If you’re contemplating law school, you’re probably wondering if it’s really worth the financial investment. You hear and read stories about the debt graduates face and how hard it is to get a good-paying job. You also hear success stories about lawyers who help make a difference in the lives of others.
How do you decide if going to law school is the best professional pathway to achieving your goals? Is it worth the cost? You have to do your research and be honest with yourself.
The cost of law school is often the first and most intimidating factor for students considering a legal education. Tuition varies widely, but on average, as of 2025-2026, public law schools charge about $30,000 per year in tuition and fees for in-state students and closer to $45,000 for out-of-state students. At private law schools, the average annual tuition and fees are higher, at approximately $53,000.
And tuition is only part of the picture. Living expenses, books, technology, health insurance, and bar exam preparation costs can add thousands more each year. For students who are attending law school full-time, there’s also the opportunity cost of stepping away from paid work, which can affect overall finances and increase reliance on student loans. By the time law school graduates enter the legal job market, many are managing a significant debt load, including remaining student debt from college.
To dig deeper into tuition trends, borrowing considerations, and what students actually pay, read our related post: How Much Does Law School Cost in 2025?
While salaries in the legal job market can vary dramatically depending on the type of work you do, where you practice, and the size of your employer, taken as a whole, lawyers are among the highest-paid professions in the country.
The average annual wage for lawyers was $176,470 in 2023, the most recent year for which U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) figures are available. That makes lawyers the 28th best-paid profession in the U.S., with an annual salary more than 2.5 times the national average.
At the entry level, earnings are more varied. According to US News and World Report, the median starting salary for new law school graduates in the private sector is $89,000, with a range from $52,000 to $215,000. For new graduates working in the public sector, the median was lower, at $63,000, with a range from $42,500 to $90,000.
As of the start of 2025, the overall median base salary for first-year associates at many so-called Big Law firms was $200,000, with some as high as $225,000, depending on the company and on the metropolitan area, according to the National Association for Law Placement.
These differences reflect the wide range of career paths law graduates pursue, from government and public interest work to corporate or litigation roles at major firms.
Some of the most prestigious opportunities available right out of law school aren’t the highest-paying. Judicial clerkships, for example, are highly competitive roles pursued by top law school graduates because of the opportunities for mentorship and training they provide. These positions are widely viewed as career accelerators, opening doors to elite law firms, academia, public service leadership, and long-term advancement in the legal profession. However, clerkship pay is typically aligned with government pay scales and often falls well below what new law grads might earn at large law firms or in corporate roles.
There are lots of good reasons to go to law school. One of the strongest arguments for pursuing a law degree is the range of career opportunities it unlocks. While many people associate law school primarily with courtroom advocacy or working at a law firm, the reality is that a Juris Doctor degree can support a wide variety of professional paths—both within and beyond traditional legal practice.
Traditional paths include:
Working at law firms, from small practices to biglaw firms
Becoming a public defender or working in prosecution
Pursuing clerkships with judges
Entering practice areas like corporate law, family law, real estate, or intellectual property
Other graduates build careers as:
In-house counsel at corporations
Compliance or policy professionals
Leaders in nonprofit organizations
Consultants or entrepreneurs
A growing number of law graduates pursue “JD-advantage” roles—positions where legal training is valuable but a law license is not strictly required. These roles include compliance officers, policy analysts, contract managers, mediators, legal journalists, and educators.
Remember: career flexibility matters. When evaluating the return on investment of law school, it’s important to look beyond a single job title or starting salary. The ability to move between sectors, adjust your career path over time, and apply legal skills in multiple settings is one of the most enduring benefits of a law degree.
Technology has been reshaping white-collar work of all sorts for decades, but recent advances in artificial intelligence have accelerated the pace of change in ways that feel new and, for some prospective law students, unsettling.
AI and legal technology tools are very effective at handling routine, repeatable tasks that once consumed large amounts of junior attorney or paralegal time. This includes document review, contract analysis, legal research, due diligence, and e-discovery. In law firms and corporate legal departments, these tools are changing how early-career lawyers spend their time.
Rather than eliminating the need for new lawyers, though, technology is shifting expectations. New lawyers are increasingly expected to move more quickly into higher-value work: strategy, analysis, client counseling, negotiation, and advocacy. This change can actually strengthen the return on investment of a law degree over time by accelerating skill development and responsibility.
AI has clear limits in the legal field, despite its rapid advancements. The law requires judgment, ethical reasoning, persuasion, creativity, and human trust. Judges, clients, and institutions still rely on people—not algorithms—to interpret the law, weigh competing interests, and make decisions with real-world consequences. Areas such as litigation, criminal law, family law, and many forms of counseling-driven practice depend heavily on interpersonal skills. Even in corporate and transactional settings, lawyers are valued not just for technical knowledge but for their ability to navigate risk, manage relationships, and advise under uncertainty.
For today’s law students, the key is adaptability. Technology is changing how lawyers work, not whether they’re needed. In fact, it’s even creating new career opportunities: as regulations around data privacy, cybersecurity, intellectual property, AI governance, and compliance evolve, organizations need lawyers who understand both legal frameworks and emerging technologies. These roles appear across law firms, government agencies, nonprofits, and in-house legal teams.
It should come as no surprise that most people need to take out student loans to pay for law school, and average student loan balances can vary significantly depending on the law school you attend. Federal financial aid changes going into effect this year are also changing the equation for up-and-coming legal professionals.
While these factors can feel overwhelming, there are several strategies students can use to reduce their financial burden and improve their return on investment. Being intentional about funding early on and exploring every available resource can make a significant difference in how much you ultimately borrow and repay over time.
Many law schools, including Stetson, automatically consider admitted applicants (whether full-time or part-time) for institutional scholarships without a separate application, based on academic performance, life experience, and potential contribution to the legal community.
Scholarships may be merit-based, need-based, or tied to specific missions like public service or diversity in the legal profession. There are also national and outside scholarships available that support students pursuing particular areas of law, from intellectual property to public interest. To get more detailed strategies on how to find and apply for law school scholarships, including tips on essays, deadlines, and types of awards, check out our guide: How to Get Scholarships for Law School.
Taking time to explore every funding option before committing to a school can significantly reduce your law school debt and make attending law school more financially attainable.
Filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a foundational step for accessing federal loans, which often offer more flexible repayment options than private loans. Federal programs may also make you eligible for grants or work-study opportunities that help cover costs while you’re in school, and federal loans can be paired with income-driven repayment plans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) if you plan to work in government or nonprofit legal roles after graduation.
Working while in law school—whether through a paralegal role, research assistantship, or other part-time job—can help offset living costs and reduce the amount you need to borrow. Some schools also offer assistantships or fellowships in exchange for research, teaching support, or administrative help, which may include stipends or tuition benefits.
For students who want to continue earning while pursuing a law degree, part-time programs can be a smart way to balance work and study. While part-time study typically extends the time it takes to complete a JD, it can reduce reliance on loans and ease pressure from living expenses.
With several loan assistance programs, Stetson University College of Law is able to provide personalized guidance for graduates as they begin their law career. If you’re concerned about the repayment process, these loan assistance programs can be extremely helpful and empowering.
So… is law school worth it? For most people, the tipping point doesn’t come from a single statistic. It comes from answering a few honest questions about goals, finances, and fit. If you’re weighing whether law school is worth it, these questions can help bring clarity.
Start with the basics: What do you want to do, and does it actually require a law degree?
Some careers, like becoming a practicing lawyer, prosecutor, judge, or public defender, clearly do. Others may benefit from legal training, but don’t strictly need it. If your goals are broad or undefined, it becomes harder to justify the cost of law school. Specific goals make it easier to evaluate whether the investment aligns with the outcome.
Law school debt affects more than monthly payments. It can shape where you live, the jobs you pursue, and how much flexibility you have in your first year or two after graduation.
Ask yourself:
How much debt feels manageable to you?
Would repayment pressure limit your career choices?
How would debt affect your stress level and lifestyle?
There’s no universal right answer—but don’t avoid the question.
Focus less on the title and more on the day-to-day reality. Legal work often involves long hours, heavy reading, writing, and sustained attention to detail. Before committing, try to understand what practicing law looks like in the fields you’re considering. Talking to attorneys or gaining legal-adjacent experience can help clarify whether the work itself appeals to you.
A law degree can provide flexibility but not always immediately. Early in your career, choices may be shaped by debt, geography, and the job market. Flexibility often increases over time as experience grows.
Consider what matters most to you:
Geographic mobility
Ability to move between sectors
Long-term adaptability versus short-term income
For some students, law school can feel like a productive way to buy time. But it’s a costly way to delay clarity. Law school is most likely to be worth it when it’s a step toward something (even if that direction evolves), rather than a pause because the next step feels uncertain.
Law school is worth it for students who enter with clear goals, realistic expectations, and a plan for managing costs. It’s riskier for those who rely on prestige alone, assume the degree will automatically lead to a high-paying job, or do it because it just feels like the next step after college. If you approach the decision thoughtfully—considering both the financial realities and the professional opportunities—a law degree can be a powerful investment.
Find a law school that you believe will genuinely take an interest in your life, care about helping you achieve your goals, and is committed to an ongoing relationship during and after your education.
At Stetson University College of Law, we believe that fit is key. That’s why we encourage all prospective law students to visit our campus for a tour, visit a class, and meet with students, faculty, and career development officers to learn more about our culture. We encourage you to visit us here at Florida’s oldest law school and learn more about the Stetson Law community. We welcome you and look forward to learning more about your goals!