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Civil Legal Assistance Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program
The Department of Education ensures equal access to education and promotes educational excellence through coordination, management and accountability in Federal education programs. The Department works to supplement and complement educational efforts on all levels, encouraging increased involvement by the public, parents and students.
Federal Student Aid Information Center.
Telephone: (1-800) 433-3243.
Regional Director, Federal Student Aid, the Director of Student Financial Aid at the institution the student wishes to attend, high school guidance counselors, or directors of State agencies.
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2009: N/A. Fiscal Year 2010: Funding for this program was first provided in Fiscal Year 2010; as of now, there is no current data available. Fiscal Year 2011: No Current Data Available
Uses and Use Restrictions
The Civil Legal Assistance Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program provides benefits to borrowers on a first-come, first-served basis.
Loan repayment commitments are limited to the amount appropriated for the program for a given fiscal year by Congress and are only available to eligible applicants until those funds are fully committed.
A loan repayment commitment to a borrower in one fiscal year does not guarantee a commitment for the remainder of the years covered by the borrower s Service Agreement or in future years.
The Department cannot provide any benefits to a borrower for a year for which Congress does not appropriate funds.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
A borrower employed on a full-time basis as a civil legal assistance attorney who meets all of the criteria for student loan repayment, under the borrower s Service Agreement with the Department, may receive repayment of up to $6,000 of the outstanding balance of the borrower s eligible student loans for each year of completed service, subject to the availability of funds for the fiscal year, under one or more Service Agreements, up to a total amount of $40,000 per borrower.
The borrower also must not be in default on a loan for repayment, be continually licensed to practice law and execute a service agreement with the Secretary.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Upon an employer s certification of an applicant s completion of a given year of required service, the Department will send the repayment amount to the applicant s loan holder to be applied to their outstanding balance of eligible student loans, not to exceed the annual maximum of $6,000. A borrower who voluntarily ceases qualifying employment before completing the full period of service required under the agreement, or who is involuntarily separated from qualifying employment due to misconduct, will be required to repay any repayment benefit received.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants will need to provide certification of employment prior to receiving loan repayment benefits. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Application/service agreement materials are available on the Department s website. Applicants may submit completed and signed application/agreements to the Department electronically, by fax, or by mail.
Award Procedures
Applications/service agreements are received by the Department and reviewed for completeness and consistency with statutory eligibility requirements. Loan repayment commitments are limited to the amount appropriated for the program for a given fiscal year by the Congress and are only available to eligible applicants until those funds are fully committed. Therefore, awards are made to eligible borrowers on a first-come, first-served basis based on the receipt date of the borrower s application/service agreement.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Authorization
Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended , Title IV, Part B, Section 428L.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Successful applicants will be notified by September 30 of the year in which they apply.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
A loan repayment commitment to a borrower in one fiscal year does not guarantee a commitment for the remainder of the years covered by the borrower s service agreement or in future years. Priority for student loan repayment in any fiscal year is given to borrowers who have received forgiveness benefits during the preceding fiscal year and have not yet completed the three years of service under their first service agreement and to new applicants who have practiced law for a period of five years or less and have spent not less than 90 percent of that period working as civil legal assistance attorneys. (As fiscal year 2010 is the first year of this program, these priorities will not apply for 2010 awards.).
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Applications will be accepted and loan repayment benefits will be paid only for years in which Congress appropriates funds for the program. If no funds are appropriated, benefits will not be paid even if a borrower has a valid service agreement. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Electronically.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Not Applicable.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
Schools must maintain proper administrative and fiscal procedures and all necessary records as set forth in the regulations in 34 CFR 685 and 34 CFR 668. Schools must keep all records involved in any loan, claim, or expenditure questioned by a Federal audit until resolution of any questions. In addition to records required by 34 CFR 668, for each Direct Loan received under 34 CFR 685 by or on behalf of this student, a school shall maintain a copy of the loan application and data electronically submitted to the Secretary.
Financial Information
Account Identification
91-0201-0-1-502.
Obigations
(Direct Loans) FY 09 $0; FY 10 est $5,000,000; FY 11 est $2,500,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
A borrower employed as a civil legal assistance attorney who meets all of the criteria under the service agreement may receive repayment of up to $6,000 for each year of completed service, up to a total amount of $40,000, contingent on availability of funds.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, Title IV, Part B, Section 428L.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices. Federal Student Aid Information Center. Telephone: (1-800) 433-3243. Regional Director, Federal Student Aid, the Director of Student Financial Aid at the institution the student wishes to attend, high school guidance counselors, or directors of State agencies.
Headquarters Office
Federal Student Aid Information Center, Federal Student Aid, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20202 Phone: (800) 433-3243.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not Applicable.
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