For a full program description, please download and view the official description (pdf).

How the LRAP Works

Lewis & Clark Law School graduates apply for LRAP funds each year for three years after graduation. Applicants who qualify receive loans in an amount up to 100 percent of their debt service (interest and principal) for the year. LRAP loans are disbursed in two installments, one at the beginning of the year, and the second half way through the year. At the end of the year, a loan recipient who has remained in a qualifying job may apply to have the loan forgiven.

Why Loans, Not Grants?

A provision of the Internal Revenue Code may allow recipients to avoid paying income taxes on the forgiven loan, and this provision does not apply to grant recipients. Refer to Revenue Ruling 2008-34 Lewis & Clark Law School leaves all individual tax decisions to the recipients and their tax advisors.

Requirements

• First time recipients must have graduated from Lewis & Clark Law School within the last three years
• Re-applying prior recipients must have graduated from Lewis & Clark Law School within the last five years, but priority will be given to those within the first three years after graduation
• Recipients must be substantially using their legal training
• Recipient must be employed by a law related public interest employer that meets the program criteria for the entire LRAP year
  
  • Work for a 501(c)(3), (4), or (5) organization providing legal services to underrepresented people, causes, or organizations with limited access to justice qualifies
  • Work for international human rights organizations qualifies
  • Work for the government focused on providing legal services to underrepresented people, causes, or organizations with limited access to justice qualifies
  • Work at a legal clinic qualifies
  • Work as a judicial clerk does not qualify
  • Work at Lewis & Clark Law School or Lewis & Clark College does not qualify
• Recipients must make less than the maximum income requirement for the LRAP year--$45,000 for the 2009 LRAP funding year
• Recipients must have law school educational loans in repayment throughout the LRAP year

This page is only a partial listing of program requirements. In the case of any disagreement with the official program description, the official description will be definitive.

Lewis & Clark Law School's Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) helps graduates who take low paying public interest jobs cover their law school student loan payments. Assistance is provided to qualified graduates through forgivable loans that are canceled after one year of public interest work.

Important Documents

• 2009 Funding Year
  
  • LRAP Description(pdf)
  • LRAP Application(fillable pdf) Application Deadline has passed

Announcements

2009 LRAP Application Available!

December 5, 2008 - The application for the 2009 funding year of the LRAP is now available. First time recipients within 3 years of graduation are welcomed to apply, and prior recipients within 5 years of graduation are also welcomed to apply. The income for the 2009 funding year is $45,000. Good luck to all of our applicants.

New Income and Time Limits Announced

November 2008 - Announcing a new income cap for the 2009 LRAP funding year, and a new period for qualifying for assistance.

The income cap for the 2009 funding year has been raised to $45,000. Additionally, first time recipients must still only apply within 3 years of graduation, but the application period for prior recipients has been extended to 5 years after graduation.

These expansions are made possible in part because of the generous decision of students to support the LRAP through a student fee.

The full 2009 description and application will be released soon.

2008 LRAP Funds Awarded

April 4, 2008 - The 2008 LRAP loans have been awarded. Congratulations to our 2008 LRAP recipients. For 2008 funding year statistics, look below.

2008 Statistics

Number of graduates assisted: 6

Average award given: $7,977.89

Maximum award given: $9,526.20

Total of awards given: $47,867.34

Average percent of recipients' law school loans covered: 100%

Maximum recipients can earn to qualify for forgiveness: $35,800

History

Year Lewis and Clark Law School LRAP started: 2000

Number of awards given since inception: 53

Number of individual graduates assisted since inception: 35

Total dollars awarded since inception: $233,273.34

Please consider making a donation to the LRAP endowment or annual fund.

William Penn
Public Interest Law Coordinator
Lewis and Clark Law School
10015 SW Terwilliger Blvd.
Portland, OR 97219
(503) 768-6890
wcpenn@lclark.edu