How Much Law School Costs
Law degrees can be costly. Their total cost includes tuition, living expenses and any ancillary fees charged by law schools.
To reduce law school costs, having high LSAT scores and GPA can help. You’ll qualify for entrance scholarships and merit-based aid – something which requires time and money spent on LSAT prep as well as applying to law schools.
Tuition
Aspiring lawyers must carefully consider the cost of attending law school, which includes tuition fees and living expenses. Some schools also require students to purchase books and supplies.
Cost of law school depends on your state and type of institution; public law schools typically cost less than private ones. On average, three years worth of study costs approximately $88,830.
Financial aid can help offset the high costs of law school. This may include scholarships, fellowships and federal student loans based on academic merit or need. Students may also take a gap year to save money while becoming stronger applicants for law school admissions. Alternatively, employers often provide tuition reimbursement programs which help offset tuition expenses.
Living expenses
Cost of law school may not only include tuition and fees; living expenses and indirect costs such as books, transportation and entertainment should also be factored into consideration when comparing schools.
Estimating living expenses when moving to a new location can be challenging, with cost of living varying greatly depending on region, state and city. Often the higher the cost of living is, the more costly its schools.
Every school creates and publishes its budget as part of their ABA required disclosures, usually on its financial aid page. This budget serves to set maximum borrowing amounts and should be read carefully before borrowing occurs.
Textbooks
Law school requires numerous textbooks, which can be an expensive investment. One way to save money by purchasing used texts instead of new ones is purchasing pre-owned books online or from stores like Half Price Books – where there may be great bargains available!
McClurg’s book provides an insightful account of life at law school, from applying and taking the LSAT through graduation and passing the bar exam. Furthermore, it features practical advice on studying techniques and test-taking strategies.
Winning Arguments provides both students and lawyers with an in-depth tutorial on crafting persuasive, believable arguments in court. A must-read for anyone planning on pursuing legal careers; Dickens has described it as one of his finest works.
Study groups
Study groups are a divisive aspect of law school studies; while some students benefit greatly, others find them useless and distracting. Their success depends largely on how and what work is shared among its members; furthermore it’s essential that a study group consist of motivated, alert students.
Study groups that excel are those that address specific queries raised from class material, while also helping members develop useful outlines of their course materials – this can be especially helpful for those struggling with complicated concepts and case distinctions. It is wise to keep study groups small to minimize social discussions that distract from the topic at hand and meeting outside of school allows less distractions to happen.
Other expenses
Law school can be an expensive undertaking that costs six figures or more to attend; however, with careful planning and judicious use of available funding sources it can become more affordable.
One effective strategy to help lower law school costs is applying for scholarships and grants, which don’t need to be paid back, through law schools, bar associations, academic and social clubs, religious organizations etc.
Consider attending a public in-state law school to reduce costs; these typically tend to be cheaper than private out-of-state law schools. When making this decision, take into account reputation, rankings, curriculum, bar passage rate and any potential additional factors before making your final decision.