Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP)

For graduates in public interest and public service employment

The Notre Dame Law School’s Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) is designed to ensure that J.D. graduates with law school loans are financially able to work in the nonprofit sector, government, policy advocacy, human rights, and other fields where lawyers make valuable contributions but are often paid lower salaries. LRAP directly supports the University’s Catholic mission to “create a sense of human solidarity and concern for the common good that will bear fruit as learning becomes service to justice.” Beginning in 2024, the revised LRAP will work in tandem with the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program to allow graduates to earn total forgiveness of their federal student loans, both graduate and undergraduate, with only minimal out-of-pocket payments.

Click here to read the Program Description for 2024

Alumni testimonials

LRAP gave Jessica Binzoni ’15 J.D. the financial freedom to start a nonprofit organization for refugees in northern Iraq.
With support from LRAP, Jimmy Champlin ’09, ’12 J.D. helped survivors of domestic abuse as a legal aid attorney in Chicago.
Aaron Stoll ’12 J.D. is able to work as a public defender in his hometown of Fort Wayne, Ind., thanks to the assistance from LRAP.
LRAP assistance gives Carlos Cisneros-Vilchis ’17 J.D. the opportunity to work with farmers through the Farm Worker and Landscape Advocacy Project in Chicago.
Rochelle Krebs ’09 J.D. was able to pursue public interest law near Seattle several years after graduating.
Click here to read more LRAP alumni perspectives.

Participating graduates will enroll in a specified income-driven federal loan repayment plan that qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. That income-driven repayment plan will require graduates to make modest monthly payments. LRAP will then provide participants with funds to help cover those monthly payments, up to a pre-announced annual cap. LRAP funds should be sufficient to cover most of a graduate’s out-of-pocket monthly payments. After 10 years in public interest or public service employment, graduates can qualify for full forgiveness of their outstanding federal student loan balances.

“I went to law school, and in particular to Notre Dame, to become a public interest lawyer. LRAP not only financially assisted me in pursuing that goal, but also made me feel like the University supported my career path.”
– Audra Passinault ’15 J.D.

Parameters of the 2024 program

Full program details are provided in the Program Description for 2024. Highlights include:

Salaries up to $100,000
The Law School is pleased to announce that it is raising the qualifying salary level from $70,000 to $100,000 — a 40% increase. This increase will allow many more graduates to take advantage of LRAP, including those in markets with a higher cost of living. The salary cap will be adjusted upward for graduates with children.

Extensive Loan Eligibility
All undergraduate, graduate, and law school loans are eligible for LRAP, both federal and private.

10 Years of Eligibility
Graduates who qualify for LRAP may receive loan repayment assistance for a full 10 calendar years after beginning qualifying employment, even if they do not begin their public interest work immediately after graduation.

All Eligible Graduates Receive Benefits
All graduates who meet the LRAP criteria set forth in the Program Description will receive benefits.

Applying for LRAP Benefits

LRAP benefits are provided on a calendar year basis. Graduates must apply each year by November 1 and provide up-to-date information on their employment and loan repayment plans in order to receive benefits for the following year. The LRAP application is posted on October 1. Graduates who wish to receive an application can click on the button below and register themselves. They will be automatically sent an application by October 1.

Click here to register for LRAP notifications

Free resource for loan financing advice, AccessConnex

AccessConnex by AccessLex℠ is a free resource for loan financing advice for NDLS students and alumni. Notre Dame Law School has partnered with AccessLex Institute®, a nonprofit organization committed to helping talented, purpose-driven students find their path from aspiring lawyer to fulfilled professional. AccessLex offers financial education tools and resources to students and alumni – free! Alumni with questions on loan financing are encouraged to contact AccessConnex, a free student (and graduate) loan helpline.

Schedule an appointment: calendly.com/accessconnex
Email: AccessConnex@accesslex.org

For additional information:

Cathy Kustner
LRAP Coordinator
ckustner@nd.edu
574-631-9301