Student Loan Assistance

Student loan debt can make it difficult for people to begin and continue careers in legal aid. The California Access to Justice Commission administers two programs that provide student loan support to eligible legal aid professionals.

Explore the programs below to learn about eligibility and the assistance available.

Contact the LRAP Team

Email
lrap@calatj.org

Phone
(510) 255-0577

Loan Repayment Assistance Program

The Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP), administered by CalATJ, provides reimbursement for eligible student loan payments on behalf of participating nonprofit legal aid organizations. The program is available to eligible attorneys and other nonprofit staff working for nonprofit providers of free legal aid.

LRAP is administered in a manner designed to comply with Section 108(f) of the Internal Revenue Code. When program requirements are met, qualifying loan assistance may be excluded from participants' taxable income. By administering the program on behalf of participating organizations, CalATJ helps maximize the impact of organizational contributions to student loan repayment assistance.

California legal services organizations may use IOLTA and Equal Access Fund (EAF) resources to support LRAP for eligible attorneys, subject to applicable guidelines.

To be eligible for LRAP, participants must meet both of the following requirements:

  • Work for a participating nonprofit legal aid organization.

  • Have eligible student loans and meet the program's participation requirements.

Learn more

California PSLF Safety Net

The California PSLF Safety Net, administered by CalATJ, helps protect eligible attorneys if a future federal regulation causes their nonprofit employer to lose PSLF eligibility.

After reaching what would have been their 120th qualifying PSLF payment, eligible attorneys may be reimbursed for federal student loan payments that otherwise would have been forgiven through PSLF.

Current status: A federal court declared the regulation invalid on June 30, 2026. The decision may be appealed, and the Safety Net remains available should the regulation take effect in the future.

To be eligible for the California PSLF Safety Net, attorneys must meet both of the following requirements:

  • Be employed by an eligible nonprofit legal services organization whose employer loses PSLF eligibility due to the organization's work representing immigrants or marginalized communities.

  • Have reached what would have been their 120th qualifying PSLF payment. The Safety Net reimburses eligible federal student loan payments made after that point that otherwise would have been forgiven through PSLF.

Learn more

Which Program Is Right for You?

At a Glance: CalATJ LRAP and the California PSLF Safety Net

CalATJ LRAP California PSLF Safety Net
Purpose Helps legal aid staff repay their student loans while working in public interest law. Protects legal aid lawyers if their nonprofit loses PSLF eligibility under the new federal regulation, 34 CFR §685.219.
When it applies Available to eligible participants when organizations contribute. It applies if the Secretary of Education denies PSLF eligibility to a California legal aid nonprofit under the federal regulation, and it reimburses payments that would have been forgiven (after 120 qualifying payments).
Who funds it Funded by participating legal services organizations and other contributors. All contributed funds are distributed directly to participants and are not used for administrative costs. Fully funded by the State of California. Organizations need not contribute.
Organization contribution required? Yes. Organizations participate by contributing to LRAP. No. Organizations do not contribute, and there are no administrative costs.
Who is eligible? Eligible attorneys and staff at participating LRAP organizations. Eligible attorneys working at qualifying nonprofit legal services organizations that have lost PSLF eligibility.
What does it provide? Monthly reimbursement of eligible student loan payments while participating in LRAP. Monthly reimbursement of eligible federal student loan payments that would have been forgiven (after 120 payments that would have qualified before the regulation) while the organization remains ineligible for PSLF.
Relationship to PSLF Designed to help LRAP participants make their monthly loan payments while they work toward federal PSLF. Designed to help attorneys when their monthly student loan payments would have been forgiven under the rules before the new regulation.
Duration Continues as long as funding and eligibility requirements are met. Intended as a temporary safety net lasting long enough for litigation challenges to become final, or until a new Secretary of Education is appointed by a new president. State funding has been appropriated through June 2030.
Tax treatment Reimbursements are structured to be tax advantaged and excluded from recipients' taxable income. Reimbursements are structured to be tax advantaged and excluded from recipients' taxable income.
Cost to attorneys None. None.