State funding for Colorado Law has dramatically decreased and as a result the average debt load of students who borrowed is more than $100,000. In the face of this, Colorado Law is dedicated to making public interest careers a real option for our graduates. Through donor support, our Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) provides partial loan repayment awards to select alumni who choose to work in underserved areas or in public interest jobs.
LRAP has been an opportunity for recent Colorado Law graduates since 2008 when Dean David Getches established the fund to address the need to fill public and county attorney positions in underserved areas. In 2012, the program was expanded by Dean Phil Weiser with the goal to fund 12 graduates from each graduating class with an award of at least $5,500 a year for five years. This goal would not be possible without the generosity of donors, particularly John Schultz ('53), who has personally given more than $2 million to support the program. Since the program began, Colorado Law has funded 80 graduates and continues to grow.
Eligibility
Public interest jobs can fall into one of two categories: working for a nonprofit organization or working for a federal, state, or local government agency. Students can also qualify for an LRAP award by working in underserved geographic region or serving legal needs of an underserved population.