Columbia LRAP Overview
CLS to Increase LRAP Benefits Dramatically, but not Necessarily for Current Alumni.
A February 14th Email from Dean Schizer to current students states: Under our current program, LRAP benefits begin to phase out as a graduate earns more than $25,000. I am pleased to announce that we are doubling this income threshold for the Class of 2008 and all subsequent J.D. classes. Benefits will not begin to phase out until a graduate earns more than $50,000, which is the highest income threshold of any school in the nation.
Commentary
This is fantastic news for students interested in public interest careers. However, as much as Dean Schizer's policy announcement signals his deep commitment to public interest career funding, by not increasing the income threshold from $25,000 for current alumni at all, he has set a dangerous precedent: while new alumni will benefit from dramatic increases in benefits, older alumni will not benefit at all. Let's tell Dean Schizer that the dedicated public interest alumni of CLS deserve our financial support.