Oregon State Bar Loan Repayment Assistance Program

September 15, 20190
alvaro-serrano-hjwKMkehBco-unsplash-1280x853.jpg

Through the Oregon State Bar Loan Repayment Assistance Program, qualified applicants may be able to qualify for up to $22,500 towards your student loans. The Oregon State Bar Loan Repayment Assistance Program was created to attract and retain public service lawyers by helping them pay their educational debt. Read on to see eligibility requirements, award amounts, and the application process for the Oregon State Bar Loan Repayment Assistance Program.

Eligibility?

In order to be eligible for the Oregon State Bar Loan Repayment Assistance Program, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Qualifying Employment: Qualifying employment includes employment as a practicing attorney within the State of Oregon with civil legal aid organizations, other private non-profit organizations providing direct legal representation of low-income individuals, as public defenders or as deputy district attorneys. Judicial clerks and attorneys appointed on a case-by-case basis are not eligible.
  • License/Residency/Graduation Requirements: Program applicants must be licensed to practice in Oregon. Program participation is not limited to graduates of Oregon law schools or to Oregon residents, provided the applicant works in Oregon.
  • Salary Cap: Applicants with salaries at the time of initial application greater than $65,000 will be ineligible for Program participation.
  • Eligible/Minimum Debt: All graduate and undergraduate educational debt in the applicant’s name will be eligible for repayment assistance. Applicants with eligible debt at the time of initial application less than $35,000 will be ineligible for Program participation.

For a full breakdown of the Oregon State Bar Loan Repayment Assistance Program’s offerings head over to their official program website.

How much can I expect to be awarded? 

Through the Oregon State Bar Loan Repayment Assistance Program, applicants may be able to receive up to $7,500 per year per Program participant for a maximum of three consecutive years. This means that applicants may be able to qualify for up to $22,500 in total student loan repayment over a 3-year span.

The Advisory Committee reserves the discretion to adjust the amount of the LRAP loan and/or length of participation based on changes in the availability of program funding. The Program annually will forgive one year of loans if the Participant has been in qualifying employment the prior year and has paid at least the amount of his/her LRAP loan on his/her student loans. Only a complete year (12 months from, April 15, the due date of application) of qualifying employment counts toward LRAP loan forgiveness.

For a full breakdown of this programs offers, head over to their website.

How do I apply for this repayment program?

In order to apply for the Oregon State Bar Loan Repayment Assistance Program, you will need to complete their application packet. You will also need to fill out and complete an Employment Verification Form and finally, you will need to fill out and complete a Lender Verification Form.

You will also need to provide a Personal Statement: Attach a statement (no more than 2 pages) that describes your previous activities in the public interest field and your career plans for the next five years.

Here is a program timeline which will include deadlines for applications:

April 15:
Applications must be postmarked or delivered to the Oregon State Bar office. If April 15 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the deadline is extended to the following Monday.

June 1:
Applicants notified whether they have been selected for Program participation

June 15:
Signed promissory notes due for all participants

July 1:
Initial LRAP loan disbursed

For questions regarding this program, please reach out to the program advisor here:

For more information, contact Catherine Petrecca, cpetrecca@osbar.org, (503) 431-6355.

Questions?

If you still have questions or would like to know more information please reach out to us here or you can go back to the Student Loan Repayment Assistance Programs page.