Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP)

Demystifying PSLF spring 2024 webinar series

Demystifying PSLF event series. A deep dive into Public Service Loan Forgiveness and student loans. February 12, 1:00 pm: Loan repayment & forgiveness for public interest students. Room 240 & on Zoom. March 4, 1:00 pm: Student loan workshop on Zoom. March 18, 1:00 pm: Alumni PSLF success panel. On Zoom. April 1, 1:00 pm: Student loan updates expert panel. On Zoom.

Loan Repayment & forgiveness for public interest students

Recorded February 12, 2024. View the recording and/or review the accompanying Google Slides.

Student loan workshop

Recorded March 4, 2024. View the recording and/or review the accompanying Google Slides.

Alumni PSLF success panel

Monday, March 18 from 1:00 – 2:00 pm, on Zoom

Student loan updates expert panel

Monday, April 1 from 1:00 – 2:00 pm, on Zoom

 

The Program 

One of Berkeley Law’s defining characteristics is its public mission and commitment to supporting our students and graduates pursuing public service careers. Our Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) is crucial in this regard. Since 1997, Berkeley Law’s LRAP has provided funding to graduates working in public interest careers to help them cover student loan payments and ease the burden of loan repayment.

Any J.D. graduate working in law-related, public interest employment can utilize LRAP funding for up to 10 years, cumulatively, so long as they enter the program for the first time within 3.5 years of graduation. Participants earning $80,000 or less can receive 100% LRAP support with no out-of-pocket contributions toward their loans, and graduates earning over $80,000 and up to $120,000 can receive partial support for their loan payments. Pairing LRAP with the federal government’s Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, graduates in certain public interest jobs can apply to have their loan balance entirely forgiven, tax free, after 10 years of qualifying employment and income-driven monthly payments.

 

How it Works

Public interest graduates may utilize one or more of the following: 1) federal Income-Driven Repayment, 2) Berkeley Law’s LRAP, and 3) federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness. All three programs are different but can work in tandem to lower out-of-pocket student loan expenses. To learn more:

 

Eligibility

Berkeley Law’s LRAP is designed to aid Berkeley Law graduates who earned their Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and work in law-related, public interest employment. Graduates must apply within three and a half years of graduation; once in the program, graduates can use up to 120 months, cumulatively, of LRAP support. To read detailed eligibility requirements by class year, review our LRAP Handbooks (updated annually):

Before applying, we encourage you to use our LRAP Calculator to estimate if you are eligible for LRAP and what level of LRAP support you may receive.

 

Application

We have a rolling application cycle, meaning you can apply for LRAP any time. Recent graduates are eligible to begin their first LRAP contract six months after graduation when their grace period ends. For all applicants, we recommend applying for LRAP about a month before your next loan payment is due. Continuing LRAP applicants should submit an application for a new LRAP contract in the month their current LRAP contract ends. We cannot provide retroactive LRAP support.

 

Questions?

Want to learn more about LRAP and PSLF, determine your eligibility, or talk through loan repayment with an advisor? Email us at lrap@law.berkeley.edu or schedule an appointment (in-person, phone, Zoom, or Google Meet options available).

Current students considering public service careers are encouraged to discuss their options with an LRAP advisor before graduation.