Law Grads Can't Afford to Fight the Good Fight

Weems gets financial help from Equal Justice Works and her alma mater. "I am in a very lucky position," she says.

Albany Law's Ludwick, whose school also offers a loan repayment assistance program, says help is out there for some graduates, but acknowledges it is not enough. He says the debt problem has become a major focus of concern for law school administrators all over the country.

According to Ludwick, law schools try to educate students and parents about the challenges, but many miss the message. "I think they are so concerned about getting into law school that the financing may not be on their radar screens as much as it needs to be," he says.

That could eventually change, if degrees become so expensive that they no longer appear to be a good investment.

"There will come a time when students decide the cost exceeds the benefits," Ludwick says. "When that happens, the market will respond to it in a way to resolve the situation."