AccessLex
Feel confident about your financial strategy.
Our team of Accredited Financial Counselors (AFC©) can help you understand scholarships, grants, loan terms, repayment options and more.
If you are considering or pursuing a law degree — or any other graduate or professional education — contact us for clear, unbiased information to set you on a sound financial path. And whether it’s your first call or your fifth, AccessConnex is always free.
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AccessConnex is here to help.
Email us or use one of the links below to schedule an appointment today.
Just a few of our most frequently asked questions:
If calling about student loan repayment, we recommend you have a copy of your federal student loan summary and/or a recent credit report for the most tailored advice and accurate analysis. AccessConnex counselors will never request, require, or store any personal information (SSN, DOB, etc.).
Visit the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) for a list of all your federal student loans – including loan type, loan amount and loan servicer information. You will use your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID to log into NSLDS. To create or manage your FSA ID, go to fsaid.ed.gov.
Once you log in to NSLDS, you will have access to the following loan details:
- Loan type
- Current loan status
- Outstanding principal
- Outstanding interest
- Interest rate
- Servicer
If you have non-federal loans, check your credit report at annualcreditreport.com or ask your financial aid office to identify those loans.
A grace period is a period of time where you are not yet required to make loan payments and it varies based on loan type. Some of your loans will enter repayment after a 6- or 9-month grace period, while others may enter repayment upon graduation.
When it comes to repaying your federal student loans, you have options. Unlike a traditional consumer loan (such as a car loan or mortgage), student loans allow you to choose the repayment plan that’s the best fit for you. Choosing the right repayment plan can have a long-time effect on your financial situation, and it’s worth taking time to compare plans. There’s no one right answer, but there’s likely a right answer for you.
You have options in two major categories:
With Debt-Driven Repayment plans, your monthly payment is based on your total debt, the interest rate on those loans and the length of the repayment term. Examples of debt-driven repayment plans include: Standard Repayment, Graduated Repayment and Extended Repayment.
With Income-Driven Repayment plans, your monthly payment is based on your income, household size and state of residency. Examples of income-driven repayment plans include: Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR), Income-Based Repayment (IBR), Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE).
For more information about these plans, visit our Student Loan Repayment Summary Chart. You can also access The Road to Zero: A Strategic Approach to Student Loan Repayment guide.
To apply for an Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plan, visit StudentLoans.gov or request an application from your servicer. It is recommended that you start the IDR application process 2-3 months before the end of your grace period.
Under Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), federal student loan borrowers may qualify for forgiveness on the remaining balance of their Federal Direct Loans after making 120 on-time qualifying payments on those loans under an eligible repayment plan while employed full-time by certain public service employers.
You can track your progress toward qualifying forgiveness by submitting an Employment Certification Form with the U.S. Department of Education. This form is not required; however, it is advised that you submit this form to the Department annually (and when switching employers). Once you have made your 120 qualifying payments, complete and submit the official Application for Forgiveness. The current Employment Certification Form and instructions for completing it are available at studentaid.ed.gov/publicservice.