LRAP Program Helps Graduates in Public Interest

The John Marshall Law School announced its newly-created Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) to assist graduates working in qualified public interest employment. The program recognizes the fact that government and public interest jobs offer excellent opportunities for John Marshall graduates, but the necessity of paying school loans and the lower pay levels of these jobs can discourage graduates from pursuing these positions.
LRAP at John Marshall was established with a $50,000 donation from The John Marshall Law School Board of Trustees, and 10 graduates will be recipients of the first awards, receiving $5,000 each in November 2008. The board has promised to donate another $50,000 in 2009. Additionally, in March 2008, students voted to adopt a per-semester fee of $10 each student to be applied to the LRAP fund. The fee will be implemented beginning in fall 2008, adding more than $6,000 annually to the fund.

According to the American Bar Association, law school graduates have accumulated at least $80,000 of debt by graduation. With the median starting public interest salary ranging from $36,000 in civil legal aid to $40,000 for public defenders to $44,000 for prosecutors, the monthly payment required on the loans prevents most graduates from pursuing these jobs. Additionally, those who do initially take the public interest jobs upon graduation and later make major life decisions like starting a family, are forced to leave after two to three years in the public service jobs just to make ends meet.

"The John Marshall Law School has, since its inception, prided itself on the number of graduates who enter into public interest jobs. However, mounting law school debt has made it increasingly difficult for our students to continue on that path," said Associate Dean William B. Powers, chair of the LRAP Committee at John Marshall. "Although the generous donation by the board of trustees is a great beginning to remedying the issue, much more is needed to help this essential program continue."

For more information about the award or how you can make a donation to the LRAP fund to help increase the number of grants available to graduates of The John Marshall Law School, contact Maridonna Schaal, foundation services director of The John Marshall Law School Foundation, at 312-360-2663 or email 6schaal@jmls.edu.