Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) for Public Interest Lawyers

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  5. Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) for Public Interest Lawyers

Columbia Law School offers a Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) for J.D. students interested in becoming public interest lawyers. It is among the most generous in the country to ensure that law school debt does not prevent graduates from entering the public interest sector.

LRAP benefits are loans, which are used to repay Law School debt. LRAP loans are gradually forgiven when graduates remain in public interest employment for more than three years.

Participants have the option of electing the traditional Columbia Law School LRAP, or a program that combines Columbia’s LRAP with the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. For detailed information about the programs, please refer to the Columbia Law School Loan Repayment Assistance Program description, paying particular attention to the “Combining LRAP with the Federal Program” section.

LRAP Policies & Procedures

JD LRAP Policy

Columbia Law School is committed to the financial security of our public interest and public service LRAP participants. We are continuing to review and process LRAP applications in order to provide eligible benefit payments to LRAP participants. Please review the following LRAP COVID-19 FAQ regarding questions that might arise during this unprecedented time.

As always, you are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office ([email protected]) with any questions and concerns regarding LRAP. We ask for your patience and understanding as we reply to your LRAP inquiries.

My loan payments are suspended, so am I required to continue to make my payments?

In most cases, participants currently have been provided LRAP benefits to make their educational loan payments. As such, there is an expectation that participants will continue to make their payments, as their circumstances allow. Continuing to make payments during the suspension will ensure that your educational loans will be paid in accordance with your original loan repayment schedule. However, if you are experiencing a financial hardship, please notify the Financial Aid Office ([email protected]) and we will certainly review your situation to provide guidance.

I have been furloughed or laid off from my LRAP eligible position. What should I do?

LRAP has provisions for this situation. Participants are eligible to apply for a deferment from LRAP. Please see the following section regarding Leaves and Deferments from the LRAP description online (www.law.columbia.edu/financial-aid/lrap-public-interest-lawyers).

Leaves and Deferments

A participant in the Program may request a leave or deferment of up to two years for specific purposes. Participants must submit a written request to the Financial Aid Office stating reasons for deferment. Those leaving public interest work for private sector employment do not qualify for deferments, and will be required to begin repayment on their LRAP loans. Participants granted a deferment from the Program will not be eligible for benefits during the deferment period. However, interest will not accrue on the LRAP loan during an approved deferment period. If the participant does not return to the Program after two years, the LRAP loans will become payable to the extent not forgiven.

To apply for a deferment, complete and electronically return Page 1 of the LRAP application so we have your updated contact information. Also, please include a brief written statement requesting a deferment and the reason.

How does the 2019 federal income tax filing deadline extension affect the processing and disbursement of the second LRAP disbursement that is typically received at the end of July?

Regarding the 2019 federal income tax filing deadline extension, we are postponing the requirement to submit a copy of your 2019 federal income tax return before the second LRAP disbursement will be processed. We will be processing all second LRAP disbursements with the expectation that they will be issued towards the end of July 2020. For the upcoming LRAP reapplication cycle, participants will be required to submit a copy of their 2019 federal income tax returns for income verification with their renewal application materials in November 2020. Any necessary adjustments based on the previous year’s income, will be made to the first LRAP disbursement of 2021. Of course, if you are able to complete and file your 2019 federal income tax return prior to the beginning of July, please feel free to submit a copy to Financial Aid Office electronically by June 15. However, you are not required to do so until November.

Several Enhanced LRAP Fellowships have been established at Columbia Law School, and are awarded to students who have demonstrated dedication to and exceptional promise for leadership in public interest law.

  • These fellowships are designed to supplement the benefits of LRAP, and can cover as much as 100% of eligible debt service for loans borrowed up to the cost of Law School tuition for fellows whose annual income does not exceed $100,000.
  • Fellows are selected after graduation.
  • For more information, please refer to the Office of Public Interest/Public Service Law and Careers webpage for Columbia Fellowships or contact the Office of Public Interest/Public Service Law and Careers directly for more information.

Please feel free to contact our LRAP Administrator, Ms. Seandell James (212-854-1245) by email or phone for questions related to LRAP.

Columbia Law School always attempts to ensure that, to the extent possible, changes in the coverage and policies of the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) do not prejudice the interests of graduates who made fundamental decisions in reliance on the basic features of the program at the time they entered the Law School. Applicants should be aware that other factors, including fiscal constraints and the changing needs of the legal community, also will be considered in determining the design and administration of the program over the years.  Eligibility and the extent of support available under the program will be determined at the time a graduate applies to the program, in accordance with the rules and policies then applicable.

The following websites provide detailed information about the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program:

Contact Us

Ms. Seandell James

Director, Financial Aid and LRAP Administrator

Office of Financial Aid

LRAP 2022-23 Participant Breakdown

Total Participants: 307

Columbia LRAP Statistics

Columbia LRAP supports high levels of retention over time. On average, more than 4 out of 5 LRAP participants remain enrolled in the program after five years.

  2014 Graduates 2015 Graduates 2016 Graduates 2017 Graduates 2018 Graduates
5-Year Retention Rate* 83% 74% 88% 68% 89%
5-Year Adjusted Retention Rate**  91% 89% 95% 81% 97%
           
  2008 Graduates 2009 Graduates 2010 Graduates 2011 Graduates 2012 Graduates
10-Year Adjusted Retention Rate ** 31% 31% 33% 37% 34%

* Tracks retention of graduates who enrolled in LRAP during the first year of post-graduation
** Adjusts for clerks who use LRAP to bridge obligations 

Columbia LRAP allows graduates to enroll in the program up to 7 years after law school graduation. New participants are not included in the retention calculation, as they were not enrolled during their first year post-graduation. The retention rate understates the overall participation rate, as it does not include new participants.

  2014 Graduates 2015 Graduates 2016 Graduates 2017 Graduates 2018 Graduates
# of New Participants After First Year*** 4 11 5 1 3

*** Number of new graduates who enrolled in LRAP after the first year post-graduation