Tips for Pre-Law Advisors:
Financial Aid for Law School
Pre-law advisors are not financial aid experts, but they can provide useful information to their students and alumni about financial aid topics. By providing the right information and asking the right questions, pre-law advisors can help their advisees achieve their dream of a legal education, as well as achieve a better financial outcome after law school.
General Suggestions
- Incorporate financial aid advice in basic pre-law handouts, e-mail messages, and listserv announcements.
- Post financial aid resources on your pre-law Web site.
- Consider hosting a “Financing Law School” workshop:
- Invite experts from a law school, representatives from your financial aid office, and other financial experts to provide information to your advisees.
- Attend Financial Aid for Law School workshops at annual APLA conference and meetings or at the quadrennial PLANC conference. Information on these workshops is available at:
Freshman and Transfer Orientation Programs
Many pre-law advisors participate in orientation programs for new students and their families. These programs provide an excellent opportunity to introduce the concept of law school as a major investment in a student’s future. As you discuss career opportunities in the law, you can also provide examples of law school-related costs and average salaries of graduates entering the legal field. If possible, provide information on the different components of financial aid and the importance of good credit in obtaining private loans for law school. It is never too early to think about paying for law school!
1st and 2nd Year of College
- Introduce students to financial aid issues during pre-law activities and events.
- When hosting pre-law events featuring practicing lawyers, ask these professionals to talk about their experiences with financial aid, repaying their law school debt, and the impact of their debt on their legal careers.
- Help students develop a realistic understanding of legal career opportunities and the salary levels in different fields of law, both public and private.
Junior Year
During junior year meetings and events, alert students to financial aid issues in the law school application process:
- The cost of law school
- The importance of maintaining good credit and minimizing consumer debt
- The role of grades and test scores in securing merit scholarships
- How to seek lower-cost options in choosing law schools (state-supported schools, grants/scholarships, and loan repayment assistance programs)
- National and regional data on salaries for recent law graduates
- Suggest that students obtain a free credit report from www.annualcreditreport.com
Senior Year
- During senior year meetings and events, continue to alert students to financial aid issues in the law school application process:
- The cost of law school
- The importance of maintaining good credit and minimizing consumer debt
- The role of grades and test scores in securing merit scholarships
- How to seek lower-cost options in choosing law schools (state-supported schools, grants/scholarships, and loan repayment assistance programs)
- National and regional data on salaries for recent law graduates
- Suggest a timeline for applying for financial aid.
- During senior pre-law appointments and walk-ins, help students consider costs and future debt as they select law schools.
- Schedule a “Financial Aid for Law School” workshop.