It does not look like the author of this article explored the details of this story. With zero scholarships and grants, according to Google, the cost of Pepperdine Law School - apparently a top rated schools - is currently $78K per year. Where does the $275K come from? Does it include interest? What did this young lady do during her summers? How come she went to Pepperdine instead of University of Minnesota Law School where the cost is $59K per year? By my math that is roughly $19K per year difference?
Why would anybody hire a lawyer who was so clueless about her own finances?
She was living in California and she may have wanted to remain in California and to practice law there. If so, then it wouldn't make sense for her to attend the University of Minnesota Law School.
Minnesota's usually considered to have a much better law school than Pepperdine, BTW.
You can take out student loans to pay your living expenses.
It is quite possible the extra 275K of debt is living 50K per year for three or more years while going to school in California, then letting it ramp up with deferrals and interest.