Loan Repayment Assistance Program
Legal Services of North Florida - 030155
Abstract Number: 030155
October 2003
Legal Services of North Florida (LSNF) adopted the Florida Bar Foundation's Loan Repayment Assistance Program to assist full-time attorneys in repaying outstanding education law school debt. LSNF provides assistance through two approaches:
1) LSNF elects eligible staff attorneys to participate in the Florida Bar Foundation's program. LSNF contributes to the program by taking a reduction in its IOTA grant equal to 20% of the annual loan repayment assistance received by its staff. Under the Florida Bar Foundation's program, LSNF can elect two attorneys to receive benefits which cover 75% of the loan payments, up to $6,000 per year. Attorneys are selected according to the Florida Bar Foundation's guidelines which take into account a variety of factors including an attorneys' quality of representation for the poor, work ethic, and the attorney's continuing commitment to addressing the needs of the poor. Access the program guidelines below for a complete description of the "Selection Guidelines".
2) LSNF also allocates an additional portion of their IOTA grant for LRAP assistance to additional full-time staff attorneys who were not selected for assistance through the Florida Bar Foundation. Attorneys receiving funds from this program are eligible to receive up to $4,800 annually. The selection guidelines are the same as those for the Florida Bar Foundation's program.
To be eligible for assistance through both approaches, attorneys must complete a six month probationary period with LSNF, be a member of the Florida Bar within the first year of enrolling in the program, and not make more than $40,000 a year. Participants may receive benefits for up to 5 years. By coordinating assistance through the Florida Bar Foundation, the loan assistance is not taxed as income thereby providing indebted attorneys with additional funds to pay off outstanding loans. To learn more about this LRAP, access the Florida Bar Foundation's program description below.
Contact Information:
Kristine Knab
Executive Director
Legal Services of North Florida
2119 Delta Boulevard
Tallahassee, FL 32303
Phone: (850) 385-9007 x16
Fax: (850) 205-6540
Email
Additional Information:
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