The Loan Repayment Assistance Program

The Washington and Lee University School of Law Loan Repayment Assistance Program (the "LRAP") is designed to provide financial assistance to recent graduates working in the public interest at salaries below that of their counterparts in the private sector.

W&L Law's LRAP consists of three endowments:

  1. The Edmund D. Campbell Public Interest Fund established by the family and friends of Edmund D. Campbell '18 '22L in his memory. Edmund Campbell was a pioneer civic leader and force for positive local government in Northern Virginia. He was also a fearless champion of civil rights, playing a pivotal role in battling school segregation and in arguing the landmark 1962 Supreme Court case that ordered reapportionment of state legislatures on the basis of population.
  2. The Shepherd LRAP established by Thomas R. ('52) and the Reverend Nancy Shepherd in 2006.
  3. The Loan Repayment Assistance Endowment created by alumni over the years.

In addition, alumni and friends make annual gifts in support of W&L Law's Loan Repayment Assistance Program. 

The LRAP is administered by the LRAP Committee, appointed by the Dean. Determinations of eligibility for repayment assistance and loan forgiveness, and the allocation of awards, are at the complete discretion of the Committee.

Eligibility and Disbursement Guidelines:

  • The application deadline is May 1.
  • Applicants need only prepare one application to be considered for an award from one of the funds listed above.
  • An Applicant must have ‘Qualifying Employment' which is defined as full-time work in the public interest, public service, or other similar employment which requires the applicant to use their legal education and training to a significant degree.
  • An Applicant may apply for LRAP within the first 10 years of graduation and can receive the award up to 5 times within that period.
  • The maximum annual award per recipient varies each year, but was $5,000 for the 2022-2023 LRAP application cycle.
  • Awards will be granted based upon available resources and the following factors: a) cost of living in the area in which the applicant lives, b) total indebtedness of educational loans, c) extraordinary financial obligations, e.g., medical expenses, and d) loan repayment assistance from other sources or gifts. 
  • Applicants must be working full-time in Qualifying Employment, defined to include legal work in the public interest, public service, or other similar employment. Qualifying public interest work includes providing direct legal services to, or conducting impact litigation or engaging in policy work on behalf of, indigents and/or underserved populations, in that order of preference. Qualifying public service includes certain federal, state or local government service, such as public defenders or prosecutors, as well as work in higher education administration, such as college or university General Counsel's offices, Admissions or Career advising. Qualifying public service also includes legal work in the military but does not include judicial clerkships. The LRAP Committee has discretion to determine whether a particular employment constitutes "Qualifying Employment" under the LRAP and to give preference to certain types of employment over others.

For an application and full statement of policy and program guidelines, email LawCareer@wlu.edu.