University of New Hampshire School of Law
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| University of New Hampshire School of Law | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | University of New Hampshire School of Law |
| Established | 1973 |
| Type | Public |
| Parent | University of New Hampshire |
| City | Concord |
| State | New Hampshire |
| Country | United States |
| Dean | Gordon H. Smith |
| Students | ~600 |
| Faculty | ~50 |
University of New Hampshire School of Law is a public law school located in Concord, New Hampshire, affiliated with the University of New Hampshire. The school offers Juris Doctor and graduate legal degrees and operates clinical and externship programs in partnership with state institutions such as the New Hampshire Supreme Court and federal entities including the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire. Its graduates serve on benches and in offices like the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office, the New Hampshire House of Representatives, and federal agencies such as the Department of Justice.
History
The school was founded in 1973 amid legal education expansion in the United States during the post-Civil Rights Movement era and the reconfiguration of regional law programs following initiatives by the American Bar Association and the Association of American Law Schools. Early leadership included deans with prior experience at institutions such as Boston University School of Law and Syracuse University College of Law, and formative partnerships were established with the New Hampshire Bar Association, the New England Journal of Medicine's legal scholars, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster law training. Through the 1980s and 1990s the school expanded clinics modeled after programs at Yale Law School, Harvard Law School, and Columbia Law School, and alumni began clerking for judges on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
Campus and Facilities
The campus is situated near the State House in Concord and includes facilities such as a law library modeled on collections at the Library of Congress and specialized spaces inspired by courtrooms like those at the New Hampshire Superior Court. The law library houses materials comparable to holdings at the Lois E. Horton archives and provides access to databases used by practitioners at firms such as Shea & Gould and organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union. Classroom and moot court spaces replicate environments found at the National Judicial College and accommodate visiting lecturers from institutions including the United States Supreme Court's clerkship programs and think tanks such as the Brookings Institution.
Academics and Programs
The school offers a three-year Juris Doctor program, an LL.M. in areas reflecting practice needs observed at the New Hampshire Bar Association and specialty programs aligned with topics covered by the Environmental Protection Agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Trade Organization. Coursework draws on pedagogical models from the Clinical Legal Education Association and comparative law offerings referencing the European Court of Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Students participate in seminars named for figures like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Antonin Scalia, and Sandra Day O'Connor and may pursue dual degrees with the University of New Hampshire School of Business and programs associated with the United Nations.
Admissions and Student Body
Admissions data reflect median metrics comparable to state institutions such as the University of Maine School of Law and regional peers like Boston College Law School and Northeastern University School of Law. The incoming class historically includes candidates who attended undergraduate programs like Dartmouth College, Harvard College, University of Vermont, and Boston University, and applicants who have worked at organizations such as the Peace Corps, Teach For America, and the Federal Public Defender. Student demographics show representation from New England states that send graduates to employers including the New Hampshire Governor's Office, county courthouses, and national nonprofits like Human Rights Watch.
Faculty and Research Centers
Faculty have backgrounds from institutions such as Yale Law School, Columbia Law School, New York University School of Law, and Georgetown University Law Center, and include scholars who publish alongside researchers at the Harvard Law Review, Yale Law Journal, and the Stanford Law Review. Centers and institutes engage with topics mirrored by entities like the Environmental Protection Agency, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Federal Communications Commission, and collaborate with projects at the Pew Research Center and the Koch Institute-style policy groups. Visiting faculty have come from the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, the Federal Trade Commission, and international courts such as the International Court of Justice.
Clinical Programs and Practical Training
Clinical offerings include externships and clinics patterned after models at Harvard Legal Aid Bureau and Northwestern Pritzker School of Law's clinical programs, with placements at the New Hampshire Legal Assistance office, the United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Hampshire, and local public defender offices. The school runs a litigation clinic that prepares students for appearances in state tribunals like the New Hampshire Superior Court and administrative hearings before agencies akin to the Social Security Administration. Moot court teams compete in competitions such as the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, the National Moot Court Competition, and the ABA Client Counseling Competition.
Rankings and Accreditation
The law school is accredited by the American Bar Association and participates in assessments by organizations like U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review. Alumni placement statistics are tracked alongside benchmarks set by schools such as Boston University School of Law and Vermont Law School, and outcome measures include clerkships with the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire and positions at firms involved in cases before the United States Supreme Court.
Category:Law schools in New Hampshire