Sponsors | Guidelines | Application | Current Recipient Application (abbreviated)

(Application period for current recipients and interested attorneys was Feb. 11-March 14, 2008)

 
                                                                        --TATJC Student Loan Repayment Assistance Recipient

The Texas Access to Justice Commission created the Texas Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program (Texas SLRAP) in 2002 to assist attorneys who choose to pursue careers in legal aid in Texas. Low salaries coupled with high student loan debt make it difficult or impossible for lawyers to accept employment at legal aid or stay in those jobs long term. The Texas SLRAP is a critical part of increasing access to justice for low income individuals.

The Commission is working with many partners, including the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Access to Justice Foundation (TAJF), private attorneys, and the legal aid community in order to help more attorneys provide legal aid in Texas. Since 2004, the SLRAP was administered by the Texas Bar Foundation, for which the Commission was and is very appreciative. Starting in June 2008, the SLRAP became administered by the TAJF, which has committed to supplement the funding contributed by the State Bar of Texas.

Helping Lawyers Who Help Low-income Texans

Beginning in 2008, SLRAP will provide loan repayment help to more lawyers who work for Texas legal aid organizations that ever before. For the first time, all eligible legal services attorneys in Texas who apply will receive student loan repayment assistance from the program. Ninety legal aid lawyers from 21 programs applied this year compared to 76 applicants in 2007. Of those 76 only 45 received assistance due to limited funding. The Commission is extremely grateful to the State Bar and TAJF for committing to fund this important program, which enables young lawyers to accept jobs with legal aid and allows more experienced lawyers to maintain their positions without impoverishing themselves and their families.  The 2008 applicants earn an average salary of $43,000, while carrying an average student debt of $82,000 with monthly payments exceeding $700. Attorneys with the following programs are currently receiving assistance:

• Advocacy, Inc.
• Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse
• Catholic Charities of Dallas
• Equal Justice Center
• Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program
• Las Americas
• Legal Aid Society of Lubbock
• Legal Services of NorthWest Texas
• Legal Hospice of Texas
• Lone Star Legal Aid
• NAACP - Houston
• Political Asylum of Austin
• Safe Place
• South Texas School of Law Legal Clinic
• St. Mary's University - Center for Legal and Social Justice
• Texas Advocacy Project
• Texas Civil Rights Project
• Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
• University of Houston Law Center Immigration Clinic
• YMCA International Services

How is the Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program funded?

The Texas Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program is made possible thanks to the State Bar of Texas and a number of individuals, many of whom are State Bar of Texas directors. Contributions to the Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program are tax-deductible. To help attorneys help low-income Texans, click here.

Application Process

For more information about application guidelines and program qualifications, click here.

Interested legal aid attorneys:
          to view or print the application for Student Loan Repayment Assistance, click here.
Current SLRAP recipients:
          to view/print the abbreviated application and reapply for the upcoming year, click here.