First-generation students constitute a significant proportion (26%) of law student populations across the United States, but a recent Law School Survey of Student Engagement (LSSSE) reveals a worrying trend. These students demonstrate a propensity to graduating with higher levels of debt when compared to their peers who come from families with a history of tertiary education.
The disparity in debt levels between first-generation students and their classmates is especially concerning, given that those who are the first to attend university in their families typically come from lower socio-economic backgrounds. While their counterparts might have family resources to draw upon, first-generation students often combine their studies with paid work and familial responsibilities, impeding their ability to focus solely on their studies.
This disadvantage is further underscored by the findings that first-generation law students are less likely to receive merit scholarships. If this trend continues, it will affect not only these students’ academic experience, but their subsequent professional careers, as they will be burdened by higher financial problems post-graduation.
As a result, commentators are now calling on law schools to address these issues and look for comprehensive ways to assist first-generation students and minimize the debilitating effects of higher education debt. As Meera Deo, survey director for the annual LSSSE, observes, “Students who are first generation are really dealing with a lot“. It is essential for the legal education system to recognize and respond to the unique challenges faced by students stepping into academia for the first time in their families.