Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program Policy
The Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program (ASLRP) is active for 2026.
The ASLRP Policy is quite detailed. Attorneys requesting participation must certify that they have read and understand its provisions. Select the link below to read the entire policy, or, if you are looking for specific information, select a direct link to that portion of the Policy. Individuals with questions or concerns should review the information posted in the FAQ at the Quick Link on the left prior to contacting OARM for assistance.
Entire ASLRP Policy
Overview
Attorney Eligibility
Permanent Employees
Incoming Honors Program Attorneys
Ineligible Attorneys
Disqualifying Conditions
Loan Eligibility
Service Obligations and Agreements
Impact of Uniformed Service (Military LWOP)
Annual Payments and Related Information
Maximum Benefits
Tax Consequences
Payment Dates
Procedures to Request Consideration
Renewal of Benefits for Current Recipients
Renewal in the Second or Third Year of a Three-Year Service Obligation
Beyond the Expiration of A Service Obligation
Lateral Moves Within the Department
Reimbursing the Department / Waiver of Indebtedness
Relationship of ASLRP to Other Recruitment/Retention Incentives
Responsibility of Attorneys selected for the ASLRP
Department Responsibilities
Appendix A (Component Specific Factors)
Appendix B (Factors of Recruitment / Retention Difficulty)
Appendix C (Guidelines for Requesting Consideration)
1. The Department of Justice implemented the ASLRP in 2003. Based on the provisions of 5 U.S. Code, 5 U.S.C. § 5379, as implemented by 5 CFR Part 537, the ASLRP is an incentive program designed to recruit and retain highly qualified attorneys for hard-to-fill positions. Any Department of Justice employee serving in or hired to serve in an attorney position may request consideration for the ASLRP.
2. The ASLRP is a discretionary agency incentive program, not an entitlement. Annual funding does not permit selection of all qualifying attorneys for participation in the ASLRP. The Department anticipates selecting new attorneys each year for participation on a competitive basis and renewing current beneficiaries during existing service obligations, subject to availability of funds. Selection or non-selection for participation, or the determination of the amount of a loan repayment under 5 U.S.C. 5379 (5 CFR Part 537) is not grievable under the Department's grievance procedures. ASLRP benefits are subject to taxes and other withholdings, which are deducted from the amount approved prior to issuance of payment to the loan holders. ASLRP benefits are paid directly to the loan holder, not to the individual attorney.
3. Initial acceptance of ASLRP funding triggers a three-year service obligation to the Department. To receive ASLRP benefits, the attorney must qualify, the attorney’s student loans must qualify, and all statutory requirements must be met. Attorneys who do not complete their service obligation must repay the Department for all funds received through the ASLRP at the “before taxes” amount.
4. Federal agencies have a large degree of discretion in structuring student loan repayment programs. The Department's policy requires a minimum aggregate loan balance of $10,000 to initially qualify. The Department awards $6000 annually, up to a lifetime maximum of $60,000.
1. Department of Justice employees serving in or hired to serve in an attorney position may be eligible for ASLRP subject to the provisions below.
- Incoming Honors Program (HP) Attorneys hired for 3-year term and permanent appointments are eligible but, if selected, are subject to repayment provisions if found unsuitable during the background investigation/adjudication process or if they entered on duty prior to bar admission and are separated for failure to become bar admitted with 14 months (e.g., fail to qualify for an attorney appointment). Incoming Honors Program attorneys must be able to meet the statutory three-year service obligation (which commences upon initial entry on duty for incoming HPs); those hired for 1- to 2-year appointments do not qualify.
Ineligible individuals include:
- Non-permanent attorneys, including those on Schedule B appointments or other term appointments with less than three years remaining before the appointments expire;
- The service obligation starts when the individual is approved for the ASLRP; retroactive service does not qualify.
- Political appointees, or employees occupying a position which is excepted from the competitive service because of its confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy advocating character (i.e., employees serving under Schedule C appointments);
- Those serving on detail from other agencies (e.g., Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys or those on temporary or time limited appointments).
- Individuals with a J.D. (or equivalent) who are not in an attorney appointment.
2. ASLRP benefits are not automatic: there is a competitive selection process. The Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program (ASLRP) is an agency recruitment and retention incentive, not an entitlement.
3. ASLRP benefits cannot be used to recruit an employee from another Federal agency. Incoming Honors Program attorneys serving as federal judicial law clerks or in a federal fellowship at the time of their application to the Department are not deemed "recruited from another Federal agency."
4. Attorneys approved for ASLRP must be in good standing on their qualifying federal student loans.
5. The attorney must have a minimum aggregate qualifying federal student loan debt balance of $10,000 to initially qualify for ASLRP (not applicable to renewal requests or recompetition requests from prior recipients).
b. The attorney must have a minimum aggregate qualifying federal student loan debt balance of $10,000 to initially qualify for ASLRP (not applicable to renewal requests or recompetition requests from prior recipients).
c. An attorney who received less than a "fully successful" rating on the most recent performance evaluation report (or equivalent level of performance under the applicable performance management system) is not eligible to request consideration for the ASLRP. If already selected for the ASLRP, repayment benefits will terminate if an attorney fails to maintain a "fully successful" level of performance under Part 430 of Title 5, CFR, or a similar level of performance under another applicable performance management system.
d. An attorney who is the subject of an ongoing investigation or disciplinary action for alleged misconduct is not eligible to receive loan repayments while the matter is pending. An attorney who has been disciplined for misconduct (whether formally or informally, including oral counseling) is not eligible to receive loan repayments until two years after the date the discipline was imposed.
e. Attorneys who are the subject of a performance or conduct based action, or under a "Performance Improvement Plan", "Last Chance or Abeyance Agreement" or a "Memorandum of Understanding" (between management and a union with bargaining rights over conditions of employment) are rendered ineligible during the enforcement period.
f. Attorneys currently participating in the ASLRP may be disqualified from receiving further benefits if they fail to comply with ASLRP policies. It is each recipient's individual responsibility to monitor his or her loan accounts to ensure awards are timely issued, properly credited, and applied only to qualifying loans.
1. To be eligible for repayments on his or her behalf, the attorney must have an existing loan that qualifies under the "definition of student loan" in 5 CFR Part 537. The loan must have been taken out by the attorney and must have been used to pay costs incurred by the attorney. The Department will not approve loan repayments for third-party loans (e.g., loans taken out by parents on behalf of dependent children, or by one spouse for the other, etc.).
The term “student loan”, for purposes of the ASLRP, means—
- a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under part B of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq.);
- a loan made under part D or E of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq., 1087aa et seq.); and
- a health education assistance loan made or insured under part A of title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 292 et seq.) or under part E of title VIII of such Act (42 U.S.C. 297a et seq.).
Qualifying loans can include:
- Direct Subsidized Loans
- Direct Unsubsidized Loans
- Direct PLUS Loans made to graduate or professional students
- Direct Consolidation Loans
- Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans (from the FFEL Program)
- Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans (from the FFEL Program)
- FFEL PLUS Loans made to graduate or professional students
- FFEL Consolidation Loans
- Federal Perkins Loans
Note: The Department will not provide ASLRP for Plus Loans issued to parents on behalf of dependent students.
2. The Department may not reimburse an employee for student loan payments made prior to entering into a valid service agreement with the Department of Justice.
3. The Department can only agree to repay qualifying student loans in existence prior to the execution of a loan repayment agreement.
4. The level of academic degree for which a student loan was obtained will not be considered in determining eligibility for the ASLRP, however, the degree must relate to a qualification relevant to the attorney's position at the Department.
D. Service Obligations and Agreements
1. All participants in the Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program (ASLRP) must sign valid three-year service agreements with the Department of Justice before repayments can begin. A standard Service Agreement is included as part of each Initial Request form. Acceptance of benefits beyond the original three-year period requires the execution of a new three-year service agreement or, should the Panel offer an extension, a separate extension agreement. If the attorney is not selected, the service agreement submitted with an initial request is null and void.
a. The effective date of the initial service agreement will begin when approved for the first repayment (generally in July).
b. The effective date of an extension to a service agreement is the day following the expiration of the prior service obligation.
c. The effective date of the service agreement associated with a current recipient's successful reapplication and reselection is (a) the day immediately following the expiration of the current service agreement (if there is no lapse in participation) or (b) the date re-selection is approved (if lapse occurs).
2. Attorneys who fail to complete their service obligation may be indebted to the Department (not federal service in general) for all student loan repayments received (before taxes and not a prorated amount) under the ASLRP. See paragraph I, "Reimbursing the Department / Waiver of Indebtedness."
3. Periods of leave without pay, or other periods during which an ASLRP recipient is not in a pay status do not count toward the completion of the required service period upon reemployment. The service completion date must be extended by the total time spent in non-pay status. However, absence because of uniformed service or compensable injury is considered creditable toward the required service period upon reemployment.
a. An attorney who is absent from the Department because of uniformed service (military service) is generally entitled upon reemployment to be treated as though he or she had never left. This includes ASLRP recipients who are reemployed by the Department following a period of uniformed service. Periods of military leave without pay (LWOP) are creditable toward the completion of a student loan repayment service period, and scheduled student loan payments specified in the service agreement will continue during the period of military LWOP, subject to availability of funds.
b. The Department may initiate appropriate recoupment action should the attorney not return to the Department following uniformed service/military LWOP.
E. Annual Payments and Related Information
1. All ASLRP payments are subject to the availability of funds as determined solely in the discretion of the Department.
2. The Department of Justice limits annual ASLRP benefits to a maximum of $6,000 per attorney per calendar year (notwithstanding the provisions of P.L. 108-123 (November 11, 2003). Depending on resources, the Department may determine a lower amount, down to $0. The total lifetime maximum per attorney is $60,000.
3. The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) of 2025 (Pub. L. No. 119-21), section 70412, permanently modified paragraph (1) of section 127(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow organizations to contribute up to $5,250 annually towards employee student loan repayment without increasing their taxable income. In addition to making tax-free reimbursements permanent, the OBBBA indexes the $5,250 limit for inflation starting in 2026. Any taxable balance of an approved ASLRP award (i.e., the remaining $750 of a $6000 ASLRP award) will be included in the attorney's gross income and subjected to taxes and withholdings before the remaining balance is issued to the loan holder. Non-taxable and taxable student loan payments will be processed as two separate payments.
The Department of Justice is required to report the amount of any loan repayment made under this program, as well as any FICA-related taxes or income taxes that have been withheld, on a Form W-2. Tax withholdings may not be amortized or assessed at a date later than when the loan repayment is made. The amount the Department awards an attorney is the pre-tax amount.
4. In future years, the Department may review and adjust the maximum annual ASLRP payment amount, which may range from $0 to the authorized statutory maximum, if budgetary considerations warrant such a review. The Department also periodically reviews the "matching funds" threshold. See Appendices D (Impact on Initial Requests) and E (Impact on Renewal Requests) for further information.
5. Payments made by the Department on behalf of approved beneficiaries will not exceed the total qualifying federal loan balance.
6. The Department will distribute ASLRP incentive payments once annually (generally in June/July for renewal of existing benefits and in August/September for new beneficiaries). Payments for new beneficiaries who have not entered on duty (EOD) at the time the general payments are issued must be made between the date they become official DOJ employees and December 31st. If an incoming ASLRP beneficiary delays his or her EOD (or a renewing attorney defers payment) beyond the pay period where a payment can be issued prior to December 31st, he or she may forfeit a portion of the renewal award that could have been issued during the next calendar year due to the statutory maximum payment per calendar year, which is capped at $10,000.
7. The Department issues payments directly to educational or lending institutions in the order designated by the attorney in the request forms. ASLRP awards may not be issued directly to the attorney. The attorney remains responsible for any remaining loan payments or balances. The Department is not responsible for late fees assessed by the educational or lending institution.
8. Attorneys remain liable for their loan debts.
F. Procedures to Request Consideration for the ASLRP
An attorney who wishes to be considered for the Department's Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program incentive must take the following steps: (Current recipients seeking renewal payments should follow guidance in paragraph G, "Renewal of Benefits for Current ASLRP Incentive Recipients.")
1. Complete the online Eligibility Worksheet to determine whether minimum qualifications are met.
2. Complete the Initial Request for Consideration form (links are available on the ASLRP main page under How to Apply & Forms).
3. Attach all required documentation to the Request for Consideration (e.g., loan data, statements from lenders, Service Agreements, justifications, etc.). Handwritten, inaccurate, or incomplete submissions will not be considered. Applicants must provide accurate and complete contact information regarding each loan holder and must prioritize the loans in order of desired repayment.
4. Submit the request package no later than the deadline set by the Program Administration Panel. (Key dates will be posted on the OARM web page at www.usdoj.gov/oarm/aslrp/keydates.htm.)
G. Renewal of Benefits for Current ASLRP Recipients
Renewal requests during the second and third year of an existing service obligation are not subject to the $10,000 minimum qualifying loan balance that applies to initial requests for consideration.
1. Renewal in the Second or Third Year of a Three-Year Service Obligation.
a. Once an attorney is approved for ASLRP benefits, there is a rebuttable presumption that the attorney will continue to receive funding during the second and third years of the three-year service agreement subject to continued eligibility and availability of funds as determined solely in the discretion of the Department.
b. Continued receipt of ASLRP benefits during an existing service obligation (e.g., the second and third years of a three-year service obligation) will not trigger an extension of the service agreement.
c. Renewal in the ASLRP is not automatic. Attorneys must submit a "Renewal Request" annually while serving an existing service obligation (e.g., years 2 and 3 of the initial Service Agreement). The renewal request is used to establish continuing eligibility, verify distribution of prior payments to qualifying federal student loans, and determine the payment amount for that fiscal year (e.g., cannot exceed the qualifying loan balance).
d. Renewal request forms are different from initial requests for consideration. Links to renewal forms are posted on a link from How to Apply & Forms from the ASLRP main webpage.
2. Renewal Beyond the Expiration of A Service Obligation.
a. Upon the expiration of a prior service obligation (e.g., FY 2024 ASLRP for attorneys initially selected in FY 2021), renewing participants have two options.
Option 1: The attorney may recompete for selection for the ASLRP with all new requesters and, if selected, would enter into a new three-year service obligation. There is no guarantee of further selection for the ASLRP. These attorneys should submit the same "Initial Request" as new requesters.
Option 2: The attorney may opt out of further ASLRP participation and, upon the expiration of an existing service agreement, have no further obligation to the Department.
b. The Department reserves the right to permit the Program Administration Panel and the attorney to mutually agree to modify an existing service agreement, subject to the limitations at 5 C.F.R. § 537.106(c)(2), to provide additional student loan repayment benefits for additional service (i.e., execute an extension to the original 3-year service agreement) without the need for a new service agreement (which would require a new 3-year minimum service period). However, the Panel will determine whether this option will be offered to specific year groups on an annual basis; it may not be individually requested.
H. Lateral Moves Within the Department
Moving from one position to another within the Department after selection for the ASLRP does not affect renewal eligibility during an existing service obligation.
I. Reimbursing the Department / Waiver of Indebtedness
1. An attorney is indebted to the Department of Justice for all student loan repayments received (the total gross amount before taxes and withholdings) under the Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program, and must reimburse the Department if he or she:
is separated from the Department involuntarily on account of misconduct or performance;
leaves the Department voluntarily before completing the service obligation period (including extensions, if applicable). This includes departures based on retirement or to enter service in another Federal agency.
2. Amounts owed to the Department due to an employee's failure to complete the terms of a service agreement will be recovered pursuant to DOJ Order 2120.3C, "Collection of Debts by the Department of Justice."
3. The Department may waive, in whole or in part, recovery of the loan repayment amount if it is determined to be against equity and good conscience or contrary to the public interest.
a. Attorneys must submit a written request for waiver of indebtedness, along with the bill generated by the National Finance Center, through OARM to the Program Administration Panel, for appropriate review and recommendations. OARM will return the attorney's submissions and Panel recommendations to the attorney's component for additional review and submission to the JMD Finance Staff or Bureau Head (as appropriate) for action.
b. The waiver request should contain a copy of the Service Agreement, the bill prepared by JMD or other appropriate payroll office to the current or former employee or verification of the exact amount of debt where a bill has not been generated, and a narrative explaining why recovery by the Department would be against equity and good conscience or against the public interest.
J. Relationship to Other Recruitment/Retention Incentives
The Department may pay a student loan repayment incentive in addition to a retention incentive/allowance, or recruitment and/or relocation bonus. The period of service required by a Recruitment Bonus Service Agreement or a Relocation Bonus Service Agreement is exclusive from the period of service required under a Student Loan Repayment Service Agreement. However, the specified period of service in a Student Loan Repayment Service Agreement may run concurrently with other service agreements.
K. Responsibilities of Attorneys Selected for the ASLRP
1. Attorneys who are notified of selection for the program and the funding level who then decide not to participate must submit written notice of withdrawal from the program to the Program Administrators prior to payment being processed in order to permit reallocation of funds. Failure to timely decline the payment or withdraw will result in the processing of the loan repayment, and may result in an obligation being established which the attorney would then be liable to repay in the event of voluntary departure or dismissal for cause.
2. Attorneys who accept participation in the ASLRP are responsible for reading the policy in its entirety.
3. Attorneys notified of selection for the ASLRP who wish clarification of any policy provisions must contact OARM to resolve any questions prior to acceptance.
4. Attorneys must notify the Office of Adjudication, Recruitment, and Management (OARM) of:
- changes in contact information, especially e-mail addresses;
- plans to voluntarily resign, retire, or separate from the Department before completing the service agreement period.
5. Attorneys must monitor their student loan accounts to ensure that payments issued through the ASLRP are distributed only to qualifying federal student loans.
6. Attorneys should confirm that ASLRP payments are issued on their behalf well prior to December 31st each year a payment is approved. Payment information is reported on employee Earning and Leave Statements during the pay period it is issued. If not issued or not credited to the attorney's loan account by early December, the attorney should immediately contact OARM for assistance so that the payment can be issued prior to December 31st. If action is not timely initiated, and the payment cannot be issued prior to December 31st, the attorney may forfeit a portion of the renewal award that could have been issued during the next calendar year due to the statutory maximum payment per calendar year, which is capped at $10,000.
L. Department Responsibilities
1. The Role of the Deputy Attorney General: The Deputy Attorney General (DAG) retains final approval authority over all aspects of the ASLRP. The DAG or his delegate will:
a. Appoint a panel to establish and to oversee the administration of the ASLRP. Membership on the panel will include the Director, EOUSA (or delegate); the AAG of one of the Department components (or delegate) (rotated every two years); the DAAG (Human Capital, Security, and Administration), JMD (or delegate); the DAAG (Office of the Controller), JMD (or delegate), the Director, OARM (or delegate); and other individuals as appointed by the Deputy Attorney General.
b. Ensure appropriate agency determinations are made pursuant to 5 CFR § 537.105.
The Role of the Associate Attorney General
The Associate Attorney General chairs the Program Administration Panel.
3. The Role of the Program Administration Panel. The Program Administration Panel (Panel) is responsible for program oversight. The Panel's responsibilities include but are not limited to:
a. Initially establishing, then annually updating Appendix A (Component-Specific Criteria), and publishing recruitment and retention criteria for eligibility in the ASLRP.
b. Reviewing and making final decisions on all requests for consideration for the ASLRP, including appropriate regulatory determinations (5 CFR § 537.105).
c. As appropriate, making determinations, pursuant to 5 CFR § 537.105, that in the absence of offering student loan repayment benefits, the Department would encounter difficulty in filling the positions held by attorneys selected for the ASLRP with highly qualified employees or in retaining highly qualified employees in such positions.
d. As appropriate, making determinations, pursuant to 5 CFR § 537.105, that the high or unique qualifications of employees in positions identified in Appendix A and/or the special needs of the Department for the services of such employees make it essential to retain those employees and that, in the absence of offering student loan repayment benefits, such individuals would be likely to leave for employment outside the federal service.
e. Adjudicating requests for exceptions from applicants who are assigned to qualifying posts or positions with an expected arrival date after the end of the fiscal year
f. Determining if it is against equity and good conscience or contrary to the public interest to require a Department employee to repay some or all of the amount the Department has repaid on the employee's student loan when requests for waiver of repayment obligations are made.
g. Ensuring that a complete copy of the application, endorsements, and the completed service agreement is filed in each approved employee's Official Personnel File.
h. Making routine policy decisions affecting administration of the program.
i. Coordinating all efforts to support automation of the program.
4. The Role of the Office of Adjudication, Recruitment, and Management (OARM)
OARM is responsible for administration of the Program subject to the oversight of the Program Administration Panel.
5. The Role of Justice Management Division (JMD) or Designated Executive / Administrative Offices
a. JMD or other designated executive/administrative offices will process all approved requests to obligate funds on a timely basis but not later than September 30. JMD or other designated executive/administrative offices will forward all approved requests to the National Finance Center (or other appropriate finance center) for payment using Form AD-343, Payroll Action Request (or equivalent), pursuant to the procedures specified in the JMD/HRSAG Systems Notice #2001-13 (or equivalent). The FBI will process repayments pursuant to its own internal procedure until realigned under the National Finance Center.
b. JMD (or other appropriate personnel office) will file a copy of the service agreement for each participant in the individual's official personnel file.
c. JMD (or other appropriate office) will manage processing of the repayment amounts by electronic funds transfer, whenever possible, or by check by a date to be established by the Program Administration Panel, but not later than September 30 for current DOJ employees and not later than December 31st for incoming hires, and will provide the Program Administration Panel and the appropriate personnel or human resources offices with a report indicating the date payments were made to the lenders of each qualified employee. At this time, all loan repayments are subject to tax and FICA/Medicare withholdings. Payments made by payroll offices to the respective lenders will reflect the net amount of the incentive payment with appropriate deductions withheld for taxes and FICA/Medicare. The gross amount of the lump sum repayment will be reported as taxable income on the W2.
d. In the event that an attorney has to repay student loan incentive payments already paid on their behalf, JMD will ensure that the appropriate offices send a memorandum to the servicing personnel office (or other appropriate office) requesting that the employee be billed for the indebtedness. The memorandum will contain the employee's name, Social Security Number, total amount of the indebtedness, period covered by the indebtedness and reason for the indebtedness. The servicing personnel office will then prepare a letter of indebtedness and mail it to the employee. The report generated by JMD (or other appropriate office) (subparagraph 1, above) will allow the appropriate Personnel or Human Resources Office to record the date of the payment on the employee's service agreement, thus triggering the effective date of the agreement and establishing when repayment will be required should an employee in the program leave the Department before expiration of the service agreement.
6. The Role of Heads of Offices, Boards, Bureaus, and Divisions
a. Determine whether any employee being recommended for separation based on performance is a participant in the ASLRP in order to determine whether repayment of the ASLRP payments is required.
b. Assist the Program Administration Panel evaluate high or unique qualifications relevant to DOJ employment or special needs of the Department by identifying specific component-desired qualifications, skills, or abilities (or any posts or positions that are difficult to fill with highly qualified employees) and submitting them to the Program Administration Panel for approval and inclusion in Appendix A. (See Appendix B for recruitment or retention difficulty factors). Component-identified criteria may include, but are not limited to: professional qualifications, admission to specialty bars, undergraduate or advanced degrees in fields relevant to the component's practice, foreign language proficiency, assignment to hard-to-fill geographic locations, judicial clerkship experience (if relevant to the component's practice), and skills that contribute directly to the accomplishment of the Department's Strategic Goals.
c. Review requests for consideration and provide comments or recommendations, as desired. Comments may address whether the applicant possesses high or unique qualifications, or the component has special needs that make it essential to retain the employee, and whether, in the absence of student loan repayment incentives, the employee is likely to leave Federal service. If the attorney is requesting consideration for ASLRP as a retention incentive (as opposed to a recruitment incentive), these comments may include a description of the extent to which the employee's departure would affect the agency's ability to carry out an activity or perform a function deemed essential to the agency's mission. Components will forward all requests for consideration through OARM to the Program Administration Panel for action (approval or disapproval).
d. Each Component (or EOUSA for U.S. Attorney's Offices) will prepare an annual report to be submitted to the AAG, Administration, no later than the deadline established by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), covering the preceding FY. The report will include:
o Amount repaid during the FY (before withholding)
o Amounts to be repaid in future FYs, subject to availability of funds (before withholding). (Projected based on length of current service agreement).
o Employee's position title, job series, pay plan, grade, and geographical area (city and state); and
o Length of the service agreement (including start date and end date).
7. The Role of Component Executive Officers (or equivalent) and HR Specialists
· Providing routine information or directing employees to OARM for non-routine information,
· Validating that employees requesting consideration have not been the subject of performance or disciplinary actions that would make them ineligible,
· Processing requests for consideration submitted by applicants,
· Serving as liaison when necessary, at the request of OARM on behalf of the Program Administrative Panel, and
· Maintaining a file of the names of those employees in the component who are ASLRP recipients, a copy of the service agreement, and recording the date of the payment approval on the employee's service agreement, thus triggering the effective date of the agreement and determining when repayment will be required should an employee in the program leave the Department before expiration of the service agreement.
APPENDIX A 5 CFR § 537.105 requires a determination that DOJ attorneys receiving student loan repayment incentives be identified as highly or uniquely qualified, or meet a special department need. Any DOJ employee assigned to an attorney position may request consideration for the ASLRP by submitting a justification packet sufficient for the Department to find that the attorney is assigned to a mission critical position and is highly or uniquely qualified or meets a special Department need (see Initial Request for Consideration form and Justification Form on the ASLRP main page). The factors listed in items 2-10 below are discretionary but may be helpful guidelines. ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEYS – Please note -EOUSA is your ASLRP contact for information and assistance. Please follow EOUSA guidance relating to submission of initial requests for consideration. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| # | APPLICABILITY | FACTORS | Associated Factors of Recruitment/Retention Difficulty (Appendix B) |
| 1 | ALL BUREAUS, DISTRICTS, OFFICES, BOARDS, and DIVISIONS | Applicants must demonstrate assignment to a mission critical position. | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| 2 | Any applicant |
| 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 |
| 3 | Any applicant |
| 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 |
| 4 | Any applicant |
| 1, 2, 3, 5 |
| 5 | Any applicant |
| 3, 5, 6 |
| 6 | Any applicant |
| 1, 2, 3, 5 |
| 7 | Any applicant |
| 4 |
| 8 | Any applicant |
| 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 |
| 9 | Any applicant |
| 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 |
| 10 | Any applicant |
| 1, 2, 3, 5 |
APPENDIX B
FACTORS OF RECRUITMENT OR RETENTION DIFFICULTY
Listed below are common factors of recruitment or retention difficulty. In crafting a justification to support ASLRP funding, attorneys may use common factors appropriate to their situation or may articulate other relevant factors not listed below.
1. The lack of success of recent efforts to recruit or retain qualified candidates for such positions (including indicators such as offer/acceptance rates, the proportion of such positions filled, and the length of time required to fill similar positions).
2. Recent high turnover in such positions.
3. Labor market factors that negatively affect the ability of the U.S. Department of Justice to recruit or retain highly qualified internal or external candidates for such positions, now or in the future (may include such factors as salary ranges, or comparable positions, scarcity of skills, emerging technology, etc.). For entry-level attorneys, this may include the need to recruit candidates with unique skills, abilities, training, background, knowledge, or an exceptionally high degree of demonstrated potential based on objective academic achievements.
4. Lack of attractiveness of the position or location due to the nature of the work required, remoteness, cost of living, quality of public schools, levels of crime or harassment, conditions of housing, access to medical and hospital facilities, support services for special needs dependents, community amenities, etc.
5. The lack of availability in the labor market of candidates for employment who, with minimal training or disruption of services to the public, could perform the full range of duties and responsibilities assigned to the positions.
6. The number of employees in comparable positions who are likely to retire within the next five years would result in shortages in critical skills if employees who are further from possible retirement were not retained.
APPENDIX C
GUIDELINES FOR REQUESTING CONSIDERATION (New Requesters)
Attorneys requesting approval of ASLRP incentive payments must submit a Request for Consideration and justification along with other appropriate documentation (e.g., proof of qualifying student loans, signed service agreement) through their component to the Program Administration Panel for action. The submission deadlines are listed under “Key Dates.” The Request for Consideration and Justification forms are form-fillable and accessible on the ASLRP main page under “How to Apply & Forms.” Handwritten responses are not acceptable, but if you need an accommodation, please contact OARM, Attention: Deana Willis or Liliana Daniel, for assistance.
Any DOJ employee (or incoming hire) assigned to an attorney position may request consideration for the ASLRP by submitting a justification that is sufficient for the Department to determine that they are assigned to a mission critical/exempt position and are highly or uniquely qualified or meet a special Department need. The justification form provides instructions and guidance relating to the information that attorneys must address in order for the Department to make the appropriate regulatory determinations. In crafting their justification, attorneys may, at their discretion, incorporate factors provided as guidelines in Appendix A (if applicable), but are not required to do so. Appendix B lists common factors of recruitment or retention difficulty: attorneys may use any of those factors that are appropriate to their situation, but also may also articulate other relevant factors not listed.
All justifications must establish at least one of the following:
- The basis for a determination of high or unique qualifications, or
- The special need of the Department for the attorney's services.
Further, if the attorney is already on duty with the Department, the justification also must include a written description of the extent to which the attorney’s departure would affect the Department’s ability to carry out an activity or perform a function that is deemed essential to its mission.
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