Osgoode Hall to pilot income-contingent loans program for JD students

Osgoode Hall Law School at York University has announced the launch of a 5-year pilot program intended to improve financial accessibility for Juris Doctor (JD) students. Beginning in 2015, a minimum of 5 JD students will receive income-contingent loans to pursue their education. They will not pay tuition while attending the school, but will instead repay the institution when their income reaches a level at which they can afford to do so. Should their income never reach that level, their loan will be forgiven. “This program will provide an entirely new way to access legal education, and when combined with bursaries, scholarships and graduation awards, will advance our goal that every admitted student should be able to obtain legal education at Osgoode regardless of financial means,” said Osgood Dean Lorne Sossin. The income-contingent loan program will receive $1 M in initial funding and will be evaluated over a 5-year period to ensure that it is meeting the school’s goals for accessibility and inclusiveness. YorkU News Release | Sossin Blog Post