Addressing Student Debt in Legal Aid: LRAP Minnesota

About LRAP Minnesota

LRAP Minnesota is a nonprofit student loan repayment assistance program that supports legal aid attorneys serving low-income clients in Minnesota.

LRAP Minnesota also administers the loan repayment assistance programs of Mitchell Hamline School of Law, University of Minnesota Law School, and University of St. Thomas School of Law under each law school’s specific program guidelines.

For many low-income Minnesotans, access to justice depends on whether a skilled attorney is available when food, shelter, safety, and other basic needs are at risk.

However, salaries far below those in the private sector–coupled with six-figure student loan debt–make it difficult for attorneys to begin or remain in legal aid careers.

LRAP Minnesota increases access to justice by reducing one of the biggest barriers that keeps dedicated attorneys out of legal aid work: education debt. When donors support LRAP Minnesota, they help attorneys continue to offer life-changing civil legal services to individuals who may otherwise have nowhere else to turn.

The mission of LRAP Minnesota is to help reduce the education debt burden experienced by dedicated public interest lawyers who represent low-income clients seeking legal services to secure essential needs like food, shelter and safety, and fundamental rights like equal access to justice.

Our History

Founded in 1991, LRAP Minnesota began through the joint efforts of students at Minnesota’s law schools, the Minnesota Justice Foundation, and the Minnesota State Bar Association.

Leadership

Board of Directors

LRAP Minnesota is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.

Daniel Brown — President
Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Jamie Forman — Vice President
James L. Forman Law LLC

Annie Gemmell — Treasurer
Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Vacant — Secretary

Anna Beadle

Minnesota Justice Foundation

Cindy McGrath
University of St. Thomas School of Law

Kristin Stock
Blattner Company

Lisa Hollingsworth
Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services

Peter Hennigan
Maslon LLP

Ruth Isaacson
University of Minnesota Law School

Valerie Herring
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

Dee Baskin — Executive Director

Learn More About LRAP Minnesota

LRAP Minnesota is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and donations are tax-deductible. Visit the Apply page to learn more about program qualifications, visit the Give page to support public interest lawyers serving low-income Minnesotans, or visit the Contact page for more ways to connect with LRAP Minnesota.

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Helping Minnesota legal aid attorneys repay their student loans