Many law students today are taking on far higher debt loads than they have the experience to manage. But debt management is far from the whole story.
Students often lack a framework for making good financial decisions, which can impact every aspect of their personal and professional futures. And while financial education counseling may be available, it is often not robust enough to meet their needs, nor is it tailored to address their individual circumstances. That’s why we created MAX, the first-of-its-kind, multi-faceted personal finance curriculum exclusively for law students.
MAX combines in-person workshops, online and virtual programming, and one-on-one counseling to leverage the strengths of law students, address their weaknesses and fit into their demanding schedules.
The program is structured to complement the work you are already doing to educate your students on loan repayment and personal finance.
A Comprehensive, Innovative And Effective Financial Education Program Created Expressly For Law Students
"Introducing MAX by AccessLex this year has greatly benefited our first year students. The commitment and support from the AccessLex team has been excellent. The presentations and materials provide the much needed information in a way that is relevant and easily understood by today’s law students. I look forward to future outcomes as our current first year students continue to benefit from the MAX program during their second and third year of law school. I hope the lessons they learn now will not only influence their financial decisions as law students but as future lawyers as well."
Andres Marrero
Director Law Student Financial Services
St. Thomas University Law School
Developed to maximize the financial capability and capacity of law students, MAX provides a best-in-class financial education curriculum - in a format that is accessible and engaging - to drive the knowledge
gain and behavior change essential to improving financial well-being.
MAX is designed to:
- FOCUS on the financial education needs of the law student community;
- ENGAGE students at their level of understanding, expertise and experience;
- DEVELOP positive financial decision-making skills;
- EMPOWER individuals to take action to improve their financial - and life - situations in both the short and long term; and
- SUPPORT law school professionals in their efforts to help students succeed.
MAX is Offered at No Cost to AccessLex Institute's Member Law Schools.
MAX by AccessLex® is available to first-, second- and third-year law students. The first year a school is registered for MAX by AccessLex, the program is available for its 1L students, who will then proceed through the full 1L-2L-3L learning path.
Law schools will be required to register for MAX on an annual basis to confirm their commitment to the program.
"When I heard that there was a free financial program for law students, I decided to check it out. I immediately liked the resources on the website—the activities are interactive and, most importantly, quick. One of the early lessons focused on setting financial goals and planning ahead to cover things like bar exam expenses. When I won a contest later in the semester, that lesson kept coming to mind. As a result, I opened a “bar exam fee” account and deposited my winnings. Now that the account is open, I plan to add to it with birthday funds or summer income. Knowing that at least some of my bar exam fees will be covered is a great relief! Thanks to MAX, I was able to do the hardest part and get started."
Shellie, Michigan State 1L
Find out more about how MAX was created, and how it can help your students achieve their financial goals:
To ensure that MAX would truly engage students, increase financial knowledge and improve decision-making skills, AccessLex Institute initiated a pilot program to test specific program elements and delivery mechanisms. Beginning in the fall of 2016, AccessLex Institute collaborated with law school administrators and students to build an outcomes-based program to increase the financial capability of the law school student community. Read More
Law students, and those who are embarking on that path, are motivated and strategic individuals. They are high-achieving, purpose-driven and busy. So, when it comes to personal finance, they need a targeted, action-oriented program that directly supports their personal goals. Read More
An online curriculum is necessary to provide learning opportunities on-the-go and in short, manageable segments. But researchers indicate, and the responses from the MAX pilot program confirm, that meaningful knowledge gain and behavior change are more likely to occur when learning is supported through multiple channels and with varied touchpoints. Read More
Law students are natural strategists. They do their research and they assess situations from multiple points of view. MAX provides a strategic approach to personal finance that purposely incorporates these qualities.
The 1L, 2L and 3L Learning Paths
Through on-campus workshops, online learning modules and optional one-on-one coaching, MAX will teach students skills to save money in school, while building an understanding and knowledge base that will enable them to more easily handle bigger financial decisions for a lifetime.
The 1L, 2L and 3L Learning Paths
Through on-campus workshops, online learning modules and optional one-on-one coaching, MAX will teach students skills to save money in school, while building an understanding and knowledge base that will enable them to more easily handle bigger financial decisions for a lifetime.
