Financial Aid Tool Kit for Pre-Law Advisors

 

The Pre-law Advisors National Council (PLANC) thanks the Access Group and

 the PLANC Financial Aid Toolkit Committee for their work in developing the toolkit.

 

Pre-Law Advisors from non-profit educational institutions

 are granted permission to use this product.

 

Q:  What does a Pre-Law Advisor need to know about Financial Aid?

 

A:  Paying for law school is one of the most important issues facing law school applicants.  Whatever your role as pre-law advisor — faculty advisor, career services professional, or academic advisor — you can help advisees prepare to pay for their legal education.

 

You do not need to be a financial aid professional to do this well.  As a pre-law advisor, you can help advisees plan for this critical piece of their education by:

 

  • Asking the right questions and offering proven resources to your students and alumni;

 

  • Partnering with others who are financial aid experts;

 

  • Participating in professional development programs offered through the regional APLA’s (Pre-law Advisor Associations).

 

Q:  What is the Financial Aid Toolkit for Pre-law Advisors?

 

A:  Experienced pre-law advisors, in consultation with financial aid experts, have collaborated to develop handouts, timelines, and a list of proven financial aid resources.  The Pre-law Advisor National Council (PLANC) is making these “tools” available online for pre-law advisors. 

All pre-law advisors from nonprofit educational institutions have granted permission to use these resources.

 

Tool Kit Contents

 

RESOURCES FOR THE PRE-LAW ADVISOR:

 

Tips for Pre-Law Advisors:  Financial Aid for Law School

This document contains suggestions for incorporating financial aid questions and information into a pre-law advising program, with suggestions on when to ask key questions and provide financial aid information to students and alumni who are considering law school.

 

Law School Admission Council (LSAC) Resources

 

Law School Resources for Pre-law Advisors

 

Professional Development for Pre-law Advisors

 

Proven Web Resources for Pre-law Advisors

 

Coming Soon:  Financial Aid for Law School FAQ’s

 

RESOURCES FOR PRE-LAW STUDENTS AND ALUMNI:

 

Application Year Timeline

This handout can be posted on a pre-law website and/or offered in a print format.  It provides a list of to-do’s to keep them on track in attaining funds for their legal education.  The timeline begins the summer one year prior to law school matriculation.

 

Paying for Law School

This handout can be posted on a pre-law website and/or offered in a print format.  You might consider using this handout as a starting point and adding or revising questions to address concerns specific to your students and alumni.

 

Tips for Alumni Law Applicants

This handout is a tip sheet specifically for alumni applicants.  A majority (approximately two-thirds) of law school applicants are college graduates, no longer attending their undergraduate institutions.  Alumni applicants have more specific questions about how to finance their legal education, and, sometimes, they have unrealistic expectations about the levels of grants and scholarships available to them.