Many non traditional law students are balancing law school with work and family.  This can be not only a strain on time and energy but also on finances.  The proper handling of finances and financial obligations is crucial during your time in law school.  Do not underestimate its potential impact on your final character and fitness review.

Certainly not all non traditional law students are independently wealthy.  Many may be deep in debt irrespective of their law school educational loans.  But the fact that you are in debt will not necessarily affect your character and fitness evaluation.  What will affect your evaluation is how you deal with your current financial situation.  If you have not though about it before, think about it now.

Here are a few steps you can take to improve your chances of surviving the financial aspects of the character and fitness review:

1. Subscribe to a service that monitors your credit score and history.  If you cannot afford to subscribe, then at the very least get your score annually from one of the many free services on the internet.  If you choose the latter method, beware.  Many free sites ask for your credit card and require that you sign up for their service, which is not free.  It will be up to you to cancel.
2. Keep credit card spending (and the number of cards) to a minimum if you can help it.
3. Always pay more than the minimum amount due on revolving credit, even if it is only a small amount.
4. If you cannot make a payment on time, notify your creditor and explain the situation.  They will often work with you.
5. Save your bank statements and reconcile them every month.  Banks can make mistakes.

These are just a few examples of what you can do to stay on top of your financial situation.  Remember, as lawyers we will be handling large amounts of other people’s money.  If we cannot manage our own then what does that say about our fitness to manage someone elses?  God bless and have a great day.