New York State Bar Association To Host Free Program on Managing Student Loan Debt
7.27.2026
The New York State Bar Association is hosting a free webinar on Aug. 11 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. to help new attorneys plan for the future and figure out a financial plan to manage student loan debt.
According to the Education Data Initiative, the average law student graduate owes $137,500 in student loan debt, and roughly 85% of students borrowed to fund their law and undergraduate degrees.
“Supporting new attorneys as they navigate significant student loan debt is essential to ensuring they enter the profession with stability and momentum,” said Taa Grays, president of the New York State Bar Association. “This program advances our mission by equipping them with the tools to succeed and reinforcing our role as a powerful advocate for the future of legal practice.”
The webinar, “Starting Strong: What New Lawyers Need to Know About Student Loan Solutions” will cover comprehensive financial planning, including cash flow design, combatting lifestyle creep and strategically deploying savings. It is free to attend.
Attendees will receive critical guidance on the upcoming 2026–2028 Federal Loan Reset, learn when to preserve federal flexibility versus refinance, and understand how borrowing decisions impact broader goals like home buying and retirement, all while ensuring their financial choices support both professional competence and long-term well-being.
Marcella Jayne, chair of the association’s Young Lawyers Section, will moderate the Aug. 11 discussion.
The panel of financial experts will be:
- Renee Kuperman, bankruptcy and restructuring attorney.
- Geoff Urquhart, CEO of Sharp Notions and co-founder of GradFin, a student loan advisory platform.
- Mykole Santiago, associate at Prosperian Wealth Management and financial representative at Strategies for Wealth.
“Student debt is a structural problem, not simply a personal budgeting challenge,” said Jayne. “It shapes where young lawyers can work and whether they can buy homes or start families. Financial planning alone cannot solve that larger problem, but this long-overdue program will give young attorneys honest information about the options actually available to them. The Young Lawyers Section intends for this to be the beginning—not the end—of its work on this issue.”
The program is sponsored by the association’s Young Lawyers Section.
