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 event:
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 23, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm PST, in classroom, EDU-1131
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.
- TBD
Loan Repayment Assistance Program Info Session
UCI Law Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) is available to all current UCI Law J.D. students after graduation. UCI 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.
- TBD
Webinars:
Equally important to your academic success is building a good financial foundation during your law school journey. There is a lot to consider regarding your law school budget—particularly if you are new to the area. Learn to support your path to financial wellness, managing costs such as borrowing, and new financial strategies.
A well-built budget is the best tool for making student loan refunds last all year, managing lifestyle and expenses, tracking debt, and planning for big expenses like the bar exam during law school. During this event, an Accredited Financial Counselor from AccessLex Institute will walk you through how to build a budget that accounts for each of these items and more.
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.
- Wednesday, October 2, 2024, webinar at 9:00 a.m. PST
- Thursday, November 7, 2024, webinar at 9:00 a.m. PST
- Tuesday, Decemeber 3, 2024, webinar at 5:00 p.m. PST
- Thursday, January 9, 2025, webinar at 5:00 p.m. PST
- Wednesday, February 5, 2025, webinar at 9:00 a.m. PST
- Thursday, March 6, 2025, webinar at 12:00 p.m. PST
- Wednesday, April 16, 2025, webinar at 12:00 p.m. PST
Public Service Loan Forgiveness can seem confusing, but it’s achievable if you know the steps to take. During the webinar, participants will learn about the program’s requirements and get a step-by-step PSLF action plan to follow to be sure they are on their way to successful eligibility.
- Thursday, August 29, 2024, webinar at 12:00 p.m. PST
- Thursday, September 24, 2024, webinar at 3:00 p.m. PST
- Tuesday, October 29, 2024, webinar at 9:00 a.m. PST
- Tuesday, November 26, 2024, webinar at 5:00 p.m. PST
- Monday, December 11, 2024, webinar at 12:00 p.m. PST
- Tuesday, January 28, 2025, webinar at 12:00 p.m. PST
- Friday, February 26, 2025, webinar at 5:00 p.m. PST
- Thursday, March 27, 2025, webinar at 9:00 a.m. PST
- Thursday, April 24, 2025, webinar at 12:00 p.m. PST
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.