Loan Repayment Assistance Program

“As a Justice League attorney, I help crime victims ensure that their statutory and constitutional rights are upheld throughout the criminal justice process. Ohio is only one of 10 states in the country to have such a clinic.”
~ Megan Hanke, L’05
Justice League of Ohio (Powell, Ohio)

“I have found a calling that provides personal satisfaction while giving me the ability to serve others and focus on a larger societal need.”
~ Tiffany Hostetler, L’06
Franklin County Children Services (Columbus, Ohio)

“The public defender serves a necessary role in a system where the chips are often stacked against the defendant … I feel a sense of accomplishment when I am able to help someone who would have been lost in the system and would not otherwise have been able to help themselves.”
~ Matthew Trent, L’07
Franklin County Public Defender Office (Columbus, Ohio)
Recipient of the Max Kravitz Memorial Loan Repayment Assistance Award

“By receiving the LRAP funds, I will be able to devote more of my free time to community education activities about family and relationship violence.”
~ Kristin Wehking, L’07
The Appalachian Research and Defense Fund (Campbellsville, Kentucky)

Michelle Sposito Atkinson, L’05, works for the Ohio Legal Rights Service (OLRS). The mission of OLRS is to protect and advocate, in partnership with people with disabilities, for their human, civil and legal rights.

“I am so excited that Capital has started the Loan Repayment Assistance Program. It really recognizes commitment to public interest work. As a recipient of the award, I am able to pursue my passion and worry less about repaying my loans.” ~ Michelle Sposito Atkinson, L’05

Tasha Ruth, L’05, is a Franklin County Public Defender. She is the recipient of the Max Kravitz Memorial Loan Repayment Assistance Award.

“I am thrilled to be a Max Kravitz LRAP recipient. Choosing a career in public interest law as a public defender was one of the best choices I have made. The only drawback to this field is that while the personal rewards are high, the salary is not. This makes student loan repayment a daunting task. This award makes criminal justice careers more feasible and hopefully will attract more qualified attorneys to this field.” ~ Tasha Ruth, L’05

Amelia Woodward, L’04, is an AmeriCorps attorney and works for Legal Aid of Western Ohio, which represents low-income clients in court and at administrative hearings on such issues as evictions and landlord/tenant disputes, public benefits work and unemployment cases. She also conducts outreach to the community through county wide informational and educational events.

“I want to express my gratitude to Capital for recognizing the importance of public interest law and for developing a financial assistance program that gives back to those who give back. Almost every law student bears a significant financial burden trying to repay student loans after graduation. Hopefully, this program will encourage more law students to consider public interest law as a career.” ~ Amelia Woodward, L'04