Guide to making the most

9.
GET YOUR 
FINANCES IN 
ORDER
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9. GET YOUR FINANCES IN ORDER
Law School is expensive. Odds are, you’ll need some form of financial aid.
Its admirable that many students work through college to pay for tuition and to earn some 
spending money. But it is a really bad idea to do that in Law School – at least during your 
first year. Your first-year grades are far more important than any other Law School grades 
(because most employers interview you before your second year and therefore can really 
only look to your first semester grades). Therefore, you should not add the distraction of a 
side job during your first year of Law School and focus entirely on your grades.
So, it’s important to get your Law School finances in order. Once you are accepted get 
whatever loans are necessary. If your school has offered financial aid (or even if they haven’t 
offered aid) ask for more. Many students leave money on the table simply because they 
didn’t ask. You can explain that another school has offered more aid, or you can tell them 
that law the Law School tuition is a huge burden. The worst they can do is turn you down.
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9. GET YOUR FINANCES IN ORDER
But you’ll need to get your finances in order so that you aren’t scrambling during the school 
year for funds. It can be very stressful and distracting. 
By the same token, calculate how much money you will have and when (based on your loan 
disbursements) so you don’t run out midway through the semester. It’s easy to get a lump 
sum and then forget that it needs to last for months. Be sure to ask your loan providers and 
financial aid providers when the funds will be disbursed so you can plan and budget 
accordingly. 
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