Varela Financial was founded based on the work we've done with attorneys — solving their student loan problems in the most cost-efficient manner.
Income is your most valuable wealth building tool. The range of income in the legal field is vast, so it matters what your income is now and what it will be in the future.
Free ConsultationTypical challenges
Public interest, small firm and BigLaw incomes look nothing alike, and the same loan balance produces completely different repayment math across them. Planning starts with today's income and a realistic view of the next several years.
Outside of inheritance, income is the most valuable wealth building tool an attorney has. The question is how you use it: lifestyle, debt paydown, or long-term goals. The best cases find a healthy balance across all three.
Law school debt frequently exceeds six figures. On a standard plan that can mean a payment that crowds out everything else, while other plans change both the monthly number and the lifetime cost.
Balances forgiven outside PSLF may be treated as taxable income. Any plan built around forgiveness should account for what may be owed at the end, not just the payment along the way.
Career stage
The same balance produces different answers depending on income, employer and what's coming next.
New associate or clerk
The first repayment plan you choose sets the trajectory. This is also when income certification and plan enrollment decisions are cheapest to get right.
Government or nonprofit attorney
Employer type drives whether PSLF is even on the table, and state-sponsored loan repayment assistance programs may also apply.
Making partner or a large raise
A jump in income changes income-driven payments, the refinancing calculation and the value of pursuing forgiveness.
Starting your own firm
Self-employment income, entity choice and variable cash flow all interact with repayment and certification.
Whether you're working for the government, a small family law firm, or BigLaw, the employer determines which federal programs apply and how predictable your income is.
PSLF is an add-on to an income-driven repayment plan, not a plan of its own. For government and qualifying nonprofit attorneys it can change the answer entirely; for firm attorneys it usually will not apply.
Opening your own practice changes your income pattern, your tax picture and often your repayment plan certification. It's worth reviewing before the change, not after.
The bigger picture
Student loans sit alongside retirement contributions, taxes, insurance and buying a home. We look at the whole picture rather than the loan in isolation.
01 — Approach Phone Call
A free 15-minute phone call to discuss your case, understand your situation and decide together whether a full consultation makes sense.
02 — Student Loan Repayment Consultation
We map your individual case across the repayment options available to you, so you can see short-term and long-term cost side by side.
03 — Solution Meeting
We walk through the strategy, what to do and why, so you leave understanding the plan rather than just following instructions.
Case studies
Attorney — case 36473
Illustrative client example. Individual results and circumstances vary.
Attorney — case 62836
Illustrative client example. Individual results and circumstances vary.
Attorney — case 109765
Illustrative client example. Individual results and circumstances vary.
FAQ
Generally no. PSLF depends on your employer qualifying, so it typically applies to government and qualifying nonprofit roles rather than private firms.
It depends. Generally, if payments on a private loan would be lower than payments on any of the federal repayment plans, refinancing could be a good option — but you would give up federal protections and forgiveness. This is not a recommendation.
A number of states operate loan repayment assistance programs for attorneys in qualifying roles, including Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, Ohio, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts and others.
Educational information only. Not legal, tax or individualized financial advice.
Get in touch
Schedule your free 15-minute phone call to discuss your case today and learn how Varela Financial can help solve your student loan problem.
Illustrative client example. Individual results and circumstances vary.
