The Bar Foundation announces awards totaling $170,978 to 32 civil legal aid attorneys in the state for loan repayment. This is the second year of awards through the Ness-Blatt Loan Repayment Assistance pushing totals upwards of $330,000.

The Foundation’s LRAP name honors the public service commitment exemplified by Chief Justice Julius “Bubba” Ness and Speaker Sol Blatt.

The burden of debt that faces lawyers working in the civil legal aid arena is staggering.

LRAP assistance is considered a forgivable loan. To have the loan forgiven, a participant shall complete a year of employment with a qualifying employer and make educational debt payments (interest and/or principal) that equal at least the amount of Foundation and other LRAP assistance received during the award year. In forgiving the awards for years of service at the organization, the Foundation is hopeful that more hard-working and dedicated legal services lawyers will be able to remain in the legal services arena.

The Ness-Blatt LRAP is administered on a September to August cycle. Lawyers who work for civil legal aid grantees of the Bar Foundation are eligible. Applications will be distributed through the program directors of the grantees.