Will student loans pay for law school?
Asked by: Paul Rutherford | Last update: September 19, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (9 votes)
Today, a large majority of law school students rely on education loans as their primary, but not exclusive, source of financial aid for law school. You are eligible to receive financial aid, if needed, in an amount not to exceed the COA established by the law school you attend for the academic year.
Will student loans cover law school?
Law students may borrow up to a total of $20,500 in the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan program each academic year from the US Department of Education. Interest starts accruing as “simple” interest (it is not compounding while you are in school) once the loan is disbursed.
How do most students pay for law school?
The primary funding options are Scholarships and grants—the “free” money this is either funded by your law school or funded by private organizations, civic groups, etc.; Loans which can be federal loans or private/alternative/institutional loans.
Is it worth going into debt for law school?
Many law school students borrow heavily to cover high tuition and other education costs. For some, the cost may be worth it, though it depends on the school and the career pursued after. Potential post-law school earnings vary widely by specialty, firm size, location, and other factors.
How to not pay for law school?
The best way to attend law school with no money is to apply for scholarships or make yourself a prime candidate to be offered scholarships. Low-ranking schools tend to give out higher-value scholarships more frequently.
What Everyone's Getting Wrong About Student Loans
How do lawyers pay off student loans?
Department of Justice Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) offers one of the most generous loan assistance programs for new lawyers. For each year that you work for the DOJ, you can earn up to $6,000 in loan assistance, with a lifetime maximum of $60,000.
How to pay for law school if you're poor?
You can borrow up to the remaining cost of attendance at your law school, minus other aid you've received. You can apply for all federal student loans by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
Is law school really expensive?
Average Law School Debt and Costs
The average tuition at private law school was $55,993 in 2023, compared to an average of $30,554 at a public school. 3 This cost does not include rent, food, transportation, and other living expenses.
How do you get fully funded law school?
- Ace the LSAT. To earn a merit-based scholarship, it's helpful to have a sky-high LSAT score. ...
- Strengthen Your Resume. ...
- Submit a Solid Application. ...
- Try Your Hand at Negotiation. ...
- Consider Your Options.
How many lawyers have student loans?
Overall, 85% of the respondents reported borrowing to finance law school or undergraduate education, and 21% borrowed to cover the cost of bar exam preparation. Twenty-seven percent of the surveyed lawyers said their student loan balance is higher than when they graduated.
How do people pay rent during law school?
Many students rely primarily on federal loan programs to finance law school. Total federal aid is available to cover (but not exceed) the law school's student expense budget, which includes tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, and other expenses.
How to avoid law school debt?
Work Through Law School as a Part-Time Student
Attending law school part-time while continuing to work can help students avoid debt, experts say. Roberts, who graduated from a part-time J.D. program at Brooklyn Law School and stayed employed for the duration of her studies, says this approach saved her money.
Will a company pay for law school?
Explore employer sponsorships for your law school program
Some employers may assist with law school costs, as they see it as an investment in promising employees. It might also be used as a recruiting tool to bring in top talent from schools that cost an arm and a leg to attend.
How much is a student loan for law school?
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Law students may currently borrow up to a total of $20,500 in the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan program each academic year from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is law school worth it financially?
Earn More Money Over Your Lifetime
Starting salaries may dissuade you from investing in law school. Nevertheless, research shows that "law degree holders' earnings grow rapidly and peak late in life," suggesting better financial outcomes than forgoing a JD degree.
What LSAT score do I need for a full scholarship?
You can also improve your LSAT scores to increase your odds of getting a scholarship. Students with an LSAT score close to 170 have a great chance of earning a scholarship for law school. Some other ways to increase the odds of getting a scholarship for law school are listed below.
What type of lawyer makes the most money?
Patent Attorney Salary
Patent attorneys are the highest-paid type of lawyers, with an average salary of $185,351, ranging from $119,88 to $285,530. Various factors contribute to a patent attorney's average salary, including experience, firm, location, and subject matter expertise.
How to get a law degree for free?
- Attending Lower-Ranking Law Schools for Higher Scholarships.
- Working for Law Firms with Tuition Reimbursement.
- Applying for Fee Waivers.
- Leverage Every Scholarship and Grant Opportunity.
- Look Into Loan Repayment Assistance Programs.
- Military Service Commitments.
What are Tier 3 law schools?
Tier 3 Law schools are generally all of the other law schools that USNews takes the effort to individually rank. These tend to change year over year quite a bit. The best way to determine an actual list is to look at the USNews rankings for any law school that is ranked better than the bottom mass grouping.
What is the highest degree in law?
Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD)
A Doctor of Juridical Science degree is considered the highest level of a law degree and is designed for professionals who are looking to gain an advanced legal education after earning their JD and LLM.
Who gets paid from student loans?
In most cases, your child's school will give you your loan money by crediting it to your child's school account to pay tuition, fees, room, board, and other authorized charges. If there is money left over, the school will pay it to you.
Can law school loans be forgiven?
Student loan forgiveness and repayment programs can erase some or all of your federal student loan debt for law school and possibly even private student loan debt. Income-driven repayment plans, while not specific to the law field, will cancel your remaining federal student loan debt after 10 to 25 years of repayment.
Do lawyers give loans?
An attorney may be able to offer a loan for reasonable living expenses. However, the loan must comply with multiple California ethics rules. If you are facing significant financial stress, talk to your Los Angeles personal injury attorney about whether a loan under Rule 1.8. 5 may apply to your case.