The Vermont Bar Association, continuing its efforts to address attorney shortages in underserved areas throughout Vermont, is again accepting applications for its Loan Repayment Assistance Program. Now in its third year, the VBA Loan Repayment Assistance Program (“LRAP”) is designed to assist attorneys burdened by debt so that they can work in underserved geographic and subject areas. The first awards in this round will be made in early 2026 and there is an application deadline of Jan. 2, 2026.
The LRAP program began in 2024 and to date 20 recipients have received in excess of $56,000 in LRAP awards.
“Vermont needs to attract and maintain new and diverse attorneys to provide legal services to Vermonters throughout the state. The Loan Repayment Assistance Program helps new lawyers burdened by student loan debt stay and practice in Vermont to provide essential legal services to Vermonters in underserved areas. The VBA is proud to demonstrate our commitment to the next generation of Vermont lawyers through the program,” said VBA-LRAP Chair and VBA Past- President, Judith Dillon, Esq.
To be eligible, applicants must be members of the VBA and licensed to practice law in the state of Vermont. They must have an annual income of not more than $90,000 and carry at least $25,000 in student loan debt. The debt may have been accrued for undergraduate and/or graduate education.
Successful applicants will be eligible for up to $5000 (five thousand dollars) annually in loan assistance payments from LRAP.
Priority for the awards will be given to attorneys who practice in underserved areas of the state and to those whose practice focuses on underserved substantive areas of legal need.
More details about LRAP and the application are available on the VBA website.
For more information about the program contact VBA Executive Director Bob Paolini, at [email protected], or Associate Executive Director Lisa Maxfield, at [email protected].
