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LRAP FAQs

Colorado Law is dedicated to making public interest legal careers a real option for our graduates, despite the reality of educational debt. Colorado Law's Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) provides partial loan repayment awards to select alumni who choose qualifying public interest work.

Awards may be as much as $6,500 per recipient per year, depending on the availability of funds and other factors.

LRAP Awards

Awards are contingent upon the recipient's ongoing employment in a qualifying public interest job during the annual period for which the LRAP funds are awarded.

• Recipients may receive LRAP awards for up to five (5) years, as long as they continue to meet the eligibility requirements. Participants must reapply each year.  
• Each award is structured as a forgivable loan to the recipient, with the specific terms set forth in a promissory note. Generally, the note provides for the loan to be forgiven after the recipient completes a year of work in qualifying employment. On the application, applicants may elect an award year that begins either on January 1 or on July 1.

Eligibility Requirements

You must be a graduate of the University of Colorado Law School. Applicants are NOT required to be licensed attorneys to be eligible for LRAP.  Selection for an award is based upon:

1. Qualifying public interest employment; 
2. Wages, income, and financial conditions; and 
3. Continued eligibility for the duration of LRAP assistance. 

Qualifying Public Interest Employment

An applicant must be employed full-time (35 or more hours per week) in a "public interest capacity" in one of three categories. The categories are:

1. Working for or under the direction of an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that is exempt from tax;
2. Working for an employer who is a federal, state, or local government agency or who contracts with such agencies to provide legal services to indigent people; or
3. Employed providing services to underserved populations or serving unmet legal needs.

Judicial clerkships do not qualify as employment in a "public interest capacity" for purposes of Colorado Law’s LRAP. 

Your employer cannot be the University of Colorado, nor can the applicant’s services be performed for the University of Colorado.

Wages, Income, and Financial Conditions

To qualify for a first-time LRAP award, your gross annual salary must not exceed $85,500. 

• For renewal applications, an annual gross salary increase of up to $2,000 is allowed for each year of your LRAP participation.  
• Additional sources of taxable income may be considered in determining whether an LRAP award will be made.

Qualifying Debt Service and Federal Programs

Our LRAP recognizes annual debt service only on law school loans approved by the University of Colorado. Although total debt burden may be considered in evaluating applications, LRAP awards are intended to repay only law school loans. Our LRAP does not require that you be enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan, e.g. IBR or PAYE.

Eligibility Changes

Participants must notify Colorado Law in writing (c/o the LRAP Administrator) within 30 days of any eligibility changes, including changes in salary, employment, and loan repayment status. Failure to provide notification may result in the loss of benefits. Participants who receive overpayments as a result of changes are required to refund the overpayment amount to the program.

Continued Eligibility

Colorado Law LRAP recipients may reapply to and will receive an award, for up to four renewal years, if funds are available. (Five years total of LRAP funding may be received.) Renewal applicants must meet all eligibility requirements each year. 

Taxability

Since fiscal year 2012, Colorado Law’s LRAP awards have been structured as loans forgivable after one year of service in the qualifying job. Based on guidance published by the Internal Revenue Service, this structure may eliminate tax consequences for certain recipients.

Colorado Law strongly encourages participants to consult with their tax advisors regarding taxation of each participant’s individual LRAP award.

Administration & Questions

Please review the LRAP FAQs.

LRAP is administered by the University of Colorado Law School. For further information, please contact Nicole Netkin-Collins, CDO Director for Government and Public Interest.