Loan Repayment Assistance Program
The Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAP) in Camden and Newark provides financial assistance to help defray law school debt obligations for Rutgers Law School graduates who have chosen to pursue public interest and public service careers.
Awards are made in the form of a loan and as such are not considered as taxable income to the recipient. The LRAP loan indebtedness is forgiven upon fulfillment of qualifying public interest employment, usually without adverse federal income tax consequences to the recipient as provided in applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue code. Students are encouraged to speak to their accountant for individual advice.
Graduates are eligible to receive program funds for a maximum of five years. Award amounts are subject to the availability of funds and the number of applicants eligible in each award period.
"As a law student planning a career in public interest law, it was clear to me that a loan repayment program was absolutely essential for people facing low salaries and high loan payments. Now, as director of a non-profit public interest law program, I see young attorneys who are able to work with us because they benefit from loan repayment assistance. By easing the financial burdens of law graduates, the Rutgers LRAP increases services available to underserved populations."
- Amy Gottlieb '96, Associate Regional Director, Northeast Region
Immigrant Rights and Healing Justice Programs, American Friends Service, and LRAP Founder.
Program Details and Resources
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We define public interest work broadly. All graduates employed in full-time positions with legal services and other non-profit legal services organizations, and with local, county, state or federal governmental entities are eligible to apply to our LRAP. A judicial clerkship is not qualifying employment. However, if after the completion of the clerkship, the graduate accepts employment in the public interest sector, the graduate is encouraged to apply.
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- Single income household: $75,000
- Joint filers: $150,000
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A refundable student fee charged on each term bill will fund the LRAP. This fee is $25/semester for full-time students, $18.75/semester for part-time students. Other university funds have already been committed, and further funding is being sought.
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Camden:
Cassandra Hunter
Senior Financial Aid Administrator
Rutgers Law School
217 N. Fifth Street, E313
Camden, NJ 08102
856-225-6627
cassandra.hunter@rutgers.eduNewark:
Tai Gedeon
Director of Financial Aid
Rutgers Law School
229 S.I. Newhouse Center for Law and Justice
123 Washington Street
Newark, NJ 07102
973-353-1702
tai.gedeon@law.rutgers.edu -
The graduate must:
- submit an LRAP application and all required documents each year
- sign a Promissory Note in the amount of the annual LRAP loan
- apply the loan proceeds toward the re-payment of law school educational debt
- be employed in a law-related public interest position
- have an income below the salary cap set annually by the LRAP Advisory Committee
- have loans in good standing
- promptly advise the LRAP administrator of any change in employment and/or financial condition