The rising costs of law school coupled with the One Big Beautiful Bill’s limits on graduate student loans borrowing have caused massive anxiety among students. According to a recent survey of aspiring pre-law students, a staggering 97% of them say they are concerned about the cost of law school to some degree. Nearly 43% of them said that they expect to graduate with $100,000 or more in debt. 

The question then isn’t only whether students can afford law school since it is becoming a luxury good. But also if it is worth it. This shift can have repercussions that go beyond just career ambition. It can drive students away from meaningful but lesser-paying legal roles such as public interest law, legal aid, and advocacy work because they need to pay off their debts. This can alter how the profession functions altogether. We need to protect not only the ecosystem within which law operates but more importantly, our students’ well-being and their ability to pursue a profession they are passionate about. 

So what can law schools actually do? 

First, law schools must recalibrate the duration of a legal education. The three-year model piles up costs and keeps students from experiential learning. According to the same survey by Juris Education, a national law school admissions consulting firm, 65% of prospective students said they would consider attending a two-year law program, if given a choice. offered. Accelerated J.D. programs or even hybrid pathways can reduce the cost of a degree. Such programs would also pose challenges such as time needed for BAR exam preparation, academic rigor, and the quality of legal training, however, since not many such programs exist, universities can innovate and design them to address these concerns. 

Second, law schools must increase both merit-based and need-based financial aid. They can begin with exercising more transparency around how aid is distributed among students, remove unnecessary conditions from scholarships to expand their gamut, and offer more grants to financially assist students. Students who work in public service law, legal clinics, or advocacy can also be offered extra financial assistance or incentives to pursue their work without having to worry about the insurmountable costs associated with securing such an education. 

Third, law schools should assist students in understanding the financial consequences of their career path. This is where law advising and career counseling departments must play an active role. If students are going to graduate with six-figure and higher debt after law school, they must understand their financial priorities before they enter the legal profession. This can translate into more customized help choosing a law specialty that helps students meet their financial obligations or at least, being cognizant of career growth patterns, financial projections as well as best- and worst-case scenarios for each student. Many students, even beyond law school, enter graduate education without a clear understanding of financial costs and its various components. This lack of practical knowledge only adds to their uncertainty and anxiety around their future. 

The increasing cost of getting a law degree isn’t only an indicator of whether it’s worth it, it also sheds light on the issues of access, affordability, and fairness. If cost becomes the only factor that deters a highly talented and motivated student from pursuing a profession of their choice, we’re doing a disservice to these students and to the future of law. Higher education institutions must rethink traditional law school templates, find innovative ways to financially support students based on both need and merit, and educate students on the financial realities of studying law. 

Arush Chandna is a co-founder of Juris Education, a leading law school admissions consulting firm.