§ 4–1701.01. Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, the term:

(1) “Adequate notice” means written notice of termination from eligible employment provided within 15 days of termination and separate written confirmation by the provider of eligible employment.

(2) Repealed.

(3) “Administrator” means the entity designated to administer the LRAP, established pursuant to § 4-1704.01.

(4) “Applicant” means an individual who applies for assistance from the LRAP.

(4A) "Association or society of attorneys or counsellors at law" means any such organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, which offers professional referrals as an incidental service in the normal course of business, but which business does not include the providing of legal services.

(5) “ATJ” means the Access to Justice Grant Funding for Civil Legal Services.

(6) “Bar Foundation” means the District of Columbia Bar Foundation.

(7) “Deputy Mayor” means the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice or the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice, as the context requires.

(8) “Eligible debt” means outstanding principal, interest, and related expenses from loans obtained for reasonable educational expenses made by government and commercial lending institutions or educational institutions, but does not include loans extended by a private individual or group of individuals, including families.

(9) “Eligible employment” means those areas of legal practice certified by the Administrator to serve the public interest, including employment with legal organizations that qualify for District of Columbia Bar Foundation funding, but does not include employment with the District of Columbia government or federal government or with or as the Administrator; and

(A) Working not less than 35 hours per week where such hours are fully devoted to eligible employment, hereinafter “full-time employment”; or

(B) Working not less than 17 hours per week where such hours are fully devoted to eligible employment, hereinafter “part-time employment.”

(10) “Full-time employment” means not less than 35 hours of work per week.

(11) “Initiative” means the Access to Justice Initiative established pursuant to § 4-1702.01.

(12) “Involuntary termination” means termination for budgetary or inadequate funding reasons, as confirmed, in writing, by the eligible employer.

(13) “Lawyer” means a graduate of an accredited law school who is:

(A) Licensed to practice in the District of Columbia;

(B) Authorized under the provisions of Rule 49(c)(9) of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals to practice law before that court; or

(C) A member in good standing of the highest court of any state who has submitted an application for admission to the District of Columbia Bar.

(14) “LRAP” means the District of Columbia Poverty Lawyer Loan Repayment Assistance Program.

(15) “Participant” means an eligible lawyer whose application to the LRAP has been approved.

(16) “Reasonable educational expenses” means the cost of tuition as well as the costs of education considered to be required by the school’s degree program, such as fees for housing, transportation and commuting costs, books, supplies, and educational equipment and materials that are part of the estimated student budget of the school in which the participant was enrolled.

(17) “Service obligation” means the period of eligible employment necessary to sustain participation in the LRAP, which shall not be less than 45 weeks within the 12-month period for which the participant applied for assistance.