Financing Your Legal Education
The ABC's of Financial Aid
Financing a legal education can be a challenge! Let us help you as you work through the various stages. Watch for e-mails and other communication about the financial aid process from Janet Hatcher, Admissions and Financial Aid Advisor. If you have questions, feel free to contact Janet by e-mail (hatcher@utk.edu) or telephone (865) 974-4131.
Certain key data points could help you evaluate the dollars and "sense" of your enrollment decision. These data points might include: estimated tuition and fees, financial aid budget and cost of living, availability of student loans to cover necessary expenses, average amount borrowed by students at schools you are considering, and range of starting salaries for entry level attorney jobs in the areas that interest you (practice areas, job settings, and locales). If you gather this information, you can better evaluate your choices for legal education.
Scholarships
The College of Law has several scholarships for members of the entering class. Approximately 45% of the 2011 entering class received some scholarship assistance, ranging from a small amount to full-tuition (Tennessee Law Scholars.) Most scholarships will strongly consider "merit" (i.e., your academic record as an undergraduate) and others will also consider "financial need." Every effort will be made to award scholarships on a timely basis, so you can know if any assistance will be offered as you decide which law school is best for you. However, scholarships can become available throughout the admissions cycle. Feel free to ask the status of the scholarship process at any time in order to evaluate the likelihood of a scholarship offer being made to you.
Federal Student Loans
If you plan to apply for federal student loans and/or be considered for other assistance based on your financial need, you should complete and submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as soon as possible. Our School Code is "003530". The information from your FAFSA will be electronically sent to our main Financial Aid Office. That office will then send you an award letter. Your award letter will include instructions on accepting your awards and the proper process to follow to secure your loans. Keep in mind that your original award letter will only include Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans. You may also be able to qualify for additional loans through the GradPlus loan program. If you have completed your FAFSA and haven't received an award letter within a couple of weeks, or have any questions, please give Janet Hatcher a call at (865)974-4131 so she will be able to assist you.
Contact Information
The University of Tennessee
College of Law
1505 West Cumberland Avenue
Suite 161
Knoxville, TN 37996-1810
Phone: (865) 974-4131
Fax: (865) 974-1572
Email: lawadmit@utk.edu