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« TLS Profiles - TLS Programs - TLS Stats - Rankings The University of Maine School of LawEstablished in 1962, the University of Maine School of Law is a classic example of a law school that ought not to be judged solely by its ranking; offering reasonable in-state tuition and almost unparalleled access to the Maine legal market. Thus, the University of Maine is an excellent choice for Maine residents seeking a legal education and a potentially excellent choice for many others. Admissions & Tuition Gaining admission to the University of Maine School of Law is not overwhelmingly competitive. Typically, the law school accepts between 40 and 50 percent of applicants—most recently the figure was 49%. The median grade point averages and LSAT scores for accepted applicants are 3.33 and 156, respectively. Students with numbers at or above this level should feel relatively confident about their chances, and those whose numbers are sub-par can maximize their odds by perfecting their personal statements, securing compelling letters of recommendation, and possibly getting a few years of work experience after college before applying. Tuition at the University of Maine is slightly different from other public schools, as it is broken down into three levels instead of the customary two. For Maine residents, a year’s tuition costs $19,470. For residents of New England states without an in-state public law school or residents of Canada, annual tuition is $27,420. For all others, the annual tuition cost is $29,970. The law school recommends that all students (regardless of their state of origin) budget just under $13,000 for expenses such as food, lodging and books. This brings the total cost of attendance of the University of Maine School of Law to around $33,000 a year for residents and $43,000 a year for non-residents. Bar Passage & Employment Prospects It comes as no surprise that the majority of The University of Maine School of Law’s graduates opt to take the Bar in Maine, and this is an endeavor in which they’ve recently been quite successful. Most recently, the Bar passage rate was 92.2% for first-time test takers, 7.5% higher than the overall state average. Also good news is the fact that the University of Maine’s bar passage rate has seen a progressive upward trend over the past eight years, however due to poor showings in the past, the school’s average passage rate between 2001 and the present is only 71.1%. When it comes to employment, there are pros and cons of attending the University of Maine. On the one hand, no appreciable percentage of Maine graduates end up in high-paying NLJ250 “biglaw” jobs. On the other hand, this is in part due to self-selection: There are no NLJ250 firms headquartered in Maine, and University of Maine graduates often intend to stay in their home state to practice. While it is often not as high-paying as NYC biglaw, the Maine legal market is almost entirely laid open to University of Maine alums. This is especially true of clerkships within the state, as well as judicial positions (the current Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Court is a graduate of the University of Maine). Academics 1Ls at Maine take courses typical of first year law students all over the country. For 2 and 3L students, however, there are a number of choices. There are 1-semester programs in Canada and the UK, as well as a number of clinical programs for students interested in pursuing legal specialties. Maine Law offers a number of joint degrees, including the J.D./M.B.A. There are also several publications on which law students may work, including the Maine Law Review and the Ocean and Coastal Law Journal. The student-to-faculty ratio of 14-to-1 is relatively good for a school of Maine’s ranking. Quality of Life Portland is the largest city in Maine (approximate population: 63,000). While it is not huge, Portland is only about 2 hours from Boston, and it is also the main economic capital of Maine. Portland also has one of the largest and busiest ports in New England. There are minor-league sports teams and other local attractions, and of course plenty of lobster can be found in local eateries. One particular feather in the city’s cap is that it was named the number one most livable city in America by Forbes.com. Still, it should go without saying that those accustomed to the busy lifestyle of places like New York and LA will have to get used to life in Maine. Conclusion The University of Maine isn’t the law school for everyone; those looking to make the big bucks in New York or Boston might find themselves better served obtaining their legal educations elsewhere. On the other hand, for students (especially Maine residents) looking to stay and practice in The Pine Tree State, the University of Maine is pretty hard to beat. Quick Reference U.S. News Ranking: 100 |
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