Q. I heard that a large amount of debt can result in a denial of bar admissions. I have over $200,000 in student loans. Will that keep me out?
A. An unfortunate fact of life for all but the most affluent, student loans, by themselves, rarely pose obstacles to bar admission. If they did, very few law school graduates would qualify for admission to the bar.
Bar examiners generally understand that many aspiring lawyers carry student loan debt as a result of their educational pursuits. Indeed, many of the repayment provisions are stayed until after graduation, so that few defaults are even likely for those applying for admission to the bar.
But bar examiners won't ignore applicants who ignore their student loans and other financial obligations. Examining an applicant's overall financial responsibility, licensing boards do scrutinize the management of student loan debt as part of the character and fitness evaluation. Factors that may be taken into account include the borrower's repayment history, current financial status, and demonstrated efforts to fulfill loan obligations.
Making timely payments and adhering to repayment plans or loan forgiveness programs can demonstrate a commitment to fulfilling financial obligations. While bar examiners may forgive us for taking out these loans, they are less generous with applicants who disregard these obligations at the start of their careers.