Overview
The purpose of the John R. Justice (JRJ) Student Loan Repayment Program is to encourage qualified individuals to enter into employment as prosecutors and public defenders and remain employed within their respective fields. The JRJ Student Loan Repayment Program is a federally-funded initiative that provides repayment of eligible educational loans on behalf of selected state and federal prosecutors and public defenders.
Annual payment amounts are dependent on the availability of federal funds for that year. The anticipated repayment benefits for each beneficiary cannot exceed $10,000.00 in a calendar year with a total aggregate not to exceed $60,000.00 or the current total of their eligible student loan debt, whichever is less.
Eligibility
Eligibility is limited to attorneys who are employed full-time as a prosecutor or public defender by one of the Commonwealth’s District Attorneys’ Offices, the Attorney General’s Office, the Committee for Public Counsel Services, a nonprofit providing legal representation to indigent defendants in criminal or juvenile delinquency cases, or the Federal Public Defender Office. Appellate defenders, Appellate Assistant District Attorneys and Criminal Appellate Assistant Attorneys General are eligible to apply.
Applicants must execute a service agreement committing to continue working full-time as an eligible attorney for:
- three years (if a New Applicant) or
- the remainder of the initial three-year agreement (if a Continuing Beneficiary)
Additional eligibility requirements are outlined in the Availability of Grant Funds (AGF).
Key Dates and Materials
Key Dates:
AGF Posted: March 10, 2025
Deadline for FAQ Submission: April 4, 2025
Application Due: April 18, 2025
Award Notification (Tentative): May 2025
Application Materials:
FY25 John R. Justice Online Application
FY25 John R. Justice - Employer Certification
FY25 John R. Justice - Attachment A (Proof of Loans)
FY25 John R. Justice - Attachment B (Service Agreement for First-Time Participants)
FY25 John R. Justice - Attachment C (Service Agreement for Continuing Beneficiaries)
Additional Materials:
John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program - Questions and Answers (updated 3/28/25)
Additional Student Loan Assistance Resources
The federal government offers additional student loan assistance programs for individuals. Programs include:
Refer to federal program information to determine eligibility and availability of each program.