Each year the Financial Aid Handbook is published to provide students with information concerning the policies and guidelines of our financial aid program. We hope the handbook will also be of great use as an aid in helping you plan the financing of your legal education.

Stanford Law School has always maintained its commitment to providing financial assistance to students who would otherwise be unable to pursue a legal education. All aid is based on demonstrated financial need and any student with financial concerns about paying for his or her legal education is encouraged to apply for financial assistance. Stanford Law School will do its utmost to ensure that students receive the financial assistance they need to complete the required three years of study through a combination of need-based tuition fellowship, if eligible, and loans.

As you are well aware, the cost of a legal education continues to rise. What has naturally followed is a larger reliance on the use of loans to finance these escalating costs. While we are confident that many of our graduates who received financial assistance and who are faced with considerable educational debts are able to support these debts due to current salaries available within the legal profession, we do realize that those graduates pursuing careers in government or public service require assistance with their loan debt. In response to this concern, Stanford Law School established the Miles and Nancy Rubin Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) and the Anonymous Public Service Loan Repayment Assistance Program in 1985. This program manifests Stanford Law School’s commitment to guaranteeing career choices for its graduates and making public interest law options a more attractive and financially sustainable choice and, in essence, extends the financial aid program for these participants beyond the three years spent at the Stanford Law School.

Every financial aid case is unique, but all are governed by policies designed for the benefit of all. It is our hope that you will find this handbook helpful as you plan ahead. Do keep in mind that the handbook is an adjunct to financial aid counseling and that you are encouraged to ask further questions and seek out additional information by calling the Office of Financial Aid directly at 650 723.9247, emailing us at financial.aid@law.stanford.edu, or stopping by Room 107.

Faye Deal, Associate Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid
Kyung Chong, Associate Director of Financial Aid
Frankie Quiroz, Financial Aid Advisor