Loan Repayment Assistance Program

LSC provides a limited number of forgivable loans to attorneys employed by LSC grantee organizations to help repay law school debt.

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Program Description

Program Description

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) has made forgivable loans to attorneys employed by LSC-funded legal services programs (LSC grantees) to help repay law school debt since 2006. The Herbert S. Garten Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) helps LSC grantees recruit and retain qualified attorney staff. Attorneys who are selected may receive forgivable loans for up to three (3) years depending on their continued eligibility and available funding.

Eligibility

Attorneys who wish to participate must be employed by one of LSC’s grantee organizations and meet the
following requirements:

  • Applicant must be an attorney who is employed full-time or has a job offer from an LSC grantee organization with the start date of October 1, 2023, or earlier, as a licensed attorney as that term is defined by the LSC grantee.
  • Applicants must remain employed full-time and in good standing with the LSC grantee organization for the entirety of the LRAP loan term for which they are applying (the current cycle is from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024).
  • Applicants must have a reasonable expectation of employment at the LSC grantee organization for three years beginning with October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2026. Applicants who are in Fellowship or special grant funded attorney positions may apply provided they have a reasonable expectation of continued employment for the full three years.
  • Applicants cannot have been employed as an attorney by the employing LSC grantee for more than five years (60 months cumulative).
  • Applicants must have a total outstanding debt of at least $75,000 in eligible law school loans.
  • An applicant may not have: (1) previously received LRAP loans covering 36 months or more (cumulatively); or (2) defaulted on a previous LRAP loan; or (3) included a previously received LRAP loan in any bankruptcy filing as a dischargeable debt.

Participating attorneys must use LSC's loan repayment assistance program to pay qualifying law school loans
and accrued interest and meet all terms and conditions of our loan repayment assistance program.

Beginning in fiscal year 2024, LSC provides loans of up to $10,000 annually to eligible attorneys. The number of loans made each year is dependent upon available funding and the number of applications received. If LSC receives more applications than funding allows, applicants will be selected through a lottery system.

If the participating attorney stays employed full-time and in good standing with the same LSC grantee throughout the required twelve months, as certified by the executive director of that grantee, then LSC will forgive the loan (presuming the participating attorney meets all other terms and conditions of the loan agreement.) If the participating attorney stops working at the employing LSC grantee organization during the annual cycle at the employing LSC grantee, then the entire loan must be paid back to LSC, unless LSC determines the participating attorney had good cause.

How to Apply

The application deadline for the 2024 LRAP is Wednesday, August 23rd.


LRAP loans are provided for up to three years and applicants must submit a new application each year. The first time an
applicant applies, they are a new applicant. If an applicant has received a Loan Repayment Assistance Program loan from LSC
before and would like to apply again, the returning applicant must submit a new application. Returning applicants are no
longer eligible to participate if they have already received three LSC LRAP loans.

Program Materials Section

Document

Description

2024 LRAP Application Guide

The Application Guide provides applicants with a step-by-step guide to registering and completing a 2024 LRAP application in GrantEase.

2024 LRAP Frequently Asked Questions

The 2024 LRAP Frequently Asked Questions provide common questions we received from LRAP recipients in the past year.

2024 LRAP Webinar Recording

The 2024 LRAP Webinar Recording provides applicants with an overview of the program, eligibility, application process, and timeline.

GrantEaser User Manual (Updated 6.27.23)

The GrantEase User Manual provides applicants with a step-by-step guide to registering and completing a 2024 LRAP application in GrantEase.

 

Need Help?

Should you have any questions or need assistance, please contact LSC.

Learn More

Learn more about Loan Repayment Assistance Programs through the American Bar Association.