Is it worth it to go into debt for law school?

Asked by: Dewayne Gerhold  |  Last update: June 30, 2022
Score: 4.6/5 (34 votes)

According to a Gallup poll of over 4,000 adults who obtained a law degree between 2000 and 2015, only 23% said obtaining a law degree was worth the cost. 1 With the average law school debt coming in around $145,500, according to the most recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Is becoming a lawyer worth it financially?

If you choose to work for a law firm or corporation, your earning potential is significantly higher than if you went into public service. The median salary for first-year law firm associates was $165,000 in 2021.

Do lawyers pay off their debt?

EducationData.org shows that the average lawyer with a public sector job needs 26 years to pay off law school debt if they pay 20% of their income. However, the average law student takes 20 years to pay off their loan, and there are even cases where repayment of these loans takes more than 45 years.

How hard is it to pay off law school debt?

According to EducationData.org, the average lawyer working in the public sector will take 26 years to pay off their law school debt if they use 20% of their income. The average student borrower takes 20 years to pay off their student loans, with some taking 45 years or longer to become debt-free.

Is it possible to go to law school with no debt?

But I am here to tell you that it is not only possible—but entirely attainable—to graduate law school without any (or with only minimal) student loan debt. To start, you need to know a few things about me to understand how and why I made it to my last year of law school without any student loan debt.

Should I Take Out a Student Loan for Law School?

39 related questions found

Why is it not worth being a lawyer?

A sometimes stressful work environment

When it's all said and done, a lawyer may end up spending 50 hours or more at the office each week. “Lawyers often have demanding schedules and heavy workloads, which may contribute to increased stress levels,” says the ABA.

How do people afford law school without loans?

How to Pay for Law School
  1. Earn scholarships and grants. You don't have to repay scholarships and grants, making them the best option to pay for law school — if you qualify. ...
  2. Work part-time. Law students can earn federal work-study funds by working part time. ...
  3. Use military financial aid. ...
  4. Take out student loans.

Is law school worth 200k in debt?

The majority of law school graduates (over three quarters) feel that their degree was not worth the cost. The average law school graduate debt is $145,500, while their starting salary comes in much less.

Is it smart to take out loans for law school?

If you need a law school student loan, federal loans are a safer choice than private options. Private loans may cost less if you have good credit, but federal programs like income-driven repayment protect you if you want to work in the public sector or don't land a high-paying job.

What is the highest paid lawyer?

Highest paid lawyers: salary by practice area
  • Tax attorney (tax law): $122,000.
  • Corporate lawyer: $115,000.
  • Employment lawyer: $87,000.
  • Real Estate attorney: $86,000.
  • Divorce attorney: $84,000.
  • Immigration attorney: $84,000.
  • Estate attorney: $83,000.
  • Public Defender: $63,000.

How much debt is the average law student in?

The average law student graduates with $160,000 in student loan debt, according to EducationData.org. Additionally, many new lawyers end up with lower annual incomes than their total loan balances, which can make it difficult to repay the debt.

What's the average GPA for law school?

All of the top-10 law schools had median GPAs of 3.7 or higher. Seven of these 10 schools had a median GPA that was at least a 3.8, and among those three had a median GPA that was a 3.9 or above.

How does law school debt work?

While student loans generally don't require payments until graduation, interest on those loans begins to accrue immediately. Some indebted students use 75% of their discretionary income to pay back student loans. 57% of students work while attending law school to pay tuition, fees, and debts.

Is a top 50 law school worth it?

The employment stats for law schools beyond the top 50 are kind of embarrassing. It's not surprising that law grads from top-50 schools have better job prospects than graduates from less prestigious law schools.

Is law school harder than med school?

In short, medical school is hands-on and requires a lot of memorization. Law school requires analytical work and critical thinking. Law school requires heavy reading and writing while medical school requires learning about problems through clinical studies and hands-on training.

Is law school worth it if you don't want to be a lawyer?

It's true: you can go to law school even if you don't want to be a lawyer. A JD can turbocharge your career prospects and teach you incredibly versatile and in-demand skills.

Is a career in law worth it?

The highest 10% of lawyers earned median annual earnings of more than $208,000 in 2019. Some law school graduates forgo serving as a lawyer in order to have more work-life balance. There are many jobs you can do with a law degree and legal-related roles where having a J.D. may be an asset.

Does fafsa give money law school?

If you plan on attending law school on or after July 1, you can apply for federal financial aid through the FAFSA form after January 1 of the same calendar year. Your financial need is the difference between your resources and the total cost of attendance.

How can I pay for living in law school?

Yes, you can use student loans for living expenses. You can borrow up to the school's cost of attendance, which includes tuition, fees, books and other law school expenses, as well as the estimated cost of housing, food, transportation and other living expenses.

Is T14 law school worth?

While the employment outcome at a T14 law school is remarkably excellent, evidence suggests that you don't need to attend a top 14 law school to be successful in the field of law. In fact, many excellent schools outside the T14 have employment outcomes that are equally good to those in the T14.

How much debt do law school graduates have?

Key statistics: Law school student loan debt

According to the American Bar Association: The average law school graduate owes approximately $165,000 in educational debt upon graduating. More than 95 percent of students take out loans to attend law school.

Can parents pay for law school?

Parents typically have no moral duty to pay for a legal education. When people attend law school, they are grown adults, and there is no reason for parents to continue providing support to their children at that point.

How can I get law school cheaper?

Other factors to consider:
  1. Outside scholarships: There may be outside organizations that offer scholarships for students in law school. ...
  2. Student payment plans: Some schools offer payment plans to support students. ...
  3. Internships: Another way to offset law school costs is to seek out paid internship opportunities.

Is law degree overrated?

Yes they are overrated in that the vast majority of law schools are not what they depict themselves as, or what the average person thinks of when they hear the words “law school.” Schools outside the top 50 (and even some within the top 50) cannot guarantee their graduates jobs that are going to help to pay-off the ...

How do you know if becoming a lawyer is right for you?

  • You work well with others. That's right—being a lawyer means working with people! ...
  • You can persuade others. The ability to persuade=the practice of law. ...
  • You are independent and self-disciplined. ...
  • You can endure the grind. ...
  • You don't take things at face value. ...
  • You must be able to network.