Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP)

Many students who enter law school hoping to pursue a career in public interest abandon their dream when faced with student loan payments that can amount to as much as one-third of a starting public interest attorney's take-home salary. In 1998, to help make public interest work a viable career choice for more Rutgers School of Law-Newark graduates, students created a Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) funded by a self-assessed student fee. Inspired by student support for the program, an anonymous donor gave LRAP a major boost through an endowment that has enabled the program to provide more financial help to a greater number of graduates.

Since its inception, LRAP has awarded more than $1,478,000 to 225 graduates who have accepted jobs with public interest and governmental entities throughout the country. Assistance is given in the form of a loan to those who commit to public interest employment; loan indebtedness is forgiven upon completion of the specified term of service.

The commitment to public interest law and community service shown by students and alumni/ae as well as the generosity of donors led Equal Justice Works to recognize the Rutgers-Newark LRAP as one of the most successful in the country.