184: Handling Law School Finances (w/Lyssa Thaden of AccessLex)

Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today we're talking with Lyssa Thaden of AccessLex Institute, a non-profit which works to increase accessibility and affordability for law students, about student loans and other financial topics. In this episode we discuss: Student debt, and what you need to consider before you choose law school How to increase your access to scholarship dollars Why being realistic about your finances and your future is key to avoiding the worst-case scenarios Why making a budget and cutting your living expenses can pay off after you graduate How to plan for the post-graduation bar exam expenses (and why you need to!) Strategies and resources for graduates who are struggling with repayment Resources: MAX by AccessLex: Strategy Changes Everything (https://www.accesslex.org/about-max-by-accesslex) AccessLex Student Loan Calculator (https://www.accesslex.org/student-loan-calculator#/) AccessLex Diversity Pipeline Program Directory (https://www.accesslex.org/accesslex-diversity-pipeline-program-directory) AccessLex Diversity Pipeline Research Grant Program (https://www.accesslex.org/legal-education-diversity-pipeline-grant-program) StudentLoans.Gov (https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/index.action) Law School Myth #1: Lawyers Make a Lot of Money (https://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/09/law-school-myth-1-lawyers-make-a-lot-of-money/) Podcast Episode 174: The LSAT is Going Digital (w/Nathan Fox) (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-174-the-lsat-is-going-digital-thoughts-from-lsat-expert-nathan-fox/) Download the Transcript (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-184-money-money-money-w-lyssa-thaden/)   If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/law-school-toolbox-podcast/id1027603976) or your favorite listening app. And feel free to reach out to us directly. You can always reach us via the contact form on the Law School Toolbox website (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/contact). If you're concerned about the bar exam, check out our sister site, the Bar Exam Toolbox (http://barexamtoolbox.com/). You can also sign up for our weekly podcast newsletter (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/get-law-school-podcast-updates/) to make sure you never miss an episode! Thanks for listening! Alison & Lee