Tuition assistance, or tuition reimbursement, is an agreement made between the employer and employee that specifically outlines specific terms under which the employer will pay. As many as 54% of employers offer some sort of tuition assistance for all employees who wish to go back to school to pursue an advanced degree or certification in the same line of work.
According to a study conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management, the average amount of annual tuition reimbursement per employee was $4,591 in 2014. So, if you are struggling to fit quality test prep into your budget, maybe it's time to let your boss know you're planning to go to law school and need some financial assistance.
Here are some of the best reasons for asking your employer for tuition assistance:
1. You're a paralegal, and your boss knows you have aspirations to become a lawyer. Since firms are interested in supporting individuals who can ultimately return to their practice as a full-time employee, they might have plenty of reason to want to invest in your future.
2. Your firm offers tuition assistance to help lawyers pay down their student loans. If your firm is already planning on shelling out thousands on their associates' student loans, explain to them the value of quality test prep and getting an LSAT score that can garner you some serious scholarship money. Why not spend $4591 now to pay $100,000 less for the same education?
3. Preparing for the LSAT *well* can be excellent preparation for law school. Here at Ginsburg Advanced, our goal is not to get you that high score, it's to change the way you think, so you can get a high score now, and on future exams. Learning effective studying and time management skills before beginning law school can make the difference between a first semester of thriving or a first semester of surviving. These skills can also be very valuable at work, which is something that you can share with your employer—their investment will make you a better team member and a more thoughtful worker.
4. If you are a student with a disability and require extra time to study and test, that can make test preparation more expensive for you than for other students. This can be a hard thing to accept for some students, but in my experience, students that test with accommodations often need more 1-on-1 attention, and for a longer period of time, in order to achieve the same results as their non-disabled peers. An employer who is aware of your learning or psychological disabilities (or even one who isn’t) and is able to provide financial support during your law school journey can make the daunting task of LSAT prep feel a little less lonely, a little more supported, and a little more hopeful.
5. The worst thing that can happen is that your employer says no. You may get a 'no' from your employer, but that's not a terrible thing. It just means that you're in the same situation as before you asked, so no harm no foul! Even if you get a no, having the conversation informs your supervisor that you’re serious about your growth and development, which shows you are an asset to your employer. And who knows, asking for tuition assistance may get the powers-that-be talking about developing a tuition assistance program, and that 'no' could turn into a yes later.
Remember, tuition assistance could provide you the support you need to reach your goal score, so that you don’t have to compromise on your law school goals. It can’t hurt to ask- and we can help you prepare so that you’re ready to have the conversation!
At Ginsburg Advanced Tutoring, if you are getting ready to have this conversation with your employer, you can reach out to us for coaching on how to prepare to talk with your supervisor or human resources officer. We can provide you with a mock discussion, walk you through key points to discuss, and help you think through how to react and respond to whatever your supervisor might say.