Fellowships and assistantships
While first-year law students should limit how much they work during the school year, second- and third-year law students with superior records or specific skills may apply for assistantships housed in other IU departments. These students generally work about 20 hours per week. Fee remission and departmental stipend amounts may vary. Typically, graduate assistants at IU also receive a health insurance benefit. It is up to the student to secure one of these positions. Please note, if you receive a fee remission from another source (internal or external), your law school scholarship amount may be adjusted.
In addition to assistantships, each year Law School faculty members employ second- and third-year students to work with them on research projects for an hourly wage. Our Career Services Office, Indiana Legal Services, and District 10 Pro Bono Project also hire several work study students a year to assist them in their work. Lastly, our Office for Student Affairs, the JD Admissions office, and our Legal Writing program enlist students each year to support them in their efforts, rewarding them with some additional funding.
Financial opportunities for students pursuing a public interest legal career
The Law School believes in supporting students who want to pursue a public interest career. The Kintner Public Interest Fellowship Program is designed to assist students financially who are working in an unpaid summer public interest internship, including positions with the Stevens Fellow Program and the Rural Justice Initiative. In addition, active members of the Public Interest Law Foundation can apply for special summer fellowships using funds raised by the organization, which are matched by the Law School.
During the academic year, law students have the opportunity to apply for work study funded positions with Indiana Legal Services and District 10 Pro-Bono Project, two local nonprofits that provide free legal assistance to needy recipients. Students who want to attend the annual Equal Justice Works Conference can also apply for small travel grants to assist with those expenses.
After a student graduates, we offer Bar Study Support Grants to assist students financially while they are preparing to take the bar exam. After the bar exam, graduates have the opportunity to participate in the Bridge to Practice program. Bridge to Practice Fellowships are available to eligible graduates who secure unpaid volunteer positions with public interest organizations or small firms while continuing their job search after graduation.
Opportunities for veterans
As a member or veteran of the US military, we are committed to supporting you (and your family) during your tenure at Indiana Law. In terms of financial support, beyond the Law School’s generous merit scholarship awards, Indiana University offers current and former members of our armed forces the following benefits:
- Resident tuition rates for veterans who have been honorably discharged and who are enrolling at IU within 12 months of separation from service;
- Veterans family support grants for veterans with children under age 18;
- Yellow ribbon grants to non-residents who are post-9/11–eligible at the 100% tier. Please call 812-856-1985 or email vetserv@indiana.edu with any questions about yellow ribbon.
IU's Veterans and Military Services benefits page has helpful information about various benefits programs and processing. You can also contact the law school's financial aid office for more information about how those benefits might interact with law school funding.
Federal assistance
For law students, federal student aid includes Direct Unsusbidized Loans, Direct Graduate PLUS Loans, and Federal Work Study. Students should try to file their 2023-2024 FAFSA well before the fall semester begins to ensure their aid is set up prior to the first day of class.
Federal student loans
Eligible students can borrow up to $20,500 per year through the Direct Unsubsidized Loan Program. Students who need funding beyond that amount can apply for a Direct Graduate PLUS loan, the next best federal loan program. These loans are not need-based, so anyone can borrow them regardless of need. You can learn about these two programs here.
Please feel free to schedule an appointment with our Director of Financial Aid if you would like to receive individualized student loan counseling. The law school's financial aid office can provide you with this help from the time you are admitted through your post-graduation employment. Estimating your costs, determining how much to borrow, planning for repayment, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness are some of the topics that can be discussed.
Private loans
If you have exhausted your eligibility for federal direct loans or are ineligible for a graduate PLUS loan and need supplemental funding, a private educational loan program may be available to you to help finance your education.
