If you’re researching law schools in Maine, your search will be pretty straightforward as there’s only one ABA-accredited law program in the state! But don’t let that fool you. Maine plays an important role in the legal world. The state is in the national spotlight for what many are calling a constitutional crisis over indigent defense. According to the ACLU, Maine is failing to provide public defenders to people who are charged with a crime. Fortunately, the Kennebec County Superior Court recently ruled the state had to fix its right to counsel system to ensure everyone has effective representation. So there may be a light at the end of the tunnel for Maine’s poor criminal defendants.
The solution is obviously to train more people to practice law in Maine, which makes the state a great place to go to law school! If you’re thinking about applying, here’s what you need to know about the state’s only ABA-accredited law school and what you’ll need to be a competitive applicant.
Law Schools in Maine
University of Maine School of Law
U.S. News Top Law School Ranking: #91
Tuition: $30,160 (in-state); $42,220 (out-of-state)
Median Undergrad GPA of Program Entrants: 3.7
Median LSAT Score of Program Entrants: 158
Acceptance Rate: 37.3%
First-Time Bar Passage Rate: 84.4%
There may not be many law schools in Maine, but what the state lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality. The University of Maine School of Law is a tight-knit community, and many of the state’s elites are alumni of the school. These include justices on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and a number of the state’s governors. As if that weren’t enough, the school has a first-rate oceanside campus, located just blocks from the restaurants, museums, and microbreweries of downtown Portland. So there’s plenty to see and do.
When it comes to law school specialty rankings, according to U.S. News and World Report the University of Maine Law School comes in at:
- #42 in Environmental Law
- #66 in Clinical Training
- #108 in Contracts/Commercial Law
- #111 in Tax Law
- #115 in Constitutional Law
Curriculum
The JD program is based on a three-year curriculum that gives students a strong foundation in legal analysis and basic lawyering skills.
Dual degree options at Maine Law include the JD/Master of Public Health and the JD/Master of Policy, Planning, and Management.
Students can also earn legal certificates in the following areas:
- Information Privacy Law
- Public Interest and Social Justice Law
- Business and Transactional Law
- Environmental and Oceans Law
Centers and Clinics
Maine Law is home to the Center for Oceans and Coastal Law, which focuses on legal issues that pertain to the high seas. Lawyers at the center work on issues ranging from armed conflict at sea to laws sustaining American eels.
Other centers at Maine Law include the Center for Law and Innovation and the Center for Youth Policy and Law, which focuses on positive outcomes for youth involved in Maine’s child services and foster systems.
Clinics at the school include (the):
- General Practice Clinic
- Refugee and Human Rights Clinic
- Rural Practice Clinic
- Prisoner Assistance Clinic
- Protection from Abuse Program
- Youth Justice Clinic
There are three legal journals at this school, including the Maine Law Review, the Ocean and Coastal Law Journal, and the Student Journal of Information Privacy Law.
Student Organizations
Finally, there are over 20 student organizations to check out, including (the):
- American Constitution Society
- Maine Law Basketball Association
- Finch Society
- International Law Society
- Students for the 6th Amendment
Summary:
The median undergrad GPA of program entrants is 3.7, so admission to the University of Maine School of Law is by no means easy. That said, the median LSAT score of program entrants, while slightly above the national average at 158, is doable for many applicants. And the acceptance rate for the school is fairly high at 37.3%.
The University of Maine School of Law is a small institution, which affords students the opportunity to form close mentorships with their professors. The school may be an especially attractive option if you’re interested in environmental law or addressing the ongoing right to counsel crisis in the state.
How do I get accepted to the University of Maine School of Law?
Whether you’re researching law schools in Maine or another part of the country, the process is the same. The first step in the law school admissions timeline is to take the LSAT. Although there are no required LSAT scores for law school, all law schools have median LSAT scores for their program entrants that give you a pretty good indication of how you compare to their previous incoming class. Remember, law schools want to attract the best of the best, so make sure you give yourself the ultimate shot by getting a high LSAT score.
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