The Laurie M. Tisch Loan Repayment Assistance Program at Cardozo benefits Cardozo J.D. graduates who have chosen to pursue careers in public service by providing “forgivable loans” to assist them in overcoming their educational debt. 

During the 2024 LRAP cycle, a total of $194,696 was awarded to 35 alumni who graduated in the prior 6 years. They were provided awards ranging from $196 - $13,500, assisting with their federal and non-federal student loan payments. 

Federal Student Loan Update (PLEASE CAREFULLY READ)

A federal court issued a stay in July and an injunction in August preventing the Department of Education from implementing parts of the SAVE Plan and other IDR Plans. Due to these court orders, many borrowers' federal student loans have been placed into forbearance for the time being. When and how this matter will resolve is currently unknown. 

If your federal loans have been placed into forbearance due to the blockage of the SAVE Plan, we still encourage you to complete and submit the 2025 LRAP application by the October 18th deadline.

LRAP funding will not be awarded while your loans are in forbeearance. However, if your federal loans resume active repayment within the 2025 LRAP cycle timeframe (January - December 2025), funding may be awarded at that time.

If your federal loans have been placed into forbearance and you have non-federal loans (private/institutional) in active repayment, LRAP funding will be awarded to assist with your non-federal loans only. If your federal loans resume active repayment within the 2025 LRAP cycle timeframe (January - December 2025), additional funding may be awarded at that time. 

Additional information and instructions are provided within the 2025 LRAP Application.

If your federal loans have been placed into forbearance, please feel free to review the Department of Education's site for additional information:

https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/save-court-actions

If you have any questions about these updates, please contact us: cardozolrap@yu.edu 

*2025 LRAP*

ELIGIBILITY

Graduation Year:

Graduates who received a J.D. from Cardozo in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023 are eligible to apply. Graduates must reapply annually and can continue to receive funding pending continuing eligibility. 

Graduation Year Exceptions:

Graduates from the class of 2017 who clerked for a judge following graduation and then entered public service are also eligible to apply. Additionally, graduates may apply for a “leave of absence” for up to 1 year under certain circumstances (i.e. medical leave or parental leave).  Thus, holding the “leave” year in abeyance and allowing for an additional year to apply for the program. The Graduate must inform the LRAP Committee prior to taking the “leave”, and it is in the discretion of the LRAP Committee whether to grant a “leave”.

Employment - Eligible Jobs:

A paid full-time law-related job that, in the sole determination of Cardozo, is of a public service nature, qualifies.  A "law-related" job is one that, as determined by Cardozo, uses the applicant's legal training to a significant extent.  "Public Service" jobs may include legal aid societies, public defenders' offices, district attorneys' offices, legal services offices, governmental agencies, private non-profit organizations dedicated to public interest law, international human rights organizations, and clinical law teaching jobs.  Graduates serving as term judicial clerks are only eligible to apply after they have completed their clerkship and are employed in a qualified public service job. Their eligibility to apply will be held in abeyance during their judicial clerkship. For example, 2023 graduates who are currently clerking do not qualify; however, they can apply for the six years following their clerkship if all other eligibility requirements are met. Please note:  A volunteer position does not qualify for LRAP.

Income Cap Requirements:

Please see the table below. If your salary exceeds these parameters and/or you possess exigent circumstances, please include a detailed explanation and supporting documentation with your LRAP application, and the committee will take it under consideration.

Graduation Year   Salary Cap

• 2023                  $100,000
• 2022                  $104,000
• 2021                  $108,000
• 2020                  $112,000
• 2019                  $116,000
• 2018                  $120,000

Minimum Student Loan Debt Burden:

Graduates who meet the income requirements must have an individual accumulated educational debt burden of $60,000 or more. 

Eligible Types of Student Loan Debt:

All documented undergraduate and graduate educational student loans (except personal loans from family or friends) in active repayment status are included. These student loan types include federal (Stafford, Graduate PLUS, Consolidated), Perkins, private, state, refinanced, and institutional. Eligible loan types must be officially considered a "student loan". Loans that have been refinanced by home equity loans, non-student loan bank loans, or family/parent loans, are not eligible for LRAP assistance.

Do I need to reapply for LRAP funding each year?

Yes! Cardozo's LRAP is administered annually. Graduates must apply every program year and demonstrate eligibility annually in order to receive LRAP funding. 

ASSISTANCE

How much assistance is a participant eligible to receive?

Loan repayment assistance will be awarded in varying amounts. The committee assesses the individual need of eligible applicants by reviewing the applicant’s income, resources, monthly student loan obligation, and monthly expenses. In addition, the committee reviews all additional materials submitted by the applicant that are relevant to the individual's financial circumstances. Funding amounts also depend upon the number of eligible applicants during each funding cycle. During the 2023 LRAP cycle, awards ranged from $196 - $13,500.

How many awards will be made?

Please note, no representation is or can be made as to the number of grants or the amounts thereof that will be made in any year or during the continuation of this program, which may be discontinued at any time without notice.

How will awards be made?

LRAP awards are made in the form of a forgivable loan. The recipients will sign a promissory note for this loan and MUST retain eligibility for 1 year in order to have the loan forgiven. Recipients maintain eligibility during the LRAP cycle by remaining in qualified employment, with an eligible salary, and showing that their student loan payments continue to be in active repayment consistent with the amount indicated upon their initial application. Recipients will be notified to submit required documentation regarding eligibility for forgiveness approximately 1 calendar year following disbursement of the award.

LRAP awards are disbursed directly to eligible recipients in one lump-sum payment. This LRAP funding is to be used by the recipient to assist with covering a percentage of their monthly / quarterly student loan payments during the program cycle (January 2025 - December 2025). LRAP awards are not sent directly to recipients' student loan servicers. 

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION

Who will decide who receives a grant?

A committee made up of Cardozo School of Law administrators has been designated by the Dean of the Law School to review applications and determine eligibility, based on the terms of the Program.  All applications will be kept in strict confidence.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE 

Please carefully read through ALL of the application materials.

• September 27, 2024:  2025 LRAP Application available HERE. 
• October 18, 2024:  2025 LRAP Application DEADLINE!.   
• On or about early/mid November:  LRAP award notifications will be emailed to eligible recipients. In order to officially authorize an awardee's 2025 LRAP award, a promissory note and additional signed documentation will then need to be submitted to Cardozo shortly there after.
• On or about early/mid January:  LRAP awards will be processed and sent to eligible recipients via direct deposit. Should there be a delay in processing the awards, the LRAP Committee will notify recipients. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Cardozo's LRAP Committee at cardozolrap@yu.edu.