Will a lawyer ever pay off their student loan?
3-year degree · Estimated total loan: £60,222
Repayment at starting vs mid-career salary
On a starting lawyer salary of £28,000/year, monthly repayments are £23. The loan would not be fully repaid before the 40-year write-off. Total repaid over 40 years: ~£11,040 of a £60,222 loan.
At a mid-career salary of £80,000/year, repayments rise to £413/month and the loan could be fully repaid in ~13 years.
Monthly take-home impact
Student loan repayments come out via PAYE before your salary hits your account. You budget to your take-home, not your gross salary.
Starting salary take-home
Mid-career take-home
Estimates based on 2025/26 tax rates and personal allowance of £12,570. Does not account for pension contributions, student loan interest, or salary sacrifice schemes.
Bursary note
City law firms offer training contracts from £50,000. Regional and public sector law is substantially lower.
Salary data
What does a lawyer actually earn in each city?
Full salary breakdown by region, experience, and sector →