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.
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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.
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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.
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AccessLex Webinars:
Are you struggling to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of student loan repayment and forgiveness programs? Join policy and financial experts from nonprofit AccessLex Institute for this free, live webinar to navigate the latest policy updates and make informed decisions about your student loan management strategy.
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.
- Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 12:00p.m. PST
- Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 9:00a.m. PST
- Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at 9:00a.m. PST
A little knowledge about the financial aid process and available options will go a long way in lowering your stress as you fund your legal education. During this event, an Accredited Financial Counselor from AccessLex Institute will discuss cost of attendance, the financial aid application process, and the types of aid available to law students. Attendees can follow up this event with free financial coaching, lessons, and events through Ask EDNA! – the Education Network at AccessLex.
Do you know how much law school really costs? In this presentation, an Accredited Financial Counselor from AccessLex Institute will walk through the various expenses involved in pursuing a legal education, from test preparation and application fees to tuition and living costs. You will also discover some of the hidden costs that many students overlook, such as social activities, professional memberships, and bar exam preparation. Take advantage of this chance to gain an understanding of the financial realities of attending law school and how to plan ahead. Attendees can follow up this event with free financial coaching, lessons and events through Ask EDNA! – the Education Network at AccessLex.
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.
Choosing a repayment plan that fits your budget and payoff goals is the first step in student loan management. During this event, an Accredited Financial Counselor from AccessLex Institute will walk through the payment options available for federal student loans, including income-driven repayment, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, the benefits and drawbacks of consolidation, and more.
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.