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LAWLOANS® Program

Eligibility | Limits | Interest & Fees | Repayment | Bar Exam | More Information

Sallie Mae's LAWLOANS Program is an affordable package of Stafford Loans and private loan funding for students pursing a legal education at an American Bar Association-approved law school. Under the program, borrowers can apply through a single lender for Federal Stafford Loans and the private LAWLOANS Private Loan and Bar Study LoanSM (BSL), making the application process easier and faster.

Apply for a LAWLOANS Private Loan

Eligibility
You are eligible for LAWLOANS if you are enrolled at least halftime in any degree program in law education (e.g., JD, LLM) at any American Bar Association-accredited school.

You are eligible for a Federal Stafford Loan through LAWLOANS if:

  • Your school participates in the Federal Stafford Loan Program.
  • You are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident without conditions and with proper evidence of eligibility.
  • You meet other eligibility criteria presented in the Federal Stafford Loan application packet.

You are eligible to apply for the LAWLOANS Private Loan from LAWLOANS if:
  • You are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident without conditions and with proper evidence of eligibility, or an international student borrowing with a creditworthy cosigner who is either a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident.
  • You have all outstanding student loans in good standing.
  • You apply for a Federal Stafford Loan before applying for the Law Student Loan (international students excepted). By applying for a Federal Stafford Loan through the LAWLOANS Program, you fulfill this requirement and are eligible for many benefits, including combined billing of your loans.
  • You meet the credit criteria established by the lender.

Need a cosigner? You might. If you are a foreign student, have no credit history or a low credit score, or if you attend certain schools, you may be required to apply with a cosigner.

A cosigner is someone who:

  • Becomes responsible for making your payments if you should be unable to make them.
  • Must pass a credit review.
  • Must be a U.S. citizen or non-citizen permanent resident. In addition, any payments that they make for you must be made in U.S. dollars. Make sure that whoever does this for you understands what they're agreeing to do.

After you make your first 24 loan payments on time, you can apply to have your cosigner released from this obligation. Contact Sallie Mae, at 1-888-2SALLIE, to learn the criteria for this release.

Loan Limits
Loan Limits
Annual minimum
$500
Annual maximum
Cost of education minus other aid received
Lifetime
None with a cosigner; $150,000 without a cosigner, (includes all federal and private student loan debt)

Your school must certify the loan amount requested.

Interest & Fees
Rates and fees are based on your credit history and whether there are one or two credit-approved applicants on the loan. It is to your advantage to apply with a credit-worthy cosigner as the higher credit score of you and your cosigner will determine your pricing tier. 

For interest rate and fee information, please visit Sallie Mae.

Repayment Terms
Borrowers have up to 25 years to repay the loan depending on the loan balance. The minimum payment is $50 per month and payment begins 9 months after graduation, or if a student leaves school or drops below half-time enrollment, whichever comes first. In addition to a standard payment plan, Sallie Mae offers various repayment options to keep payments affordable.

Studying for the Bar Exam?
How are you going to cover your expenses while studying for the bar exam? You may be eligible for a Bar Study Loan (BSL) if you: 

  • Are currently enrolled at least half time. 
  • Are in your final year in an accredited ABA law school or have graduated from one within the last six months. 
  • Are sitting for the bar exam no later than 12 months after graduation. 
Other eligibility requirements are the same as the LAWLOANS Private Loan, except borrowers are not required to apply for Federal Stafford Loans first. 

If you are taking an early bar exam during your third year and before graduation, or if you are taking the bar exam following graduation: 

You may only receive one BSL. The maximum you can borrow under the BSL is $15,000. 

View interest rates and fees associated with BSL.

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Apply for a LAWLOAN Private Loan

Want more information?
Call 1-800-984-0190 and speak to a Sallie Mae LAWLOANS expert.

Which schools are approved by the American Bar Association? Visit ABA and review its law school listings.

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