University of Maine School of Law
Encyclopedia
The University of Maine School of Law is located in Portland, Maine
and is Maine
's only law school
. It is a freestanding institution within the University of Maine System
. In practice, it is administered as a unit of the University of Southern Maine
, which provides the law school's support staff and physical plant needs. However, the school is officially not a part of the University of Southern Maine, as its mission extends to the entire state of Maine, not simply the Southern region. The law school's current Dean is Peter Pitegoff
, who assumed the post in 2005.
Many of Maine's judges, legal scholars, politicians and community leaders graduated from the law school, including the current Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, the Hon. Leigh Ingalls Saufley, former state Attorney General Steven Rowe, former State Senate President Elizabeth Mitchell, U.S. District Court Judge John A. Woodcock, former Governor John McKernan
and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine, Paula D. Silsby
.
In 2009, the University of Maine School of Law was ranked among the top 100 in the U.S. News & World Report annual ranking of U.S. law schools but has fallen back into the third tier. University of Maine School of Law was established in 1962 and is a public institution. The campus is in an urban area in Portland. The primary mission of the law school is to educate students to serve the public and private sectors with distinction; to contribute to the advancement of the law through scholarly and professional research and writing; and to engage in public services aimed at improving the legal system. Students have access to federal, state, county, city, and local agencies, courts, correctional facilities, law firms, and legal aid organizations in the Portland area. Portland is the major urban and legal center in the state. Facilities of special interest to law students are the Cumberland County Superior Court, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
, and the Federal District Court. Housing for students is available in university dorms, but most students prefer to find housing in and around Portland. All law school facilities are accessible to the physically disabled.
; the maximum number of credits varies and must be approved. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in public policy and management), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Science in Business Administration), J.D./M.C.P. (Juris Doctor/Master in Community Planning and Development), and J.D./M.S. (Juris Doctor/Master of Science in health policy and management).
Maine Law offers an Integrated Clinical Education Program to third-year students and includes civil practice and criminal defense under the auspices of the Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic
. This clinic includes the General Practice Clinic, Prisoner Assistance Clinic (civil matters), and Criminal Law and Family practicums. Students interested in intellectual property law benefit from a unique Intellectual Property Clinic in which they may prepare and file patent or trademark applications on behalf of local inventors and entrepreneurs. Maine Law’s IP Clinic is one of only four in the nation certified under the patent portion of the US Patent and Trademark Office’s Law School Clinical Certification Pilot, and one of only sixteen schools certified under the Pilot’s trademark division. All clinics are open to third-year students and range from 3 to 6 credits. Students can also gain academic credit for work at many nonprofit and government agencies through an extensive externship program. Seminars in commercial law, consumer law, constitutional law, intellectual property law, and international law are open to second- and third-year students. The Frank M. Coffin Lecture on Law and Public Service is held annually, along with the Godfrey Distinguished Visiting Lecturer and the Deans Distinguished Lecture Series. The Student Bar Association and other student organizations also offer guest lectures. There is a 1-semester option at Dalhousie Law School
in Halifax, Nova Scotia; the University of New Brunswick
, Canada; University College
, Galway, Ireland; and the University of Buckingham
, England.
On average, 92.5% of students pass the bar on their first attempt. Nine months after graduation, 95.8% of Maine Law graduates are employed. With nearly 3/4 of the student body coming from Maine, it is also the state in which a majority take their bar examination. Graduates of Maine Law can expect to make, on average, $60,000 a year in the private sector immediately following their graduation.
, the Ocean and Coastal Law Journal
.
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
and is Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
's only law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
. It is a freestanding institution within the University of Maine System
University of Maine System
The University of Maine System is a network of public universities in Maine. Created in 1968 by the Maine State Legislature, the University of Maine System consists of seven universities, each with a distinct mission and regional character...
. In practice, it is administered as a unit of the University of Southern Maine
University of Southern Maine
The University of Southern Maine is a multi-campus public urban comprehensive university and part of the University of Maine System. USM's three primary campuses are located in Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston...
, which provides the law school's support staff and physical plant needs. However, the school is officially not a part of the University of Southern Maine, as its mission extends to the entire state of Maine, not simply the Southern region. The law school's current Dean is Peter Pitegoff
Peter Pitegoff
Peter Pitegoff is the Dean at the University of Maine School of Law and assumed the post in 2005. He formerly was Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor at the University at Buffalo Law School, State University of New York, where he was a law professor since 1988...
, who assumed the post in 2005.
Many of Maine's judges, legal scholars, politicians and community leaders graduated from the law school, including the current Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, the Hon. Leigh Ingalls Saufley, former state Attorney General Steven Rowe, former State Senate President Elizabeth Mitchell, U.S. District Court Judge John A. Woodcock, former Governor John McKernan
John R. McKernan, Jr.
John Rettie "Jock" McKernan, Jr. is an American politician who served two terms as the 71st Governor of Maine, from 1987 to 1995....
and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine, Paula D. Silsby
Paula D. Silsby
Paula D. Silsby is the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine. Both her father and her grandfather have been Superior Court justices. Her father, Judge Herbert T. Silsby, is a Superior Court justice in Ellsworth, Maine....
.
Background
Maine Supreme Judicial Court
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court is the highest court in Maine's judicial system. Known as the Law Court when sitting as an appellate court, it is composed of seven justices, who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Maine Senate...
, and the Federal District Court. Housing for students is available in university dorms, but most students prefer to find housing in and around Portland. All law school facilities are accessible to the physically disabled.
Academics
Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
; the maximum number of credits varies and must be approved. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in public policy and management), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Science in Business Administration), J.D./M.C.P. (Juris Doctor/Master in Community Planning and Development), and J.D./M.S. (Juris Doctor/Master of Science in health policy and management).
Maine Law offers an Integrated Clinical Education Program to third-year students and includes civil practice and criminal defense under the auspices of the Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic
Legal clinic
The phrase legal clinic may refer to any private, nonprofit law practice serving the public interest. In the academic context, these law school clinics provide hands-on experience to law school students and services to various clients. Academic Clinics are usually directed by clinical professors...
. This clinic includes the General Practice Clinic, Prisoner Assistance Clinic (civil matters), and Criminal Law and Family practicums. Students interested in intellectual property law benefit from a unique Intellectual Property Clinic in which they may prepare and file patent or trademark applications on behalf of local inventors and entrepreneurs. Maine Law’s IP Clinic is one of only four in the nation certified under the patent portion of the US Patent and Trademark Office’s Law School Clinical Certification Pilot, and one of only sixteen schools certified under the Pilot’s trademark division. All clinics are open to third-year students and range from 3 to 6 credits. Students can also gain academic credit for work at many nonprofit and government agencies through an extensive externship program. Seminars in commercial law, consumer law, constitutional law, intellectual property law, and international law are open to second- and third-year students. The Frank M. Coffin Lecture on Law and Public Service is held annually, along with the Godfrey Distinguished Visiting Lecturer and the Deans Distinguished Lecture Series. The Student Bar Association and other student organizations also offer guest lectures. There is a 1-semester option at Dalhousie Law School
Dalhousie Law School
The Schulich School of Law is part of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Formerly called Dalhousie Law School, it was established in 1883, making it the oldest university-affiliated common law school in the Commonwealth. It is the primary law school in Atlantic Canada and...
in Halifax, Nova Scotia; the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
, Canada; University College
National University of Ireland, Galway
The National University of Ireland, Galway is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland...
, Galway, Ireland; and the University of Buckingham
University of Buckingham
The University of Buckingham is an independent, non-sectarian, research and teaching university located in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, England, on the banks of the River Great Ouse. It was originally founded as Buckingham University College in the 1970s and received its Royal Charter from the...
, England.
Admission & Employment Statistics
The University of Maine School of Law currently has a student/faculty ratio of 15.3:1. Acceptance to Maine Law is competitive. Applications were up 62% for the class of 2013. Approximately 37% of applicants are admitted, with 60% coming from Maine. The median LSAT score is 156, and the average GPA is 3.4. Roughly 52% of students are female, and 48% are male. Approximately 7% of this year's first year class are members of a racial minority group.On average, 92.5% of students pass the bar on their first attempt. Nine months after graduation, 95.8% of Maine Law graduates are employed. With nearly 3/4 of the student body coming from Maine, it is also the state in which a majority take their bar examination. Graduates of Maine Law can expect to make, on average, $60,000 a year in the private sector immediately following their graduation.
Publications
The school is home to the Maine Law ReviewMaine Law Review
The Maine Law Review is one of the two student run legal journals at the University of Maine School of Law. Members are chosen by class rank and an annual writing contest. Only second and third year full-time law students are eligible for membership...
, the Ocean and Coastal Law Journal
Ocean and Coastal Law Journal
The Ocean and Coastal Law Journal is a student run legal journal at the University of Maine School of Law. It concentrates on environmental issues related to "domestic and international use of the sea and seashores."...
.