Advise with confidence

Financial aid is one of the most consequential — and least comfortable — topics prelaw advisors navigate. But you don't need to be an expert to advise well. With enough background, you can help your advisees understand the landscape, ask the right questions, and make informed decisions — without calculating aid packages or telling them what to choose.

The training is a mix of on-demand lessons and live sessions. Self-paced modules cover federal and private loans, financial aid packages, scholarship reconsideration, repayment, and more. Four live "Ask Me Anything" sessions with LSAC's financial aid expert give you the chance to ask questions off the record.

All materials remain accessible for one year from enrollment, so you can return to them as advising situations arise throughout the cycle.

If you complete the program, you will receive a Certificate of Completion. Details below.


On-Demand Curriculum

    1. A Welcome Message

    2. Live Events

    1. Overview

    2. Admissions and Financial Aid Move in Parallel

    3. Decision Pressure and Deposit Deadlines

    4. Review: Advising Hypothetical

    1. Overview

    2. When to Complete the FAFSA

    3. How to Complete the FAFSA

    4. Common Mistakes

    5. Review: Advising Hypothetical

    1. Overview

    2. What’s Included

    3. What’s Not Included

    4. Cost of Attendance Adjustments

    5. Cost of Attendance and ROI

    6. Review: Advising Hypothetical

    1. What Is a Financial Aid Package?

    2. Sample Financial Aid Package

    3. Timing

    4. Evaluating and Comparing Financial Aid Packages

    5. Financial Aid Packages and ROI

    6. Review: Advising Hypothetical

    1. Overview

    2. Disbursements

    3. Refunds

    4. Review: Advising Hypothetical

Daily AMAs

LSAC’s resident financial aid expert will host four live “Ask Me Anything” events the week of March 23. After a short lesson, ask her any financial aid questions.

  • March 23 | 2:00 p.m - 3:00 p.m. ET
    With a short lesson on the key differences between law school and undergraduate financial aid.

  • March 24 | 2:00 p.m - 3:00 p.m. ET
    With a short lesson on the true cost of law school.

  • March 25 | 2:00 p.m - 3:00 p.m. ET
    With a short lesson on normalizing uncertainty, managing expectations, and calming fears.

  • March 26 | 2:00 p.m - 3:00 p.m. ET
    With a short lesson on the network of support for you and your advisees.

Learning Outcomes

  • Explain how law school financial aid differs from the undergraduate experience and why that matters for your advisees

  • Describe the components of Cost of Attendance and how it shapes borrowing limits across all aid types

  • Distinguish between federal and private student loans, including key changes to federal loan policy taking effect in 2026

  • Compare financial aid packages using net cost rather than scholarship size alone

  • Identify the factors that make a conditional scholarship worth closer scrutiny

  • Explain the federal repayment options available to new borrowers and how they align with different career paths

  • Demonstrate where to direct advisees for authoritative financial aid information at each stage of the process

FAQ

  • Who is this training designed for?

    Prelaw advisors at two and four-year universities. If you are a prospective or current law student, please visit LawHub.org for financial aid resources.

  • Is this for me?

    Yes. We recognize that there are institutional limitations for some prelaw advisors, where you're expected to send your advisees to the campus financial aid office for technical discussions. However, this training is designed for prelaw advisors -- not those seeking to become expert financial aid practitioners.

  • What are the requirements for my Certificate of Completion?

    All participants who complete 100% of the asynchronous content will automatically receive a Certificate of Completion from LSAC if you complete the requirements by May 15, 2026. You do not need to attend any live events for this certificate. This certificate will include your name, institution, program name, and LSAC's logo. If you complete the program at a later date, you will still receive your certificate, but must let us know that you've completed it.

  • What can I expect at the daily AMAs from March 23 to 26?

    We'll start with a short lesson (~10 minutes) on a particular topic, but the rest of the hour will allow you to ask LSAC's resident financial aid expert any financial aid question you'd like. The lessons will be recorded and posted within this training, but the question portion will be totally off the record.

  • How long will these materials be available?

    The on-demand materials will be available through February 2027.

  • What's the cost?

    None! This training is free for any prelaw advisor in the LSAC system.