Skip to main content
VisitDelaware.gov

Public Attorney Student Loan Repayment Assistance Programs

The Criminal Justice Council is proud to assist Delaware agencies in retaining and recruiting public attorneys by offering student loan repayment assistance through the John R. Justice (JRJ) federal grant program and state funding through HB 380.

Student loan debt is consistently cited as the overwhelming reason why attorneys decline or leave the public and non-profit sectors. The John R. Justice and State Public Attorney Student Loan Repayment Assistance programs ultimately serve as an incentive to attract and retain quality legal services and better serve the citizens of Delaware. he CJC has two programs for loan repayment assistance.

The John R. Justice (JRJ)

  • This is a federally supported program that will be open from 10/1/26 to 12/31/26.
  • Applicants should have income verification from their 2024 tax return.
  • In addition, their latest student loan statements from their loan servicer ready to upload to the secure system.
  • Eligible applicants will receive an equal share of the John R. Justice award amount. Based on the volume of applicants in previous program years, the CJC estimates that JRJ applicants are likely to receive between $1,750.00 to $2,500.00 directly toward their student loan account.

The State Loan Repayment (SLR)

This is a state supported program and remains open on a continuous basis based on the availability of funding.

  • Applicants should have income verification from their 2025 W-2 form.
  • Applicants who make over $130,000.00 a year (based on Federal Taxable Wages) are ineligible for an award under this program.
  • In addition, their latest student loan statements from their loan servicer ready to upload to the secure system.
  • Based on the volume of applicants in previous program years, the CJC estimates that State Program applicants are likely to receive $5,000.00.
  • Applicants can apply one time per calendar year. Applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis.
  • Q1 = 10/1/26 to 12/31/26
  • Q2 = 1/1/27 to 3/31/27
  • Q3 = 4/1/27 to 6/30/27
  • Q4 = 7/1/27 to 9/30/27

An Annual Report to summarize program participants is required by statute. It summarizes the Program, applicant demographics, and recommendations based on the experience of the most recent group of applicants.

See below for program descriptions, eligibility criteria, and to learn more about the information required on the application from the SFY 2026 application packet.

Learn more about the Programs

Have additional questions or want to schedule a an informational session for your agency’s attorneys? Contact Cary Smythe at: cjc_tuition@delaware.gov or 302-577-8728

Program Information

The John R. Justice federal grant has been available to assist State of Delaware Public Defenders and Criminal Prosecutors for over 10 years.  The State’s Public Attorney Student Loan Reimbursement Program has wider eligibility criteria to recruit and retain public attorneys by offering student loan repayment assistance. The two programs have separate but overlapping eligibility criteria. All applicants must submit a completed application packet and select the program for which they are applying. Eligible applicants may apply for both programs.

How can I participate in the State Public Attorney Student Loan Reimbursement Program?

In accordance with the state program’s guidelines, HB 380, participants must satisfy the following eligibility conditions:

  1. The applicant is an active member in good standing of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the State of Delaware or is practicing law under Rule 55.
  2. The applicant has secured a qualified educational loan prior to submitting an application.
    • “Qualified educational loan” includes government, commercial, or foundation loan for actual costs paid for tuition and reasonable educational expenses related to an applicant’s undergraduate or law degree program.
  3. The applicant has been an employee of the State of Delaware or one of Delaware’s civil legal aid organizations for at least a year, as of the close of the application period, AND the applicant’s primary job function is the practice of law.
    • “Civil legal aid organizations” include Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. of Delaware (CLASI), Delaware Volunteer Legal Services (DVLS), or Legal Services Corporation of Delaware (LSCD).
    • If you have been in your current position for less than a year and wish to apply, you may count time spent in a prior position at one of the eligible agencies (State of Delaware, CLASI, DVLS, LSCD) if your primary job function was the practice of law.  Time in your current and prior positions must add up to at least 12 months.
  4. Submit a completed application to the Criminal Justice Council with required service agreement, loan verification documentation, and a 2025 W-2 or tax return to verify salary requirements (applicants with federal taxable wages over $130,000 are ineligible).
    • Future program years, pending source fund availability, will require year-end income documentation from the most recently available tax year. Due to the timing of the current program year’s application submission period, every applicant is presumed to have access to their completed tax return and W-2 from 2025.
  5. All eligible applicants who receive an award will receive the same amount (between $2,500 and $5,000). Benefit recipients will be notified of the amount and receive and those payments will be paid directly to their loan servicer. All loan providers must be registered with First State Financial (FSF) to receive payments. If you have questions if your loan servicer is registered please reach out to the CJC.
  6. Assuming funding is continued in future state fiscal years, eligible applicants may apply once per state fiscal year. Successful State Program awardees may receive up to 10 awards in their lifetime.

How can I participate in the John R. Justice Attorney Student Loan Reimbursement Federal Grant Program?

In accordance with the federal program’s guidelines, participants must satisfy the following eligibility conditions:

  1. The applicant is an active member in good standing of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the State of Delaware.
  2. The applicant has secured a qualified educational loan prior to submitting an application; only federally backed student loans are eligible for JRJ repayment assistance.
  3. The applicant is a full-time attorney practicing law for the State of Delaware in either: a) the Office of Defense Services or b) the Department of Justice with a criminal caseload of 75% or more.
  4. Successful applicants must agree to stay in an eligible position at ODS or DOJ for an initial 3-year period and a one-year agreement for every additional year they apply to the Program.
  5. Submit a completed application to the Criminal Justice Council with required service agreement(s), loan verification documentation, and 2024 tax return, as outlined in the federal program requirements.
  6. Eligible applicants who receive an award will be ranked based on financial need and the number of eligible applicants. Prior successful applicants received awards between $500 and $5,000. Benefit recipients will be notified of the amount and receive a lump sum payment directly to their loan servicer by the end of June 2027.
  7. Assuming funding is continued in future federal fiscal years, eligible applicants may apply once per federal fiscal year grant award. Successful JRJ awardees may not receive more than $10,000 in JRJ benefits in any given calendar year.  Successful JRJ awardees may not receive more than $60,000 in JRJ benefits in their lifetime.

Can I participate in both programs?

If you fit into both programs’ eligibility criteria, yes!  Attorneys who are eligible for the John R. Justice federal grant program are likely eligible to participate in the State’s public attorney student loan repayment assistance program. Applicants of both programs must qualify independently for each set of eligibility criteria. However, the JRJ program participation is projected to be lower due to its narrower eligibility criteria.  The combined application allows individuals to opt into the program that is the best fit for them.

How does it work if I am approved to receive repayment assistance?

For JRJ, a one-time payment, and SLR one time or monthly payment(s) will be issued from the Criminal Justice Council directly to the specified student loan servicer, on behalf of the approved applicant.Applicants who successfully apply and receive approval for both the JRJ and State Programs will receive two separate checks (one for each program award) to their specified lender(s). Since the payment does not get issued to the individual, no 1099s are issued by the State at year-end.

The State of Delaware’s Public Attorney Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program is funded through the Delaware Criminal Justice Council by the State of Delaware’s Public Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program (made possible by HB 380). The federal Prosecutor and Public Defender Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program is made possible through funding from the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, through the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s John R. Justice Grant Program, Award 15PBJA-25-GG-03592-JRJX.

Will receiving student loan repayment assistance affect my gross annual income?

The CJC does not provide legal advice on tax issues. Beneficiaries of John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program and State Public Attorney Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program benefits remain responsible for, and should consult with their tax advisors for advice on any tax obligations resulting from benefits paid on their behalf. The Bureau of Justice Assistance released a letter from the IRS providing information that JRJ recipients may benefit from.  State program applicants should speak directly with their tax advisors. 

For the purposes of participation in either program, the CJC and the Public Attorney Student Loan Program Committee will not count current or previous student loan repayment assistance awards toward the salary cap stipulation in the State Program eligibility criteria.

Things to consider regarding when receiving payments:

  • For those who chose to receive monthly installments on the SLR program, if your needs change and you’d like the remaining balance to be paid in full during the next payment, please let the CJC know and we can switch from the monthly payment to pay out the remaining balance of your award at that time. 
  • Once the payment reaches your loan provider it will be up to them to apply and post the payment to your account. The CJC does have access or control once payments have been sent. If you are missing a payment, or have questions, please contact your loan provider first and allow 30 days for the payment to be applied. If 30 days have passed, you can contact the CJC at cjc_tuition@delaware.gov for questions. We can provide a screen shot of your payment and the transaction ID used that your loan provider can search.
  • The goal is to have the payments released around the 15th of each month. There is a multi-level approval within the State of Delaware’s Division of Accounting System. Delays or questions can happen outside the control of the CJC’s payment schedule.
  • If your currently on a specific payment schedule with your loan provider, please ensure your payment schedule is managed. While we aim for the same time each month (15th) for the money to reach your account, we cannot guarantee the money is posted to your account on a specific date. Part of this process is controlled by the loan provider posting the payment to your account.
  • If you have not already done so, I would strongly encourage you to sign up for the free loan counseling program with tuition.io. This provides personalized tools to help you organize, track, & manage your student loans; and 1-on-1 Student Loan Coaching to help you navigate the student loan system, reduce your payments, and earn loan forgiveness. They can aid on time income payment and income certification. They will share what effect this has on loan forgiveness and tries to maximize your loan forgiveness.

Application Checklist

2026/27 Application Packets require the following information:

  1. A Combined Application through our new electronic Tuition Assistance Repayment Programs (e-TARP) application, with all applicable sections completed: https://cjc.e-tarp.org/
  2. The e-TARP portal will request the following attachments or certifications in the system:
    • Loan Verification documentation: the most recent statement(s) showing that your qualifying loan(s) carry a balance and are in good standing with your lending agency
    • Your Tax Return for 2024 (JRJ Applicants only)
    • Your W-2 for 2025 (State Program Applicants only)
    • The appropriate Federal Service Agreement and/or State Conditions of Program Participation:
      • State HB 380 Applicants are required to sign the State Conditions of Award through the e-TARP portal
        • Follow this link to view the State Conditions of Program Participation. This document outlines the expectations of program involvement, and unlike the federal service agreements, it carries no requirements for future service as a public attorney. This requirement is available through e-TARP.
      • Federal JRJ Program Applicants are required to sign their applicable Federal Service Agreement. This requirement is available through e-TARP.

2026/27 Application Packet Submission

The JRJ program is accepting applications from 10/1/26 to 12/31/26.
The State Program will remain open as long as funding is available. Applications are reviewed quarterly. Applicants can apply one time per calendar year.

Apply now through the online electronic Tuition Assistance Repayment Programs (e-TARP) web-based portal.

All Application Packets should be completed electronically and submitted through the portal. All questions can be directed to the Program Mailbox. 

Submit Electronic
Application Packets through:

https://etarp.delaware.gov

Questions?

For more information on the John R. Justice program, visit BJA’s John R. Justice Program Overview page. Visit the Delaware statute, HB 380, for information and eligibility to participate in the State of Delaware’s Public Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program. 

If you have additional questions about the Programs, please contact Cary Smythe (email: cjc_tuition@delaware.gov, direct line: 302-577-8728).

Free Loan Counseling Services

“The Office of the State Treasurer is pleased to announce we’re partnering with the CJC to introduce a new resource for CJC employees who have student loan debt

What is offered:

  • Personalized Tools to help you organize, track, & manage your student loans; and
  • 1-on-1 Student Loan Coaching to help you navigate the student loan system, reduce your payments, and earn loan forgiveness.

Thanks to the funding & support of the CJC, your agency’s staff now have full access to the Tuition.io platform and services. Sign up at delaware.tuition.io/registernow 

If you have any questions, feel free to contact StudentLoans@delaware.gov



Show state footer menu