Cost of law school varies by institution, but overall has increased steadily over time. Nominal tuition–which represents official and front-facing fees–has increased while net tuition (which excludes scholarships and financial aid) has remained fairly consistent over time.
Before embarking on a legal education journey, it’s essential that all costs associated with it are fully understood. This article will detail all of the components that comprise a student’s bill at law school.
Tuition
Law school tuition costs vary significantly depending on your program; typically private schools charge more than public, in-state institutions.
However, legal education can often justify its costs regardless of investment costs. Many resources exist that can help ease the financial strain of attaining a J.D. Students should apply annually for federal student aid such as grants, work-study programs and student loans to offset these expenses.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Barack Obama and Mahatma Gandhi are just three notable individuals who have chosen law as their field of choice. Each took different paths towards becoming lawyers but all shared the determination and integrity to do what was right. A rewarding legal career offers lucrative salaries as well as advancement opportunities.
Books
Law school tuition has skyrocketed over the past decade; tuition at some American Bar Association-accredited schools now exceeds $70,000 annually.
Law school can be an arduous, taxing journey filled with challenging professors and competition among students, which can have serious repercussions for mental health – often leading to burnout during or post law school studies.
Students can save money when purchasing books by buying used from law school bookstores or online vendors, as prices may differ significantly between vendors. Students should also compare available offerings with their career goals to ensure the investment pays off in the long run; otherwise, law school loans could take years to pay off, taking time away from doing something more productive with your time spent at law school.
LSAT Prep
Cost can be one of the main deterrents to attending law school, yet there are ways of managing financial obligations and still benefit from legal education.
Tuition is by far the largest expense when attending law school, and each American Bar Association-accredited law school publishes tuition rates for their students. Costs will differ based on which law school you enroll at as well as factors like which practice area of law you intend on studying and what kind of lawyer you hope to become.
Credential Assembly Service (CAS) fees at LSAC cost an initial registration fee of $207 and each additional report costs $45. To reduce fees, early and strategic application is key, as is seeking merit-based scholarships based on both undergraduate grades and LSAT score.
Living Expenses
As part of your law school preparations, it’s essential that you budget for its expenses. Submitting the FAFSA can open doors to federal grants, work-study programs and student loans; other fees include LSAT testing ($22 per test), LSAC registration (required by all schools) and application fees per law school you apply to; which can add up to over $1200 when applying to multiple top-ranked law schools simultaneously.
Each law school publishes their cost of attendance on their website, detailing tuition and various living expenses such as “personal allowance” that law schools expect you to use on things like rent and food – with New York City boasting some of the highest personal allowances.
Student Loans
Consider living expenses such as rent or boarding fees, textbook costs and transportation expenses when budgeting for law school. While loans aren’t ideal, some students take on loans to help cover these costs – it is crucial that prospective law students fully comprehend both their total cost of law school as well as expected post-graduation salaries before making this commitment. You may be able to reduce costs by working hard during undergraduate degree studies and dedicating some of your free time towards LSAT prep classes – this may result in entrance scholarships and merit-based financial assistance from law schools!
Be sure to apply for internal and external law school scholarships, which can significantly decrease the cost of obtaining your Juris Doctorate. By carefully planning your budget (including summer expenses) and taking advantage of savings opportunities, you can make an informed decision as to whether pursuing law degrees is worth their expense.