Debt Management and Financial Planning
Promoting financial planning has been a primary mission of the School of Law Office of Student Financial Services. Our financial planning program promotes and encourages the study of financial education and facilitates credit analysis and budgeting skills to promote good money management.
The School of Law Office of Student Financial Services holds workshops every semester for law students wishing to learn more about credit, budgeting, and investing.
The workshops help students with planning and sticking to a monthly budget, smart spending, using credit wisely, managing education debt, and avoiding pilling on more debt. The workshops will teach students the elements of personal finance. Workshops are presented by either Student Financial Services staff or by experts in the field.
Information Sessions and Presentations
In-person events:
Money and Your Career: Legal, Salaries, Taxes and Benefits and Five Habits of Financially Successful Lawyers
Whether you plan to accept a position in public service or big law, plan to open your own practice, or even follow any other professional path, there is more to know than just your starting salary. This workshop provides a financial analysis of various legal professions and helps you understand the impact of your employment decisions—including pay, benefits, taxation, cost of living, and more. Take these next steps to help you get on and stay on the path to financial wellness and to help you prepare for the next stage in your professional life.
- October 15, 2025, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm PST, in classroom EDU 1131
Ask the Experts: What the OBBBA Means for Law School Borrowing and Repayment
The UC Irvine Law Office of Student Financial Services and an AccessLex policy expert present a session on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and its impact on federal student loans and legal education funding.
This session is an excellent opportunity to gain clarity and get answers to your most pressing questions about the future of Grad PLUS Loans, repayment plans, and how these sweeping federal changes may shape your borrowing decisions.
- January 28, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm PST
- Recorded Event: Ask the Experts: What the OBBBA Means for Law School Borrowing and Repayment
Road to Zero: A Strategic Approach to Student Loan Repayment-Mandatory Workshop for 3L's
Selecting the right repayment plan requires the right strategy. We help students create their strategy by describing the different federal repayment plans, explaining the ins and outs of Public Service Loan Forgiveness, discussing loan consolidation and more.
- February 11, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm PST, in classroom EDU 1111
Loan Repayment Assistance Program Info Session
UC Irvine Law Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) is available to all current UC Irvine Law J.D. students after graduation. UC Irvine Law will help eligible graduates pay their student loans for up to ten years, including undergraduate loans. To better understand the detailed guidelines for LRAP, students are encouraged to attend the workshop hosted by Nasreen Zia, Director of Student Financial Services, and Jennifer Terrazas, Assistant Director of Student Financial Services.
- February 25, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm PST, in classroom MPA 420
AccessLex Webinars:
Join financial and policy experts from AccessLex Institute for a live, interactive 30-minute Q&A session focused on the newly passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and its impact on student loans and legal education funding. Whether you’re a prospective student, current borrower, or law school administrator, this is your chance to get clear, timely answers to your most pressing questions about the future of Grad PLUS Loans, repayment plans, and how these sweeping federal changes may shape borrowing decisions moving forward.
As changes to federal student loan programs take shape, private student loans are likely to play a larger role in financing legal education. This session will provide a foundational overview of private student loans - what they are, how they differ from federal loans, and where they fit in the future of law school borrowing strategies. You will learn about key factors like credit requirements, interest rates, loan terms, and the importance of careful lender comparison, so you can help your students make informed, strategic borrowing decisions.
Please Note: Resources provided via AccessLex Institute are for informational purposes only. Although designed to assist you in developing your financial strategy, these resources are not intended as personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. You should consider whether the information is appropriate for your unique needs, and where applicable, seek individualized advice from a professional advisor.
Whenever you make a big investment like attending law school, it's important to understand what you're planning to get out of it. During this event, an Accredited Financial Counselor from AccessLex Institute will discuss how to calculate your law school return-on-investment using your total projected borrowing and potential starting salary, with tips on how to optimize our return as a student. Attendees can follow up on this event with free financial coaching, lessons, and events through Ask EDNA! – the Education Network at AccessLex.
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program enables employees working for qualified public service employers to achieve forgiveness of their federal Direct Student Loans after 120 monthly payments on a qualified repayment plan. During this session, an Accredited Financial Counselor from AccessLex Institute will review the details of and recent updates to the program, as well as the steps you need to take to get on the right track for forgiveness.
Some or all instruction for all or part of the Academic Year may be delivered remotely. Tuition and fees have been set regardless of the method of instruction and will not be refunded in the event instruction occurs remotely for any part of the Academic Year. Figures for tuition and fees represent currently approved or proposed amounts and may not be final. Actual tuition and fees are subject to change by the University of California as determined to be necessary or appropriate. Final approved tuition and fee levels may differ from the amounts presented.
State of California Disclosure: Federal student loans are available to most students regardless of income and provide a range of repayment options including some income-based repayment plans and loan-forgiveness benefits, which other education loans are not required to provide.