Andwise for lawyers

What graduates borrow

AccessLex reports that law students borrowed $150,400 on average (as of 2020), and that three in four law students borrow. AccessLex, How OBBBA's student loan caps could reshape law school affordability, checked November 5, 2026.
In LSAC's 2024 survey, first-year law students projected $76,300 in law school debt on average; 17% expected to owe $150,000 or more. LSAC, 2024 1L Funding Report, checked November 5, 2026.

Federal loans from July 2026

Law (J.D.) is on the Education Department's list of professional degrees. For a student starting on or after July 1, 2026, Direct Unsubsidized loans are capped at $50,000 a year, so a three-year J.D. reaches at most $150,000 in new federal loans; Grad PLUS ends. Students already enrolled with a loan before that date keep the old limits for up to three years. 34 CFR 685.102, definition of professional student (eCFR), checked November 5, 2026.

Loan repayment programs

The John R. Justice program pays up to $10,000 a year and $60,000 in a lifetime toward the loans of state and local prosecutors and public defenders who commit to three more years of service. BJA FY2026 John R. Justice notice, checked November 5, 2026.
IRS Revenue Ruling 2008-34 addresses law school loan repayment assistance programs and section 108(f) of the tax code, which governs when forgiven student loans are excluded from income. IRS, Internal Revenue Bulletin 2008-28 (Rev. Rul. 2008-34), checked November 5, 2026.

Rules on practice after leaving

California Rule of Professional Conduct 5.6(a): "Unless authorized by law, a lawyer shall not participate in offering or making ... a partnership, shareholders, operating, employment, or other similar type of agreement that restricts the right of a lawyer to practice after termination of the relationship, except an agreement that concerns benefits upon retirement." Every state has a version of this rule; its terms and case law vary. State Bar of California, Rules of Professional Conduct, checked November 5, 2026.

Example valuesjoinandwise.com/for/lawyers6 facts from 6 statutes, programs and surveyschecked November 5, 2026amounts entered are masked

Tools that work today

These tools run on federal and state rules that apply to any borrower or employee. Their labels are written for physicians; the arithmetic is the same.

What does RAP cost on a public-interest income compared with a firm salary? Compare repayment plans
When does the PSLF count reach 120 payments in government or nonprofit work? PSLF progress: payments left of 120
What W-2 salary matches a contract attorney's hourly rate? 1099 vs. W-2 pay: the salary a contractor rate equals

Planned

How much of law school's cost falls outside the federal loan caps?
When is a partnership capital contribution returned, and on what terms?

For schools, programs and societies

A law school, residency program or society can distribute these tools under its own name. Terms:co-brand license. To ask, write toprograms@joinandwise.com.

General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Whether a clause in a particular contract is enforceable is a question for an attorney in the state; loan figures are for your servicer to confirm.