So you are considering becoming a lawyer but are unsure if you can afford the cost of law school. Chances are you already have student loans from obtaining your bachelors degree and another three years of school; cough..debt sounds unappetizing. Not to worry financial aid in the form of school grants and scholarships are available to aspiring law students. In some cases grants and scholarships will cover the cost of tuition and living expenses in full. Generally speaking most school grants only cover a portion of your law school tuition. Consequently it might be necessary to obtain several grants and or scholarships to cover the cost of tuition.
Students pursuing a law degree can expect to spend 3 years and tuition alone can cost as much as $30,000 a year. Tuitions can range from as little as $5,800 for in-state tuition at the University of Georgia School of Law, to $29,500 at Harvard Law School. Additionally students are discouraged from working, particularly during the first year. Furthermore, unlike undergraduate education and graduate programs, grants and scholarships for Law degrees are fewer in number.
So how does one find a grant or scholarship to cover tuition costs when attending law school?
The first place to look for school grants and scholarships is the law school itself. Often the office of financial aid will have information on grants available and how to apply for them. Next, investigate programs for grants and scholarships offered through professional law associations and organizations. Female students and those of minority groups may be able to find additional grants specifically targeting that demographic which other students may not be applicable for. The Washington College of Law offers a grant for students pursuing Doctor of Law. Additionally, the Columbia School of Law, one of the nation’s top law schools, provides qualified candidates with gift monies and grants. Specifically the Columbia School of Law targets full-time students who show financial need. Furthermore, databases on law school scholarships available in a specific city or state can be found by searching the local library.
Private sources of financial aid are also available to individuals seeking a law degree. The primary source of grants and scholarships is the American Bar Association. The American Bar Association provides grants and scholarships in support and to advance the legal profession by assisting students with economic need. Law school scholarships offer a valuable way for prospective students to pay for law school tuition. Most are privately-funded and based on merit (grades, test scores and previous achievements). Admittedly competition is fierce for most for law school scholarships. However, most first-year law school students have some portion of their tuition paid for through these means. For example: The University of California, Berkeley offers 12 scholarships each year. Notre Dame provides 44 different grants, scholarships and fellowships each year.
Law school federal financial aid is the final option for students unable to obtain grants, scholarships, or loans. The maximum Federal loan for graduate students is $18,500 per year. Returning students who are attending law school can use a 401(k) account or tap into a home equity line of credit (HELOC) for funding. Many banks will extend credit from a second mortgage that can be used to fund a law school education, which may be cheaper vs. a high-interest loan.
List of Law School Grants
- The American Bar Association http://www.abanet.org offers a variety of law school grants and sponsorships for those interested in advancing their legal profession.
- Access Group http://www.accessgroup.org
- Federal Perkins: low-interest loans awarded by law schools based on need.
- TERI Professional Education Program (PEP) http://www.teri.org/pep.htm
- Food and Drug Law Institute Scholarships http://www.fdli.org
- Nellie Mae LOAN LINK http://www.nelliemae.com
- Financial Aid from the U.S. Department of Education
- Law Schools Admission Council Research Grants: Varied amounts awarded to law students working on legal education research.
- Key Education Resources http://www.key.com/education
- Elaine Osborne Jacobsen Award for Women Working in Health Care Law — $3000 awarded each year to female law undergraduate or graduate student serving as health care advocate.
- Sallie Mae http://www.salliemae.com : this organization provides secondary market loans in addition to private loan programs such as LAWLOANS
List of Law School Scholarships
- Alliance Defense Fund
- Warner Norcross and Judd LLP Scholarship for Minority Students
- Earl Warren Legal Training General Scholarship
- Puerto Rican Bar Association Scholarship Award
- Foley & Lardner Minority Scholarship Program
- National Federation of Paralegal Associates, Inc. West Scholarship
- Law Student Essay Competition
- NBLS Nelson Mandela Scholarship
- Shearman and Sterling Scholarship Program
- William S. Bullinger Scholarship
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