Washington State Bar Foundation
Loan Repayment Assistance Program
Updated January 16, 2009
Due to funding issues, the Washington State Bar Foundation will not be accepting any new applications for its Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP). The WSBF Board of Trustees and LRAP Advisory Committee did not reach this decision easily. Trustees and Committee members understand high student debt and low starting salaries make it difficult for many lawyers to pursue public service or legal aide positions.
While the Foundation regrets having to close the WSBF LRAP, President Bush signed H.R. 4137, now P.L. 110-315 – The Higher Education Reauthorization and College Opportunity Act of 2008 in August. Although funds are authorized for each program, Congress will now have to make appropriations to fund these programs.
The Higher Education Reauthorization and College Opportunity Act of 2008 established four new loan forgiveness and repayment programs that benefit public interest lawyers. Those programs are:
• The John R. Justice Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act
Providing $10,000 per year in exchange for a one time renewable three-year commitment for state and local prosecutors and public defenders.
• The Legal Assistance Loan Repayment Program
Providing $6,000 per year in renewable three year commitments to a maximum of $40,000 for civil legal assistance lawyers.
• Loan Forgiveness for Service in Areas of National Need
Providing no more than $2,000 per year for five years for Public Sector Employees, including public interest legal services (prosecution, public defense, or legal advocacy in low-income communities at a nonprofit organization).
• Perkins Loan Cancellation for Public Service
Providing partial loan cancellation for persons in specified public service jobs including federal public defenders.
To access H.R. 4137, visit www.opencongress.org/bill/110-h4137/show.
Equal Justice Works will post more information as it becomes available at www.equaljusticeworks.org/.
For Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate for HR 4137, go to www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/96xx/doc9692/hr4137.pdf
For more information about the federal programs, please contact:
• Equal Justice Works: debtrelief@equaljusticeworks.org
• American Bar Association: www.abanet.org/legalservices/sclaid/lrap/federallrap.html
Other useful links:
University of Washington School of Law
Financial Aid Office
www.law.washington.edu/FinAid/
Seattle University School of Law
Financial Services Office
www.law.seattleu.edu/Office_and_Administration/
Student_Financial_Services/Loan_Repayment.xml
Gonzaga University School of Law
Financial Aid Office
www.law.gonzaga.edu/Admissions/financial_aid/default.asp
