Loan Repayment Assistance Program Instructions

Boston University School of Law provides financial support through forgivable loans to a number of JD graduates who are within ten years of graduation and who are working full-time in a law-related position that is within a public interest or government organization.

Eligibility Criteria

Full eligibility details are available in our Program Description. We’ve highlighted certain criteria below to help you determine if you are eligible to apply.

To be considered law-related, the position must utilize the legal training and skills of the graduate and make direct use of their legal education. The Loan Repayment Assistance Committee will consider applications from students employed in the following areas of public interest:

  1. Non-profit: Organization, qualifying for tax exemption under IRS code sections 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or (501)(c)(5), that provides direct legal services to clients who are indigent, disabled, homeless, elderly, juveniles, non-English speaking, deprived of human rights, or members of traditionally underrepresented groups
  2. Government: Local, state, or federal government agencies that have as their primary purpose the rendering of legal services on behalf of the public
  3. Judicial Clerkships: Non-permanent judicial clerkships will not constitute eligible employment. Permanent judicial law clerk and staff attorney positions will qualify as eligible employment.
  4. Other Non-profit: As determined eligible by the Loan Repayment Assistance Committee, although do not fit into the above categories (e.g., ACLU, Street Law, The Advancement Project, Sierra Club)

In determining whether an organization qualifies as an eligible organization, the Loan Repayment Assistance Committee will also consider the organization’s history and its viability. The Committee determines which jobs meet the eligibility criteria. All decisions of the Committee are final.

Please note: Alumni participating in a BU Law post-graduate fellowship are considered BU employees and, as such, are not eligible for the BU Law LRAP during the year of their fellowship.

To determine how to award available funds to eligible applicants the Committee will consider the following: current income, assets, amount of law school debt, availability of other sources of income, and the nature of work performed. Preference will be given to those performing direct service as set out in section “a” above. Due to the limited availability of funds, it is possible that not every eligible candidate will be able to receive funding.

All Boston University School of Law graduates who are within ten years of their graduation date are eligible to apply.

Income Eligibility

As noted above, recipients will be selected after consideration of several factors, including income, assets, educational debt, year of graduation, dependent responsibility (if applicable), and any special circumstances affecting the applicant’s ability to repay outstanding educational debt.

Applicants must have income equal to or less than $100,000; if married, combined income must not be greater than $150,000. This income cap is in effect as of August 2017.

Debt shall include institutionally approved educational loans for both undergraduate and graduate education for the student and spouse. Family or personal loans, credit card debt, or loans other than those for educational purposes will not be included in the ratio of debt to income.

Application Procedures

Applicants must complete the Application Form and Employer Verification Form and submit them to the Law Financial Aid Office by December 1. The forms require the following information:

  1. Employment history, including salary
  2. Income and asset information, including salary for spouse
  3. A list of educational debts, including the name of each lender, amount, monthly payment, and repayment term
  4. A list of spouse’s educational debts, subject to verification
  5. Other documentation as may be requested by the Loan Repayment Assistance Committee.

ALL MATERIALS MUST BE POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 1.

Applicants participating in an income-driven repayment option who require additional time to have their monthly payment set or reset (for renewals) must meet the following deadlines:

  • Meet the December 1 deadline for the LRAP Application and Employer Verification, and
  • Submit documentation of your current monthly payment by April 1.
  • If monthly payment documentation is submitted after April 1, the applicant may be considered for a pro-rated award as half the year will have passed before an award can be made.