basis, in a law-related capacity by a 501 (c) (3) organization, must have Iowa Law School Foundation Loan debt, must have a salary less than 125% of the “standard maintenance allowance (SMA).” Eligible borrowers shall have their ILSFL forgiven at the following schedule, 25% after one year, 25% after two years (33% of the remaining balance), 50% after three years (the entire remaining balance).
Recipients: During 2001-2007, twenty-eight graduates had $130,042 in loan principal & interest forgiven.
Iowa Law School Foundation Loan Iowa Lawyer Forgiveness Pilot Program Intent: To encourage and give support to graduates to pursue their law careers in Iowa and to contribute to the betterment of Iowa through the provision of pro bono legal services.
Description: The applicant must be engaged in employment performed primarily within the State of Iowa that requires admission to the Iowa Bar and must also perform a minimum of 40 hours per year of qualifying pro bono legal services. Additional factors are considered. The terms of forgiveness are the same as the terms of the Iowa Law Foundation Public Interest Loan Forgiveness Program.
Recipients: During 2005-2007, two alumni had $5,966 in principal and interest forgiven.
University of Kansas: School of Law
This type of program is under consideration.
University of Kentucky College of Law
The College of Law has received grants from the United States Department of Justice for the Rural Drug Prosecution Assistance Project (“RDPAP”). The purpose of the RDPAP is to enhance the ability of the criminal justice system in the rural parts of Kentucky to prosecute, defend, and adjudicate the increased volume of drug and drug-related crimes, by placing UK Law students and graduates as interns and employees with Commonwealth's Attorneys, Public Defenders and Circuit Court judges. Students employed through this program as public defenders would be working for the benefit of indigent defendants. The RDPAP includes a Tuition Remission Program under which UK Law participants in the Graduate Employment Program receive tuition remission payments based upon successful completion of one year of employment with qualified Commonwealth's Attorneys, Public Defenders and Circuit Court judges. It is anticipated that the amount of the tuition remission payment will be $10,000.
University of La Verne College of Law
University of Louisville: Louis D. Brandeis School of Law
None.
University of Maine School of Law
For description see: http://www.mainelaw.maine.edu/loanrepay.aspx
University of Maryland: University of Maryland School of Law
University of Maryland School of Law Public Interest Loan Repayment Assistance Program
The School of Law works closely with the Maryland Higher Education Commission to continue to strengthen the state of Maryland's public interest Janet Hoffman LARP Program.
http://www.law.umaryland.edu/dept/career/loan.asp
University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law
University of Miami School of Law
The Public Interest Program is available to selected rising 3Ls and provides $18,000 in tuition to students who pledge and perform a minimum of two years in public interest positions. This program was launched in 2007.
University of Michigan: University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School's Debt Management/Loan Forgiveness Program provides an opportunity for University of Michigan Law School graduates to accept a lower paying job without feeling overwhelmed by the debt accumulated while earning their degree. The program will actually contribute to loan payments, making a modest paying job more realistic. Applicants working at least half-time in a law related occupation and graduating from the University of Michigan Law School in 1986 or later can be considered for the program. The applications are processed and funds are disbursed annually. For further information, please go to http://www.law.umich.edu/currentstudents/financialaid/debt-management.htm
University of Minnesota: University of Minnesota Law School
The Minnesota Loan Repayment Assistance Program provides assistance to graduates of Minnesota Law Schools who work in public interest jobs.
University of Mississippi School of Law
University of Missouri - Columbia: School of Law
None.
University of Missouri Kansas City University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law
University of Montana: University of Montana School of Law
None.
University of Nebraska: University of Nebraska College of Law
None.
University of Nevada, Las Vegas: William S. Boyd School of Law
The School of Law is developing a program.
University of New Mexico School of Law
University of North Carolina: University of North Carolina School of Law
NC LEAF’s loan repayment assistance program provides for loan deferral for the first three years of public service employment, followed by loan forgiveness for continued public service. At the completion of year four, years two and four are forgiven, and at the completion of year five, years one and five are forgiven. Beginning with year six, loans are forgiven at the completion of each year.
For further details, consult the NC LEAF web site at www.ncleaf.org, “Program Guidelines 2006-2007.”
University of North Dakota School of Law
University of Oklahoma College of Law
University of Oregon: University of Oregon School of Law
For a description see, http://www.law.uoregon.edu/lrap/
University of Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania Law School
Loan assistance is available to students pursuing careers in the public sector following graduation. The contact person for this program is Ann Murray, Esq., 215/898- 0386.
University of Pittsburgh: School of Law
A Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) will commence in 2007-2008
University of Puerto Rico School of Law
University of Richmond T. C. Williams School of Law
University of Saint Thomas: School of Law (MN)
See USTLaw LRAP: http://www.stthomas.edu/law/financing/lrap.asp
Minnesota LRAP: www.lrapmn.org
University of San Diego School of Law
For a description see: http://www.sandiego.edu/usdlaw/finadm/finaid/lrap.php
Funding Description:
Two accounts primarily support the Loan Repayment Assistance Program:
- LRAP endowment account
- Account for non-endowment annual gifts to LRAP
University of San Francisco School of Law
University of South Carolina: University of South Carolina School of Law
For a description see: http://www.law.sc.edu/loanforgiveness/
University of South Dakota School of Law
University of Southern California Gould School of Law
For a description see: http://law.usc.edu/students/financial/repayment.cfm
University of Tennessee College of Law
The College of Law is in the process of instituting such a program.
University of Texas at Austin School of Law
University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law
University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law
University of Toledo: College of Law
None.
University of Tulsa: College of Law
None.
University of Utah College of Law
A generous gift from Jefferson B. and Rita E. Fordham established the Public Service Loan Repayment Assistance Program. Other fundraising efforts also support the program.
University of Virginia School of Law
In 2001, the University of Virginia School of Law established the Virginia Loan Forgiveness Plan (VLFP) to assist graduates entering low paying public service employment with their law school educational loan obligations. VLFP is funded primarily by generous donations from graduates of the Law School. The Law School remains committed to the goal of making a career in the public sector a viable option for all of its graduates – even those with substantial educational loan debts.
VLFP provides that graduates who accept public service employment, as defined, by December of the calendar year two years following their graduation (i.e. December 1, 2008 for 2006 graduates) or following a judicial clerkship which is taken immediately after graduation and is no longer that two years, will receive additional loans during each year of their employment, for up to ten years, to use toward law school loan payments.
The amount of loans provided participants in a given year equals the difference between their actual law school loan payments for the year and what VLFP presumes they can afford to pay given their current adjusted gross income.
University of Washington: University of Washington School of Law
For information see: http://www.wsba.org/lawyers/lrap.htm
University of Wisconsin: Law School
The University of Wisconsin Law School sponsors a Loan Repayment Assistance Program. Typically, this program provides from 3-5 months’ worth of loan repayments to graduates who take qualifying positions with non-profit organizations or governmental agencies after graduation.
University of Wyoming School of Law
Valparaiso University: Valparaiso University School of Law
In order to encourage law students to accept public interest jobs upon graduation, Valparaiso offers a Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP). This program is designed to offer financial assistance to Valpo Law graduates who have chosen to go into public interest employment, and who have accumulated substantial debt from educational loans. Awards range from $1,000 to $4,000 each year. In 2006, $100,000 was awarded. For additional information, contact Kim Bubac, Assistant Director of Career Planning at 219/465- 7967 or kim.bubac@valpo.edu.
Vanderbilt University Law School
Law school operating expenses and some dedicated funds.
For a description see: http://www.vermontlaw.edu/admissions/index.cfm?doc_id=72
Villanova University: Villanova University School of Law
The Villanova Law Loan Repayment Assistance Program was started in 2006 by the Public Interest Fellowship Progam. The LRAP is funded through proceeds from our annual public interest auction.
Wake Forest University School of Law
Washburn University School of Law
None
Washington and Lee University: School of Law
There are two related awards which support recent graduates working in the public sector: the Campbell Public Service Grant Award and the Washington and Lee Public Service Grant Award
Washington University: Washington University School of Law
The Mel Brown Family Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) was adopted in January 2002. LRAP provides forgivable loans to qualifying graduates. Graduates are eligible for partial or full loan forgiveness if they have at least $20,000 in law school loan debt, are employed by the government or a nonprofit organization, and earn less than $45,000 annually.
Wayne State University Law School
West Virginia University College of Law
Western New England College: School of Law
Western State University College of Law
Whittier Law School: Whittier Law School
For a description, see www.law.whittier.edu/alumni_attny/services-loan-repayment.asp
Widener University School of Law--Delaware Campus
For a description, see: http://www.law.widener.edu/financial_aid/aid_lrap.shtml
Willamette University: Willamette University College of Law
In 2006, Willamette initiated a Loan Repayment Assistance Program. Under the program, WUCL lends eligible candidates money to help them repay their student loans. If a loan recipient works in a qualifying public interest position for at least one year after receipt of the LRAP, the loan may be forgiven. Eligible graduates may apply annually for a total of three years of LRAP funding and loan forgiveness.
William Mitchell College of Law: William Mitchell College of Law
Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) of Minnesota. Contact is Ann Starr Goodman, 612/278.6315 or www.lrapmn.org.
Recently the deans and faculty created an LRAP fund to further support the LRAP of Minnesota. The pledged contributions are $30,000.00 per year for the next four years.
Yale University: Yale Law School
The Career Options Assistance Program (COAP) allows students to choose public service after graduation by paying all or a portion of their academic loans. COAP provides full loan repayment to any and all graduates who are earning less than $60,000 a year (more with deductions) and partial repayment for those with salaries quite a bit higher. COAP paid over $2.4 million to almost 300 graduates in 2008 and has given over $24 million since its inception in 1988.
Yeshiva University: Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
See http://www.cardozo.yu.edu/career_serv/alumni/lrapfaq.asp
Graduates earning $52,000 or less in their first year of public sector employment, or at the time of their application, are eligible. Those in their second or third year of employment earning over $52,000, are eligible if their current salary, adjusted backwards to the date of initial employment in light of the Consumer Price Index, is $52,000 or less. If the graduate's salary is near these parameters and there are exigent circumstances, the graduate can submit additional information for the committee to consider.
Graduates who meet the income requirements must have an individual accumulated educational debt burden of $55,000 or more.
