District Attorney and Indigent Legal Services Attorney Loan Forgiveness Program (DALF)

There is no income requirement or limit.

Financial Status

To receive the loan forgiveness, you must:

• Be in good standing (a non-default status) on a student loan made under any NYS or federal education loan program or on the repayment of any NYS award.
• Be in compliance with the terms of the service condition(s) imposed by any NYS award that you have previously received.

To receive the Scholarship, you must meet the following residency requirements: 

• You are a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
• You are a legal resident of New York State and have resided in New York State for 12 continuous months.

Not a citizen or eligible noncitizen? Learn more about the NYS DREAM Act application.

Eligible Student Loans

Eligible student loans include the total loan balance required to be paid by an eligible attorney on the cumulative total of outstanding student loans covering the cost of attendance at an undergraduate institution and/or law school, at the time the attorney applies for the Program. Interest paid or due on these loans is considered eligible for reimbursement under this Program. 

For purposes of this calculation, the amount of the eligible student loan debt will be reduced by any grants, loan forgiveness, or similar reductions to the attorney’s indebtedness that the attorney has received or will receive, such as law school loan forgiveness and public service scholarships.

Loan payment duration requirements include:

• Up to 6 years of qualified service

   

   

Have worked full-time as a District Attorney, Assistant District Attorney,  Indigent Legal Services Attorney, or employed by a prosecuting or criminal defense agency, while a law school graduate awaiting admission to the New York State bar, in New York State for a total of at least four years, but no more than nine years

Must have worked full-time as a District Attorney, Assistant District Attorney, Indigent Legal Services Attorney or employed by a prosecuting or criminal defense agency, while a law school graduate awaiting admission to the New York State bar, in New York State for a total of 12 months prior to submitting your application.