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I have calculated my extraneous expenses (ex. gas, car insurance, cell phone, misc.: those not covered by Stafford/Graduate PLUS loans and other financial aid) to be about $2,125 per semester. Counting five months for the semester (Aug - Dec), it breaks down to $425 per month. That comes to about $4.25 per hour working 25 hours per week. Not bad! Now what is the max amount of hours per week that you folks recommend a 1L to work??? I have no choice but to work since I DO NOT want to get private loans

jrodz80 wrote:I have calculated my extraneous expenses (ex. gas, car insurance, cell phone, misc.: those not covered by Stafford/Graduate PLUS loans and other financial aid) to be about $2,125 per semester. Counting five months for the semester (Aug - Dec), it breaks down to $425 per month. That comes to about $4.25 per hour working 25 hours per week. Not bad! Now what is the max amount of hours per week that you folks recommend a 1L to work??? I have no choice but to work since I DO NOT want to get private loans

I think that the ABA requires all matriculating students to accredited law schools to sign a document stating they will not work more than 20 hours per week as full-time students, so recalculate for 20 hours or less and re-examine your options.

That's why I'm going part-time. I'm tired of loans.

20 hours/week at minimum wage would easily net you $425/month.

You can't work more than 20 hours btw. Anyways your financial aid should include gas money.

GermX wrote:You can't work more than 20 hours btw. Anyways your financial aid should include gas money.

Do you mean that they (the school/Stafford Loan people) can certify such expenses???

jrodz80 wrote:

GermX wrote:You can't work more than 20 hours btw. Anyways your financial aid should include gas money.

Do you mean that they (the school/Stafford Loan people) can certify such expenses???

Any law school should provide a few thousand dollars of "personal" funds in the COA budget that can cover gas, cell phone, etc.

I'm not familiar with this. Can you explain?

jrodz80 wrote:I'm not familiar with this. Can you explain?

From SMU -


Full-time J.D.
2010-2011 Estimates

Tuition & Fees
$40,186

Books
1,800

Living Expenses
14,000

Miscellaneous
2,600

Total
$58,586

That's great but if my loans cannot cover the entire COA, how exactly does the school cover it (grants, scholarships)? What if you're not offered any fin aid from the school?

Grad PLUS loans cover COA over and above Stafford loans.

I see now, thanks!