Financial Literacy

New & Current Students

Graduates & Recent Students

Additional Information & Web Links to Explore

AccessLex

Individual Student Debt Repayment Information Specifically for Law School Graduates

Founded in 1983, AccessLex Institute is a nonprofit membership organization comprised of nearly 200 nonprofit and state-affiliated ABA-approved law schools. From providing financial education resources and services for students and schools, to supporting research programs and data collection, to driving policy advocacy, we work to promote broad access, affordability and the value of legal education specifically, and graduate and professional education more broadly.

AccessConnex is the first service of its kind to provide free, on-demand, one-to-one student loan repayment and financial aid information to graduate and professional students, and recent grads. Whether by phone, e-mail, live chat feature, borrowers seeking guidance on financing their education, managing student loan repayment, understanding the complexities of repayment plans, or other student loan questions have the ability to get answers from our expert AccessConnex Service Representatives – personal, confidential and 100% free.

Equal Justice Works

Career & Student Debt Information for Lawyers

The mission of Equal Justice Works is to create a just society by mobilizing the next generation of lawyers committed to equal justice. We provide leadership to ensure a sustainable pipeline of talented and trained lawyers are involved in public service. Equal Justice Works provides a continuum of programs that begin with incoming law school students and extend into later careers in the profession. We provide the nation’s leading public interest law fellowship program and offer more postgraduate, full-time legal positions in public service than any other organization including:

• Equal Justice Works Fellowships
• VISTA Legal Fellowships
• Student Debt Relief

Take Control of Your Future is a comprehensive guide to managing student debt for lawyers and law students. It is especially valuable for anyone with an interest in a public interest legal career who wants to learn how income-driven repayment plans, Public Service Loan Forgiveness and loan repayment assistance programs can help protect their financial future.  Download your copy. 

In conjunction with our partner AccessLex Institute, a nonprofit agency expert in student financial literacy, we offer programs focused specifically on law school students.

Especially designed for our 1L students, this webinar provides essential information for all Suffolk Law students.

WiseBorrower will provide you with much necessary financial information, including:

• Strategies for financing your legal education
• Methods to manage and keep track of your student loans
• Ways to keep your costs down
• Timeline of bill due dates, disbursement of loans, and receipt of excess funds for living expenses

Remain in the comfort of your home or office and learn important and valuable information. Watch for emails notifying you of the dates and times for the WiseBorrower webinars.

The Road to Zero: A Strategic Approach to Student Loan Repayment

Selecting the right repayment plan requires the right strategy. AccessLex Institute will help you create your strategy by describing the different federal repayment plans, explaining the ins and outs of Public Service Loan Forgiveness, discussing loan consolidation and more. Watch for emails notifying you of the dates and times for this program.

A Strategic Approach to Financing Your Legal Education

Law school is an important investment. Making informed decisions about how to finance that investment is crucial. This session brought to you by AccessLex Institute will help you to understand the costs of pursuing legal education and the financial aid application process. They will also review the available financing options and identify ways for you to be financially prepared to achieve your educational goals. Watch for emails notifying you of the dates and times for this program.

AccessMax Program

New Incoming 1L students are encouraged to sign up for the new MAX program by AccessLex Institute. The program is designed specifically for law school students:

• Takes a multi-format approach—including an interactive online curriculum, in-person workshops, one-on-one counseling and more that recognizes different learning styles and knowledge bases—letting you define your own path
• Delivers information in quick and easy to understand components to fit into your demanding schedule
• Offers $5,000 and $40,000 scholarship drawing incentives to motivate you to stay on task and on track—the more you participate, the greater your chance of winning
• Register for and join the program!

Current students are encouraged to register to AccessMax to have access to expert AccessNow counselors via AccessConnex by phone, live chat or email for their student loan and financial planning questions as well as expert student loan repayment presentations.

Entrance Counseling

New Students and first time Suffolk Law federal loan borrowers (Stafford & PLUS) are required to complete loan entrance counseling in order to receive loan funds. Online Entrance Counseling can be completed at studentaid.gov. You will need to sign in using your FSA ID (formerly FAFSA PIN).

Federal regulations require that Federal loan information be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and that this information be accessible by guarantee agencies, lenders, and institutions determined to be authorized users of the system.

Exit Counseling

Students who leave Suffolk University Law School for any reason are required to file the appropriate withdrawal and/or leave of absence form with the Office of Academic Services. 

Failure to complete exit counseling will result in a hold being placed on your academic record. All requests for an academic transcript and/or diploma will be delayed until exit counseling is complete. 

All students who borrow federal loans: graduates, students on a leave of absence, students who will be enrolled less than half-time*, or withdrawn students are required to complete exit counseling. Follow the links below to complete the required loan exit counseling based on the type(s) of loan you borrowed:

• Federal Stafford & Graduate PLUS Loan Borrowers Complete exit counseling at studentaid.gov. You will need your FSA ID (formerly FAFSA pin)
• Federal Perkins Loan or Trustee Loan Borrowers Complete exit counseling at Suffolk's Student Account Services

During your exit interview you will:

• Review what you learned during entrance loan counseling, including the consequences of default, the importance of the repayment obligation and the use of the master promissory note
• Review repayment options such as standard, graduated, extended, income-driven, and consolidation
• Review loan repayment deferment, forbearance, discharge rules and procedures.
• Learn about federal loan information available on the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)
• Learn about the Federal Student Assistance (FSA) Ombudsman’s Office.
• Review your rights and responsibilities as a borrower
• Provide updated contact information, such as expected permanent address, address of next of kin, and name and address of employer if known
• Update any changes to personal information including name, driver’s license number, Social Security number, etc., if necessary

*Students with federal education loans must be enrolled at least half-time to receive the loans and to continue to qualify for in-school deferment. For financial aid purposes:

• JD Program: Full-time is considered 10 or more credits per semester for Day Division students and 7 or more credits per semester for Evening Division students. Half-time enrollment is considered 5-9 credits per semester for Day Division students and 4-6 credits per semester for Evening Division students
• LL.M. Program: Full-time is considered 9 or more credits. Half-time enrollment for LL.M. students is considered 5 or more credits
• Summer Semester: Students must be enrolled at least half-time during the summer to receive federal aid. Half-time enrollment is considered 3 credits for JD and LL.M. students and 6 credits for Dual Degree students enrolled solely in CAS or SSOM classes