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Assistant District Attorneys, Assistant Public Defenders, Government, Nonprofit, Public Sector, and Private Assigned Counsel: Funding is Available to Help with your Law School Debt.

NC LEAF is committed to providing student loan repayment assistance to public interest attorneys with the least ability to repay their law school debt. Decisions will be made by our Board of Directors based on eligibility and available funding.

The 2026 application period is open November 1 – December 14, 2025 and April 1-30, 2026.

Take a moment to read through our 2026 Application Instructions and Eligibility Guidelines.

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Application Documents

NC LEAF Program Guidelines & Eligibility

Employer Certification Form

Spouse/Domestic Partner Employer Certification Form

Checklist for Applying:

  • Read NC LEAF Program Guidelines.
  • Complete and certify online application, including essay describing your commitment to public interest law.

Scan each of the following as individual documents:

Include your last name in the title for each document. You will upload each separately.

  • Obtain signature and salary information on Employer Certification Form (for self AND spouse/domestic partner, if applicable).
  • Copy of your most recent Federal 1040/1040A/1040EZ tax returns-page 1 only showing your Adjusted Gross Income.
  • One year of loan payment history: servicer, address, account number, monthly payment and total debt load.
  • Copy of your Federal Student Aid Summary from the National Student Loan Data System

If you have any questions, please e-mail admin@ncleaf.org.