What are the best law schools that give merit aid?

[Anonymous]

And what is the largest amount of merit aid given? I’ve been reading how expensive law school is, but my son really wants to go. I’ve heard merit aid is a new thing with law schools. Anyone have any answers?

[Anonymous]

Sample size of one here, but my sister got nearly a full ride to Pitt's law school. All aid was merit. She's in her first year now.

She had high LSAT scores, a strong but not stellar undergrad GPA (it was hard science though) from a liberal arts college in PA, and did TFA for several years.

[Anonymous]

Whatever he does, don’t take out large loans for a third tier law school. If he can go to a tip law school, he should be able to pay off his loans easily.

[Anonymous]

They almost all provide merit aid. Maybe not Yale and Stanford but otherwise this is a common approach. I got a very generous merit grant to Northwestern; a close friend got generous grants from Chicago.

[Anonymous]

Dean Manning of Harvard Law School put out a press release 8 months ago that Harvard Law School will start offering merit scholarships of up to 100% of tuition for the most qualified applicants. So maybe the top schools are changing their minds on merit aid.

[Anonymous]

You can also work at a university and get reduced tuition at law school. I know someone who graduated Georgetown Law this way.

[Anonymous]

Almost all of them give merit scholarships, including within the T14.

True full rides at T14s are typically very competitive.

[Anonymous]

Be careful that they don’t have requirements to maintain a certain gpa. Law school is curved and it’s easy to not meet the requirement. I know someone who dropped out of law school after a year because her merit aid was pulled after she got below at 3.5 or whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can also work at a university and get reduced tuition at law school. I know someone who graduated Georgetown Law this way.

In the 90's, many schools were free.

Now, you have to work there a minimum number of years (several) for partial tuition decrease, and there is no longer total tuition decrease - unless you have worked there for decades, and are grandfathered in.

I think there is a common misconception that what was true in the 90's (free school!) is true now. It is most definitely not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They almost all provide merit aid. Maybe not Yale and Stanford but otherwise this is a common approach. I got a very generous merit grant to Northwestern; a close friend got generous grants from Chicago.

Chicago and Columbia both offer including free rides. But have to be an amazing applicant.

[Anonymous]

The one whose stats are below yours. The schools that will give you merit aid are based on you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can also work at a university and get reduced tuition at law school. I know someone who graduated Georgetown Law this way.

In the 90's, many schools were free.

Now, you have to work there a minimum number of years (several) for partial tuition decrease, and there is no longer total tuition decrease - unless you have worked there for decades, and are grandfathered in.

I think there is a common misconception that what was true in the 90's (free school!) is true now. It is most definitely not.

This. Georgetown used to have very generous tuition benefits for employees and their children but this has been reduced through the years. I believe only grandfathered employees who started more than 15 years ago get the most generous benefits now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can also work at a university and get reduced tuition at law school. I know someone who graduated Georgetown Law this way.

In the 90's, many schools were free.

Now, you have to work there a minimum number of years (several) for partial tuition decrease, and there is no longer total tuition decrease - unless you have worked there for decades, and are grandfathered in.

I think there is a common misconception that what was true in the 90's (free school!) is true now. It is most definitely not.

You don't know what you're talking about. Move along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can also work at a university and get reduced tuition at law school. I know someone who graduated Georgetown Law this way.

In the 90's, many schools were free.

Now, you have to work there a minimum number of years (several) for partial tuition decrease, and there is no longer total tuition decrease - unless you have worked there for decades, and are grandfathered in.

I think there is a common misconception that what was true in the 90's (free school!) is true now. It is most definitely not.

This. Georgetown used to have very generous tuition benefits for employees and their children but this has been reduced through the years. I believe only grandfathered employees who started more than 15 years ago get the most generous benefits now.

Georgetown >> 1 year. 90% of tuiton.
https://benefits.georgetown.edu/announcements/tap-eligibility-change/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be careful that they don’t have requirements to maintain a certain gpa. Law school is curved and it’s easy to not meet the requirement. I know someone who dropped out of law school after a year because her merit aid was pulled after she got below at 3.5 or whatever.

That sucks.