5 Strategies to Save Money in Law School

With already-steep tuition costs plus the high tide of inflation we’re experiencing right now, going to law school seems more financially treacherous than ever before. Life as a law student can feel like a game of whack-a-mole, with new costs always popping up, from professors assigning $300 casebooks to the lure of Thursday night Bar Review to professional attire for interviews and summer jobs. Plus, coming out of law school with lots of loan debt can impact your life after graduation. While you might have thought of going to law school as a financially responsible choice for your future, it sure doesn’t feel like that in the short term. You want to learn about bankruptcy, not experience it firsthand!

But fear not! While a desperate email to your professor probably won’t get you a free PDF of that casebook, there are other ways to prevent (or at least slow down) the draining of your bank account. Read on for five suggestions on how to save money in law school.

1. Cook your own meals and bring your lunch with you

Buying groceries and making your own meals will definitely save you a sizable amount of money compared to getting takeout or going to a restaurant. Good nutrition is vital in law school to keep you fueled through long hours of class and studying, and cooking for yourself will not only be better for your wallet, but also for your body and brain. After spending the summer perfecting some quick and easy recipes, I’m planning on cooking most of my meals, and saving eating out (and that iced latte splurge) for a once-in-a-while treat. Plus, when you’re short on time running between classes, you’ll be glad you had that packed lunch ready to go—and it will probably be better for you than anything you could find at the campus café.

2. Buy your books from older students, and resell them the next year

The campus bookstore is most often not the most cost-effective place to buy your textbooks, and online retailers can be hit or miss. Instead, an excellent resource for books is more senior students, who have completed the courses you’re taking now and are eager to sell off their old books. Ask around to see if your school has an email list, spreadsheet, or Facebook group of students selling their used books, as you can often find great deals! Then the following year, you can resell your books to the next class and recoup some of your cash (be honest—are you really going to look at that Civ Pro casebook ever again?).

3. Take advantage of all your school offers

While being in school full-time rather than working means money can be tighter, there are also advantages to being a student. In addition to general student discounts (which you should definitely be taking advantage of), your school will also have its own specific perks, from gym access to free food at campus events to study aids at the library to discounts at local shops and eateries. I recently learned that my law school offers discounted theater and movie tickets—score! It’s worth doing a little digging to check out all the resources your school has to offer, as you could save money by using them.

4. Apply to outside scholarships

While law schools offer their own scholarships and financial aid, the money you get from your school doesn’t have to be the be-all-and-end-all. You can also apply for external scholarships, funded by companies or organizations unaffiliated with a particular law school. These awards typically have their own prerequisites, soliciting students who plan to work in a specific legal field or belong to a certain group. You can find online databases of these scholarships, and your school may also provide a list. Check out this post for more tips on finding and applying to outside scholarships.

5. Find a flexible part-time gig

Law school is a full-time job, but it can be worth it to carve out a few hours here and there to earn a little extra money during school. If you decide to take on a part-time job, I would recommend looking for one with flexibility, so that you can work more hours when your schedule is more open and fewer hours when you’re tight on time, like during finals. You could work as a teaching or research assistant for a professor, make a hobby into a side hustle, or turn that stellar SAT or LSAT score into some extra cash by tutoring.

Looking for more tips on how to save money during law school? Check out the below:

• 5 Money-Saving Apps for Law Students
• Podcast Episode 149: Saving Money in Law School
• Ahead of the Curve: How to Save Money When Starting Law School