First-Come, First-Served: Apply Now for Civil Legal Assistance Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program

Five million dollars is now available for distribution to qualified civil legal assistance attorneys. The online application is accessible here and applying as soon as possible is critical because the Department of Education will commit these funds to eligible civil legal assistance attorneys on a first-come, first-served basis.

Completed and signed applications can be returned to the Department of Education as follows:

• Fax Number: 1-315-738-6674

• Mail: U.S. Department of Education

Civil Legal Assistance Attorney

Student Loan Repayment Program

PO Box 4399

Utica, NY 13504

• Overnight mail: Call 1-877-699-1834 for courier/overnight address

Complete and signed applications will be date and time stamped and processed in the order they are received. Do not submit an incomplete application-- if the application is denied because it is incomplete, the Department of Education will send a letter explaining the reason it was denied, and a resubmitted request will receive a new date and time stamp.

The Civil Legal Assistance Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program (CLAAP) repays a portion of eligible federal student loan debt for civil legal assistance attorneys who are employed full-time. Attorneys are advised to understand the program requirements, and to carefully consider the Ineligibility for Double Benefits provision before determining whether or not to apply for CLAAP.

More information is available at the Equal Justice Works comprehensive CLAAP webpage.

New loan repayment program for attorneys in civil legal aid

A new loan repayment assistance program for civil legal aid attorneys is going to become available soon. The Civil Legal Assistance Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program (CLAAP) will repay a portion of eligible federal student loan debt for civil legal assistance attorneys who are employed full-time. The attorneys will need to remain employed for three years or pay the assistance back. An attorney may be awarded up to $6,000 in repayment assistance in 2010 (actually received in 2011), and may be prioritized to receive assistance in future years if Congress continues to fund the program. An attorney may receive a lifetime maximum of $40,000 in assistance. For more information, click here.

EJW Debt Forgiveness Webinar NEXT WEDNESDAY!

GETTING YOUR STUDENT LOANS FORGIVEN: How government and nonprofit employees can earn Public Service Loan Forgiveness

• Wednesday, May 26, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. EST
  (10:30 a.m. CDT, 8:30 a.m. PDT)

Space is limited, so participants are required to register at equaljusticeworks.org.

Presented by Heather Jarvis, an attorney and leading national expert on Public Service Loan Forgiveness.