Many of AUWCL's alumni enter into careers for the public interest; carrying forward the institution's long-standing commitment to use the law as a tool for positive change in our society. Given the cost of higher education and the resulting debt burden, a career in public interest may not be economically viable unless graduates invest time and energy in learning how to manage debt. It is important that public interest lawyers avail themselves of the repayment plans and assistance programs offered by the federal government and other entities. As a demonstration of ongoing commitment to supporting graduates who apply the law to the greater good, AUWCL implemented a limited assistance program, the Public Interest Loan Repayment Assistance Program (PILRAP).

PILRAP helps offset the educational debt burden by providing loan repayment assistance to qualifying JD graduates who work full-time in certain non-profit or government positions. To be eligible* to participate in PILRAP, JD graduates must:

1. Apply within the eligible time frame. JD graduates must apply for the program within three years of graduation.

2. Work in qualifying employment. The JD graduate's work must meet all of the following requirements to qualify for PILRAP loan repayment assistance:

   • Full-time. Defined as an annual average of working at least 30 hours per week.

   • Law-related. This requirement encompasses a wide variety of legal work and is not limited to the practice of law in its strictest sense. Nevertheless, the employment should substantially use the legal training and skills of the graduate.

   • Public Interest. The employer must satisfy one of the following criteria to be considered "public interest employment":

     • Non-profit - work for an organization qualifying for tax exemption under IRS Code Sections 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) or 501(c)(5);

     • Government - work for a local, state or federal government agency or office; or

     • Judicial - Court staff attorney positions and career law clerk positions qualify. Graduates in time-limited clerkships are not eligible for funding during the clerkship.

3. Meet income requirements. The maximum annual salary allowable to enter PILRAP is $75,000. For married applicants, the applicant's annual salary will be considered to be the greater of the following two values: the applicant's salary, or half of the total family salary. Other forms of additional income or resources may preclude eligibility. Applicants with a zero salary are ineligible for PILRAP funding.

4. Only federal student loans enrolled in the SAVE repayment plan and in a satisfactory repayment status with MOHELA Servicing are eligible for PILRAP. Private education loans, including bar study loans, are not eligible for assistance. Private education loans, including bar study loans, are not eligible for assistance. For eligible federal loans to be considered for PILRAP, the participant must demonstrate a partial financial hardship (total federal education loan debt is at least twice the annual salary cap; $75,000 x 2 = $150,000 minimum federal education loan debt) and be actively enrolled in the SAVE repayment plan while making qualifying payments greater than zero dollars.

*Eligibility does not guarantee program participation or funding.

The award given by PILRAP is a forgivable loan for participants who demonstrated qualifying employment and adhere to program rules.

If the recipient works for less than one year in qualifying employment then they must inform the AUWCL Financial Aid Office within thirty (30) days of the change in employment. The recipient may have to repay the portion of the award that corresponds to any period of time during the year in which the recipient did not maintain qualifying employment. The repayment must be made within that same year.

Applicants are encouraged to take advantage of other LRAP programs (such as state, federal, or employer LRAPs). Application and receipt of other LRAP awards must be disclosed on the PILRAP application and will be considered by the PILRAP Committee. See the Frequently Asked Questions to learn more.

An application and supporting documents must be submitted by the established deadlines for award consideration or for PILRAP loan forgiveness to be determined. Failure to reapply will result in loss of assistance.

PILRAP funding is limited. The program is evaluated annually and is subject to change.

For more information about PILRAP, please contact pilrap@wcl.american.edu.

The PILRAP program is currently suspended. Should the program become available, information will be posted below regarding deadlines and requirements.

Please note: all PILRAP related communications are to be sent via email to pilrap@wcl.american.edu.

The PILRAP program is currently suspended. Should the program become available, information will be posted below regarding deadlines and requirements.

The AUWCL Financial Aid Office reserves the right to request additional documentation, including federal tax documents, to verify the information provided on the application. Hard copies, faxes, and/or late applications will not be accepted.

All first-time recipients of PILRAP funding must sign and return a master promissory note.

May I redact my social security number from the documents that I submit with my PILRAP application?

Yes. The PILRAP Committee only requires your AU ID number in order to process your application.

Should I include my undergraduate federal student loans in my application?

Yes. The PILRAP Committee considers all federal student loan debt (law school, other graduate school, and undergraduate school).

I received an LLM from AUWCL. May I apply for PILRAP?

Only JD graduates of AUWCL may apply for, and receive, PILRAP funding. If you received both your JD and your LLM from AUWCL, then you may apply for PILRAP if you are otherwise eligible. LLM graduates from AUWCL, who did not receive their JD from AUWCL, should familiarize themselves with the federal income-driven repayment plans and loan forgiveness plans. 

I am a dual degree student, and I will not finish my program until the spring. Should I apply for PILRAP before I finish?

No. You must wait until after you have finished your studies to apply for PILRAP.

Can I apply for PILRAP even though I am currently looking for a job or have a zero dollar payment?

In order to apply for PILRAP, you must be working full-time. If at the time of application, you have no loan repayment obligation because your IBR amount is zero dollars every month or you have not made qualifying payments in the prior six months, you are ineligible to receive PILRAP funding.

Can I have multiple eligible public service jobs combined to meet the full-time employment requirement?

Yes. As long as all positions are eligible and you work at least 30 hours per week.

Can I receive PILRAP assistance if I work abroad?

If your work is located abroad but your employer is the US government or another qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, then you are eligible for assistance. If you are working for a foreign government or foreign non-profit, then you are not eligible for assistance.

Can I apply for PILRAP as federal contract employee?

No. These positions do not qualify for PILRAP assistance. 

I am employed in a time-limited clerkship, such as a clerk for the Executive Office for Immigration Review, a clerk for an Office of Administrative Law Judges, or a judicial clerk. Is that eligible employment for PILRAP?

No. These positions are time-limited positions and do not qualify for PILRAP assistance. Although you are not eligible, your window of eligibility to enter the program is not impacted during your clerkship. Please note the examples in the question are not an exhaustive list of time-limited positions to be excluded from eligibility.

Will my spouse's income exclude me from the program? Do I need to provide the PILRAP Committee with my spouse’s income information even though we file our taxes separately?

For married applicants, the applicant's annual salary will be considered to be the greater of the following two values: the applicant's salary, or half of the total family salary. You will need to provide the PILRAP Committee with your spouse’s income information. Although tax documents are not required at the time of application, the PILRAP Committee reserves the right to request copies of federal taxes for you, your spouse, or both.

May I receive assistance from both PILRAP and another LRAP program, such as the DC Bar Foundation LRAP?

Yes; however, the other LRAP award may preclude you from being eligible for PILRAP assistance.

What happens if my income changes and/or my payments decrease in the middle of the year?

Income changes and/or payment decreases must be reported to the AUWCL Financial Aid Office within 30 days. Based on your new income and/or any decrease to your repayment obligation, the PILRAP Committee will recalculate your award. If your income increases above $75,000, you will not receive any pending disbursements from the PILRAP program and you may need to pay back any funds that you already received which have not yet been applied to your loans.

When do I have to repay my award if I leave the program?

If you leave your eligible employment before the end of the calendar year, you must inform the AUWCL Financial Aid Office within thirty (30) days of the change in employment. You may be asked to repay the portion of the assistance that corresponds to any period of time during the calendar year in which you did not maintain qualifying employment. The repayment must be made within that same calendar year.

Will I owe taxes on PILRAP funds received from my school?

Please talk to your accountant for more information. You will not receive any tax forms in the mail from the school with regard to PILRAP awards.

Does receipt of PILRAP funding confirm my eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)?
No. Only MOHELA Servicing can provide confirmation.

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program is available through the federal government to those borrowers making qualifying payments in a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying public service employer. After 120 qualifying monthly payments, the remaining balance is forgiven with no taxable income implications. Only the loan servicer (MOHELA Servicing) can determine all of the above requirements. It is strongly recommended for borrowers to submit the Employment Certification Form on an annual basis, as well as when there is a change in employer, to ensure that forgiveness is properly being tracked by the loan servicer. Failure to submit the form may result in qualifying payments not being counted toward forgiveness.