The Missouri Bar

Gubernatorial Candidates Talk Higher Ed

Student loan debt rises

As Missouri gubernatorial candidates Republican Kenny Hulshof and Democrat Jay Nixon square off with their visions for higher education, families across the state find themselves wondering how they will pay for college.

Some have urged government officials to buy up bad student loan debt, along with housing loans, to save the U.S. economy. Even if that is an option, it doesn't help students in bad financial straights now - or those in still in school and staring down a mound of debt that could remain for a lifetime.

Students are borrowing more for higher learning - and adding on some whopping credit card debt for books, parties, food and other items. With credit limits being reduced or, in some cases, retracted, and with students finding jobs that make a wage smaller than they need, the credit crunch has put the pinch on these young graduates.

But there is hope for some through the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007. What is it and how can it help you or your college grad? Law in Your Life host Angela Wilson finds out from attorney Steve Murrell in this podcast on college debt.

What College Students Need to Know

Classes at colleges and universities are in full swing. Soon, though, some students might find themselves facing real-life situation they are not prepared for. The Law in Your Life has podcasts for students about issues that could impact the rest of their lives. Check them out!

Credit and Debt

Legal Troubles

Student Loan Forgiveness

Effort Begins to Lower Legal Limit

Each year, 1,700 college student die of alcohol-related deaths, sometimes injuring or killing others in the process. College and university officials say that lowering the legal limit from 21 to 18 years old could help take the fun out of drinking for students who are out from under parental supervision for the first time ever. This week, presidents from 100 colleges banded together to propose lowering the limit, saying that it would purge binge drinking from their campuses. Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) and other groups strongly disagree. (Read more)

College is a time for learning - and partying - for many students, and some are completely unprepared for the very adult consequences of their actions. And it's not just drinking that can cause problems. Issues with landlors, credit card debt and arrests for peace disturbance or drug possession are among the top reasons students get in trouble.

In this Law in Your Life podcast, host Angela Wilson discusses these issues, and what parents and students need to know, with University of Missouri-Columbia legal services attorney Steve Concannon.

Law in Your Life #47: College Student Debt

Credit card companies can't wait for a new set of students to enter Missouri colleges this fall. Sometimes using deceptive tactics like T-shirt giveaways and free food, companies are laying in wait to sign up students for credit. But many times, these students aren't equipped to handle it, mentally and financially. What should students - and parents - know before they hit the quad and find tantalizing credit card offers? Attorney Debra Lumpkins shares with host Angela Wilson.

(Internet Explorer users click twice.)

Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 9.5 meg)
Note: in some browsers, the file may not begin playing until full file is downloaded.

Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 9.5 meg)
Note: in some browsers, the file may not begin playing until full file is downloaded.

Students: Be Careful Before Taking that Free Sandwich Coupon

Credit card companies have stepped up marketing cards to college students. Some offer free sandwich coupons or T-shirts to get students to sign forms. Suddenly, that student has a line of credit - and most don't know how to manage it. Many students find themselves with overwhelming credit card debit on top of their student loans, and unable to make even minimum payments. Before you sign on for that freebie, read the form carefully.

CNNMoney.com has more details.

The Missouri Attorney General's Office offers helpful hints for students to prevent astronomic debt from overshadowing what should be enjoyable college years.

College Prep

Thousands of Missouri teens are excitedly buying up new clothes, dorm refrigerators and pricey text books. But getting ready for college is about more than just buying stuff students need. These teens also need to be prepared for legal issues that may occur.

Students face landlord/tenant issues, credit problems and bankruptcy as a result of credit card and other debt, arrests for underage drinking or drug possession, loud parties and more.

In this Law in Your Life podcast, host Angela Wilson discusses these issues with University of Missouri-Columbia legal services attorney Steve Concannon.

College Student Arrested for Theft

A 20-year old University of Florida student was arrested for stealing items from cars. Witnesses saw the man breaking into cars before calling police. (Read more)

College is a great time for youth to come into their own, but sometimes, they make bad choices - for a variety of reasons. What do you do when that happens? University of Missouri legal services attorney Steve Concannon tell us in this Law in Your Life interview. MU also offers up an excellent Web resource for students who need to know their rights about landlord/tenant laws, drinking and driving, drugs, employment, consumer protection laws and more. You don't have to be an MU student to find useful information on the site.

Tougher Today to Get Student Loans

The fallout from the subprime mortgage mess has forced some financial institutions to pull out from college funding programs. It's tougher than ever to get funding for school. (Read more.)

In a recent interview, Steve Murrell with The Missouri Bar explains a new program where students with Stafford loans can have the balance forgiven. How does this work? And who qualifies? Listen to the podcast for details.

Law in Your Life #29: Student Loan Forgiveness

New laws could mean you pay less on your student loans - or those loans could be forgiven. It's part of the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007. What loans are eligible? And who can apply? This week Steve Murrell with The Missouri Bar explains the new student loan repayment and forgiveness programs, and how they can work for you. (Internet Explorer users click twice.)

Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 11.9 meg)
Note: in some browsers, the file may not begin playing until full file is downloaded.

Here are some Web sites that can also help you find out if you qualify:

Visit the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) at www.nslds.ed.gov to view all or your federal student loans. 

Equal Justice Works  http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/resource/ccraa

Read the law review article authored by Georgetown Professor Phil Shrag that provides detailed descriptions of IBR and Loan Forgiveness for Public Service Employees: http://www.law.georgetown.edu/news/documents/Forgiveness.pdf.

Use the IBR monthly repayment calculator: http://www.finaid.org/calculators/ibr.phtml

Use the ICR monthly repayment calculator: http://www.finaid.org/calculators/icr.phtml
 
Federal direct consolidation loan information and applications: http://loanconsolidation.ed.gov/

Committee on Education and Labor US House of Representatives
http://edworkforce.house.gov/micro/ccraa.shtml

National  Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
Summary of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (HR 2669)
http://www.nasfaa.org/publications/2007/G2669Summary091007.html

National  Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Public Service Loan Forgiveness
http://www.nasfaa.org/PDFs/2007/FAQPublic.pdf

Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 11.9 meg)
Note: in some browsers, the file may not begin playing until full file is downloaded.

Here are some Web sites that can also help you find out if you qualify:

Visit the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) at www.nslds.ed.gov to view all or your federal student loans. 

Equal Justice Works  http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/resource/ccraa

Read the law review article authored by Georgetown Professor Phil Shrag that provides detailed descriptions of IBR and Loan Forgiveness for Public Service Employees: http://www.law.georgetown.edu/news/documents/Forgiveness.pdf.

Use the IBR monthly repayment calculator: http://www.finaid.org/calculators/ibr.phtml

Use the ICR monthly repayment calculator: http://www.finaid.org/calculators/icr.phtml
 
Federal direct consolidation loan information and applications: http://loanconsolidation.ed.gov/

Committee on Education and Labor US House of Representatives
http://edworkforce.house.gov/micro/ccraa.shtml

National  Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
Summary of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (HR 2669)
http://www.nasfaa.org/publications/2007/G2669Summary091007.html

National  Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Public Service Loan Forgiveness
http://www.nasfaa.org/PDFs/2007/FAQPublic.pdf

Law in Your Life #16: College Student Legal Issues

You send your kids off to college with high hopes about their grades and career advancement, but you don't think of legal trouble students sometimes face when they first get out on their own. This week, host Angela Wilson discusses typical legal troubles of college students with University of Missouri-Columbia legal services attorney Steve Concannon. (Internet Explorer users click play twice.)

While Concannon works specifically with students at the MU campus, MU Student Legal Services offers up booklets and other legal issues information - including landlord/tenant laws, drinking and driving, drugs, employment, credit and consumer protection laws - that apply to college students across the state

Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 19.3 meg)
Note: in some browsers, the file may not begin playing until full file is downloaded.

Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 19.3 meg)
Note: in some browsers, the file may not begin playing until full file is downloaded.