Financing Law School
Intro
Pre-law students should review their own finances, examine the expenses associated with obtaining a law degree, and consider the resources available to pay for their legal education. Students need to research their financial aid options and establish a budget early so that they will be able to afford to go to law school. See Checklist for Juniors/Seniors for when to begin your research.
Most law students finance their legal education through loans, work-study, scholarships, and grants. To be eligible for these types of financial assistance, students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Since financial aid rules and regulations are constantly changing, students must research current financial aid options. Each law school to which you apply calculates a financial package for you. Most government and private loans are based on the law school's estimate of your financial need (tuition, books and supplies, room and board, personal expenses, and transportation) and the overall cost of attending their school. So, your financial aid package (awards and need) can vary from school to school.
When researching financial aid, in addition to financial aid information on the web, you may want to contact the financial aid office of the law school to which you are thinking of applying. The Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) site links to various law school websites. Individual schools can give you insight and information about how their students typically pay for their legal education.
The cost of a legal education
Currently, law school graduates can pay more than $140,000 for their education. Law school tuition ranges from a few thousand to more than $30,000 per year. Add living costs to tuition and your total expenses greatly increase. You can see why it's a good idea to determine a budget before you enter law school.