University of Maine School of Law

University of Maine School of Law. It is the only law school in the state of Maine and a member of the University of Maine System. Founded in the early 1960s, the school is known for its focus on public service, experiential learning, and its role in the legal community of New England. Its campus is located in the historic Deering Oaks neighborhood of Portland, Maine.

History

The school was established by an act of the Maine Legislature in 1962, with its first classes held in temporary quarters at the University of Maine in Orono. The founding dean was Edward S. Godfrey, who helped shape its early curriculum and mission. In 1972, the school relocated permanently to its current home in Portland, initially occupying a building at 246 Deering Avenue. A significant expansion occurred in the 1990s with the construction of the L. Kinvin Wroth wing, named for a former dean. Throughout its history, it has maintained a close relationship with the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and the Maine State Bar Association.

Academics

The school offers the Juris Doctor degree, as well as several dual-degree programs in conjunction with the University of Southern Maine and the University of Maine, including a J.D./M.B.A. and a J.D./M.P.H.. Its curriculum emphasizes practical skills through required clinics like the Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic and externships with the Maine Attorney General's office, various Maine District Court locations, and non-profit organizations. The school also houses specialized programs in Ocean and Coastal Law and Information Privacy Law, attracting students interested in these niche fields. Academic performance is governed by an honor code administered by a student-faculty committee.

Campus

The primary facility is the John and Lileah B. Glickman Library, a modern law library that also serves as a federal depository. The campus consists of two interconnected buildings at 246 and 300 Deering Avenue in the Deering Oaks section of Portland. The location provides students with proximity to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, the United States District Court for the District of Maine, and numerous law firms and public interest organizations. The university also maintains a satellite classroom in Augusta, Maine for legislative externs working with the Maine State Legislature.

Notable faculty and alumni

Prominent current and former faculty include dean emeritus L. Kinvin Wroth, a legal historian; former dean Colleen Khoury, who served on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court; and scholar Orlando Delogu, an expert in environmental law. Alumni have achieved distinction in various sectors, including judiciary figures like Kermit Lipez of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and John A. Woodcock Jr. of the United States District Court for the District of Maine. Other notable graduates include former Maine Attorney General Janet T. Mills, who later became Governor of Maine, and Michael Michaud, who served in the United States House of Representatives.

Publications and centers

The school publishes the Maine Law Review, one of the oldest legal journals in the state, which often features commentary on rulings from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. It is also home to the Center for Law + Innovation, which focuses on intellectual property and new media law, and the Marine Law Institute, which conducts research on admiralty law and coastal zone management. These centers frequently collaborate with state agencies like the Maine Department of Marine Resources and host symposia featuring scholars from institutions like the Yale Law School and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Category:University of Maine Category:Law schools in Maine Category:Educational institutions established in 1962 Category:Portland, Maine