lrap

What is the LRAP Program?
The Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) is a program designed to help Oregon Law graduates entering public service pay their law loans. Many of today's students graduate with high debt levels, making it difficult to accept lower paying public interest law jobs. The goal of the LRAP is to provide these graduates with financial assistance for their law loans, thus helping them enter public service.

Who is Eligible to Apply for the Program?
Recent Oregon Law graduates who meet the following four criteria may apply for LRAP support: (1) Graduated December 2003 or later from Oregon Law; (2) Work in a qualified public interest law job (see Program Policy for more details); (3) Have an adjusted gross income of $45,000 or less annually; and (4) Have outstanding law school loan obligations.

How does the Program Work?
Graduates meeting the four criteria outlined above are eligible to apply for the program. The LRAP Selection Committee, composed of faculty, staff, students, and alumni, will evaluate all of the applications and choose the 2008 LRAP recipients. The Committee will look at several factors to make their decisions such as income level, undergraduate and other graduate debt, debt/income of partner or spouse, the applicant's prior commitment to public interest activities, and the applicant's stated public interest career objectives. Those graduates receiving LRAP assistance will be given short term LRAP loans of between $2,500 and $5,000 per year for up to three years. Each year that a LRAP recipient continues working in the public interest field, a portion of his or her LRAP loans will be forgiven. After three years of public interest service, 100% of their LRAP loans will be forgiven. Those applicants working as judicial clerks follow a separate forgiveness schedule. See Program Policy for details.

How Many Graduates will Receive LRAP Support this Year?
The LRAP was founded by a group of students, faculty. and alumni who were energized by the issue of trying to help graduates working in public service with their law debts. The initial LRAP Group did a tremendous job starting the program and generating fundraising support. While Oregon Law currently has funds to start the program, currently we are only able to assist a few graduates each year. Our hope is that alumni and friends of the school will continue to support the program so that it will grow substantially in the future.

How Do I Apply for LRAP Support?
The application deadline for 2008 has passed. Please check back in September 2008 to apply during our next funding cycle.

How Can I Contribute to the Program?
If you are interested in making a donation to help support the LRAP, please contact Oregon Law's Assistant Dean of External Relations, Matt Roberts, at 541-346-2125 or by email.

How Can I Learn More about the Program?
For more information about LRAP, please see our Program Policy. Additional questions can be directed to Natalie Butto or at 541-346-3896.

What other resources are available to help public interest graduates repay their loans?
The Oregon State Bar also operates a loan repayment assistance program for public interest graduates who qualify under the Bar's guidelines. For more information about that program, visit http://www.osbar.org/lrap.