How to Afford Law School: Scholarships, Loans, Grants, and More

“Follow your dreams,” they said, “you’ll never work a day in your life”—but at what cost? For many aspiring lawyers, the dream of pursuing their passion comes with a staggering six-figure price tag as law school tuition continues to climb. 

The looming financial burden can leave you questioning whether your dream is worth the debt. However, the path to a legal career doesn’t have to include decades of glorified indentured servitude. Scholarships, grants, loans, and even legal apprenticeships offer pathways to fund your education without drowning in debt. 

Law School Scholarships

Scholarships are one method of offsetting your law school costs. They can range from partial to full funding, even covering living expenses. They come in various types.

Merit-Based Scholarships

One of the most straightforward ways to finance your law degree is to achieve an academic scholarship upon acceptance. Law schools generally award scholarships based on applicants’ LSAT scores and undergraduate GPAs, but your overall admissions package can impact your chances.

There’s not much you can do to improve your GPA after graduation, but you can improve your LSAT score through more rigorous study or tutoring. Investing in an LSAT tutor or training program can pay dividends in scholarship awards, even if it means putting off law school for another year. Can’t afford specialized LSAT training? Apply for the LSAT Nerds Scholarship Fund.

It’s important to cast a wide net and research which law schools are more generous with scholarships. Also, research scholarship retention policies. Some schools offer conditional scholarships, which set challenging GPAs or class-standing restrictions. This results in students losing funding. The ABA’s Standard 509 requires law schools to publicly disclose the retention rate for conditional scholarships.

Need-Based Scholarships

Need-based scholarships also exist. Need-based scholarships are more limited for law school than undergrad, as no federal grants, such as Pell Grants, exist. Need-based scholarships are typically more school-specific, with institutional grants. Reach out to your target schools to enquire about potential need-based scholarships.

Diversity and Specialty Scholarships and Grants

Several databases compile lists of funding law students are eligible for. Some scholarships require submitting an essay, but others require even less. Some scholarships are tailored toward diverse candidates or for those interested in specific areas, such as:

• Advancing the civil rights of the US Latino community
• Female African Americans committed to careers as prosecutors
• Diverse STEM education students interested in patent law

Grants and Fellowships

Grants and fellowships are also available for law students. Some may be awarded internally through law student organizations, but many exist externally. The ABA lists dozens of opportunities on its website. These can range from grants for coursework to fellowships to offset unpaid internships in the public interest.

Student Loans

Student loans provide a financial fallback for many law students. Barring a full scholarship, there’s a decent chance you’ll need to take out some loans to cover your education and living costs. Federal student loans are preferred, as the government provides several income-based repayment plans and fixed interest rates. Deferment and forbearance options are available if you are unable to afford payments.

Private loans are made by private lenders and are typically more predatory. They offer fewer protections for borrowers, such as allowances for nonpayment or income-based repayment. They are also generally more expensive than federal loans.

Apprenticeships and Work-Study Programs

Apprenticeships and work-study programs offer alternative routes to becoming a lawyer outside of traditional law school. States such as California, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington allow students to study under the mentorship of experienced lawyers in lieu of law school. 

Additional Tips and Resources

With the expense of law school looming, every penny saved can help. Start thrifting before you even select your law school. The first step is to apply for a Law School Admission Council (LSAC) fee waiver. The LSAC fee waiver grants applicants Tier 1 fee waivers if they earn up to 250% of the federal poverty guideline and Tier 2 waivers for those earning 250-300%. These tiers waive fees for the LSAT and electronic applications for LSAC-member law schools. If you apply to multiple schools, this can be worth thousands of dollars.

Smart Financial Planning Can Minimize Law School Debt

Effective financial planning and budgeting are essential for managing your law school expenses and subsequent debt. Utilize your university’s financial aid office and career services. Get creative and search through internal grants offered through your university. You may be surprised at the variety of funding available to help you afford law school.