From the School
Founded in 1973 by inventors and entrepreneurs, the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law is a pioneering institution focused on practice-based legal education. Located in Concord, New Hampshire's state capital, the law school offers students opportunities for real-world experience, close collaboration with faculty, and networking with legal leaders. Its tight-knit community fosters lasting relationships, and its comprehensive programs prepare students for careers across various legal fields. Graduates join a network of 6,000 alumni in more than 80 countries.
Overview
From The School
JD Admissions:
- Application period opens: September 15
- Priority application deadline: March 15
- Final application deadline: July 15
- Scholarships available for eligible candidates
- Applications should be submitted via
- Resume
- Personal statement
- Responses to all required questions
- LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report
- Two to three recommendations
Applicants can apply through LSAC or the online application. We strongly encourage those applying to on-campus programs to apply via LSAC. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. International students should follow specific processing timelines provided by the Admissions Office and the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS).
Application Deadlines:
Residential:
- Fall Entry: Priority deadline—May 1, Final deadline for international students—June 1, Final deadline for U.S. students—July 1
- Fall Entry: Priority deadline—July 1, Final deadline for international students—August 1, Final deadline for U.S. students—August 1
- Spring Entry: Deadline for all students—December 15
- Letters of recommendation
- Resume/CV
- Transcripts
- TOEFL or IELTS score (for international students)
- Essay
Applicants
664
Acceptance Rate
54%
Median Undergrad GPA
3.39
Accepted Applicants Who Attend
77
Test Scores
LSAT
25th-75th percentile
(enrolled students)
(enrolled students)
153 - 159
Deadlines
Application Deadlines
April 1
Application Process
Rolling Admissions
Yes
Application Fee
$55
CAS Service Used
Yes
Applicants accepted in terms other than fall
No
Transfer Applicants Accepted
Yes
Deferred Admission
Yes
Other Admission Factors
Academic
LSAT Score
Undergraduate GPA
Letters of Recommendation
Essay / Personal Statement
Selectivity Rating
Overall
From The School
Degrees Offered
UNH Franklin Pierce offers a variety of specialized degree programs designed to provide practice-based learning and personalized legal education:
Juris Doctor (J.D.) Programs
- J.D.
- Hybrid J.D.
- Advanced Standing
- J.D. Certificates
- Dual and Joint Degrees
- Master's
- Intellectual Property M.I.P.
- International Criminal Law & Justice M.I.C.L.J.
- Commerce & Technology M.C.T.L.
- LL.M.
- Intellectual Property LL.M.
- International Criminal Law & Justice LL.M.
- Commerce & Technology LL.M.
- Certificates
- Intellectual Property Graduate Certificate
- Commerce & Technology Graduate Certificates
Programs and Curriculum
UNH Franklin Pierce offers a variety of specialized academic programs designed to provide student with practical experience and career support:
- Clinics:
- Criminal Practice Clinic: Students represent low-income clients in criminal cases, handling client interviews, case management, and court appearances.
- Intellectual Property and Transaction Clinic: Students help clients protect intellectual property, file trademarks and copyrights, draft contracts, and assist with business formations.
- International Technology Transfer Institute (ITTI) Clinic: Students work on IP management and technology transfer projects in developing countries, collaborating with organizations like WIPO.
- Legal Residencies: Students gain real-world experience by working in diverse settings such as law firms, government agencies, and nonprofits.
- Daniel Webster Scholar Honors Program (DWS): The first and only competency-based bar-alternative program where students develop legal skills through simulated and real-world experiences, building portfolios for bar examiners.
- Rudman Summer Fellowships: Provides stipends up to $4,800 for students working with government agencies or public interest organizations.
- Moot Court: The law school participates in five appellate Moot Court Competitions per year. Students develop legal writing and oral advocacy skills in a mock courtroom experience.
- Intellectual Property Summer Institute: A program offering law students and professionals the opportunity to learn from faculty and industry experts on trending IP topics such as AI, fashion law, and digital brand protection.
Faculty Information
Student/Faculty
15:1
44
Female
5
Underrepresented Minorities
Students Say
The University of New Hampshire is the only law school in the state, yet it attracts a high class of students from all over the country, primarily due to its focus on creating “practice-ready” lawyers and because of its Intellectual Property Program, which “is by far the greatest strength of this school.” There are many resources available to students when it comes to IP: the library is the biggest IP library in the U.S., “many graduates are willing to speak to us about their experience,” and the program in Commerce and Technology includes a razor edge focus on e-Law.
The school has an “excellent focus on practice,” which is buoyed by its externship programs and allows students to work in their fields of interest for up to a full semester while receiving credit. The Daniel Webster Scholar Honors Program “offers every real world experience a future attorney could ask for” and is the only practice-based bar exam alternative in the nation. The emphasis on practical, skills-based lawyering “is not just an advertisement—it really happens in the classroom.” There are “endless” internship, externship, and clinical opportunities, as well as a number of classes that focus on what you will do in practice, rather than just theory. “If a student evades a tough question, the professor will often ask ‘What would you tell your client?’” “I really enjoy learning how we'll be able to apply what we learn in the real world,” says a student.
Small class size means the “dynamic, high energy” faculty “really gets to know the students.” Everybody at UNH Law is very accessible. “I even see the Dean walking around in the hallways,” says a 1L. “Many professors have an open door policy,” and “there are teaching assistants who can help you in the rare times when you can't find the professor.” “There was never a time when I needed to locate someone and I just couldn't,” says a student. Some professors even give out their phone numbers “just in case,” and students “don't have to fight through twenty-three TAs before actually getting in touch with them.” One contracts professor even stays until 11 p.m. at times when students need help preparing for finals. Several students take note and appreciate this apparent dedication. Almost all of the professors still practice or have practiced before they begin teaching, which allows them “actual practice-based knowledge to share with the students, [which is] a huge asset to the student body.” Similarly, “the administration and overall management of our school is great.” “Because it's such a small school, you know all of the administrative staff, and they are very responsive to your needs,” says a 2L.
As the main legal game in the state, the school attracts “a wide variety of speakers from judges, governors, senators, to well known commentators in the legal field on a weekly basis,” which makes for “endless opportunities for networking as a result.” Some externs are sent to the New Hampshire Supreme Court, and students “also have the ability to extern at the first circuit and other federal courts;” however, some feel like other concentrations of law besides IP “could use a little boost.” “If one was to practice something else and travel out of state they might not have much luck,” says a student.
The school has an “excellent focus on practice,” which is buoyed by its externship programs and allows students to work in their fields of interest for up to a full semester while receiving credit. The Daniel Webster Scholar Honors Program “offers every real world experience a future attorney could ask for” and is the only practice-based bar exam alternative in the nation. The emphasis on practical, skills-based lawyering “is not just an advertisement—it really happens in the classroom.” There are “endless” internship, externship, and clinical opportunities, as well as a number of classes that focus on what you will do in practice, rather than just theory. “If a student evades a tough question, the professor will often ask ‘What would you tell your client?’” “I really enjoy learning how we'll be able to apply what we learn in the real world,” says a student.
Small class size means the “dynamic, high energy” faculty “really gets to know the students.” Everybody at UNH Law is very accessible. “I even see the Dean walking around in the hallways,” says a 1L. “Many professors have an open door policy,” and “there are teaching assistants who can help you in the rare times when you can't find the professor.” “There was never a time when I needed to locate someone and I just couldn't,” says a student. Some professors even give out their phone numbers “just in case,” and students “don't have to fight through twenty-three TAs before actually getting in touch with them.” One contracts professor even stays until 11 p.m. at times when students need help preparing for finals. Several students take note and appreciate this apparent dedication. Almost all of the professors still practice or have practiced before they begin teaching, which allows them “actual practice-based knowledge to share with the students, [which is] a huge asset to the student body.” Similarly, “the administration and overall management of our school is great.” “Because it's such a small school, you know all of the administrative staff, and they are very responsive to your needs,” says a 2L.
As the main legal game in the state, the school attracts “a wide variety of speakers from judges, governors, senators, to well known commentators in the legal field on a weekly basis,” which makes for “endless opportunities for networking as a result.” Some externs are sent to the New Hampshire Supreme Court, and students “also have the ability to extern at the first circuit and other federal courts;” however, some feel like other concentrations of law besides IP “could use a little boost.” “If one was to practice something else and travel out of state they might not have much luck,” says a student.
Career overview
From The School
From day one, our Career Services office prepares students for a successful legal career. Students can create individualized career development plans, work with the team through workshops, one-on-one meetings, resume reviews, mock interviews, and more. We ensure our students are well-prepared for post-graduate employment in a variety of legal fields.
% of graduates who are employed within ten months of graduation
86%
% of job accepting graduates providing useable salary information
52%
Career Services
On campus summer employment recruitment for first year JD students
Yes
On campus summer employment recruitment for second year JD students
Yes
# of Employers that Recruit on Campus Each Year
45
Employers who most frequently hire graduates
Novak Druce Connolly Bove & Quigg
Sughrue Mion
Pepper Hamilton
Fitzpatrick, Cella Harper & Cinto
Lando & Anastasi
Oblon Spivak
Graduates Employed by Area
47%
Private Practice
20%
Business/Industry
7%
Government
6%
Public Interes
2%
Judicial Clerkships
2%
Academic
Graduates Employed by Region
58%
New England
15%
South
8%
MidWest
7%
Mid-Atlantic
7%
Pacific
4%
South West
1%
International
1%
Mountain
Prominent Alumni
Dawn Buonocore-Atlas
VP-Enforcement and Assistant General Counsel, Calvin Klein
Donna Edwards
US Representative-Maryland
David Koris
General Counsel, Shell International
Tim Ryan
US Representative-Ohio
Douglas Wood
Partner, Reed Smith
Overview
From The School
J.D. Program:
- NH Resident: $41,000/year
- Out-of-State Resident: $49,000/year
- NH Resident: $46,242
- Out-of-State Resident: $54,380/year
- Please visit the tuition page for more details.
- NH Resident: $1,400/credit
- Out-of-State Resident: $1,600/credit
- NH Resident: $36,000/year
- Out-of-State Resident: $42,000/year
- NH Resident: $1.250/credit
- Out-of-State Resident: $1,400/credit
At UNH Franklin Pierce, we offer a wide variety of merit-based and need-based scholarships. To apply for federal financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Our Office of Financial Aid provides personalized counseling to help students explore the best options for financing their education.
Dates
Financial Aid Rating
Mar 1
Financial Aid Statistics
Average Annual Total Aid Package Awarded
$60,184
% Students Receiving Some Aid
93%
Expenses per Academic Year
In-State Tuition
$37,100
Out-Of-State Tuition
$41,100
Estimated Off-Campus Room and Board
$10,998
Estimated Cost for Books / Academic Expense
$1,448
Fees
$90
Student Body Profile
Number of Foreign Countries Represented
9
Average Age at Entry
26
% Out-of-State
72%
Demographics
99% are full time
1% are part time
41% female
59% male
Campus Life
Students Say
The school has “a strong sense of community,” and although it “has limited facilities” due to its size (“the building is very nice; not too big and not too small”), the facilities the school does have “are pristine, and run very smoothly,” including a “beautiful” courtroom that is available for students to use whenever a class is not in session. The “close-knit” Concord coterie means that plenty of campus life takes place off-campus. “I frequently see professors and fellow students working out at the local YMCA,” says a student. Concord “doesn't have a great night life, but there are plenty of things to do here.” The bars that are here “are enough to keep you satisfied,” and “there are also a lot of great things to do around the city that don't involve drinking.” Parking can sometimes be problematic, but “most students walk to school.”
The “intimate environment” fostered on campus is apparent everywhere. “Professors interact with the students outside of class on a daily basis and seem to generally care about how each student is doing.” The student body itself is composed of “diverse groups of students of all ages and from all backgrounds.” Although the students are competitive, they “all get along well and work together, creating a strong network in the long term.” Most of the students here are right out of undergrad or have spent one to two years outside of school before applying to law school.
The “intimate environment” fostered on campus is apparent everywhere. “Professors interact with the students outside of class on a daily basis and seem to generally care about how each student is doing.” The student body itself is composed of “diverse groups of students of all ages and from all backgrounds.” Although the students are competitive, they “all get along well and work together, creating a strong network in the long term.” Most of the students here are right out of undergrad or have spent one to two years outside of school before applying to law school.
More Information
% of Classrooms with Internet Access
100%
Admissions Office Contact
From The School
Campus and Location
Located just steps from the New Hampshire State Capitol, the law school is surrounded by a vibrant downtown with restaurants, cultural events, and recreational activities. The campus adjacent to White Park, offering walking trails and a pond popular for ice skating. Concord offers a balance of urban and natural attractions, with New Hampshire's seacoast, the White Mountains, and the Lakes Region nearby. The law school is within an hour of Boston and close to New Hampshire's "golden triangle" of high tech and business development, providing ample employment and externship opportunities.
Facilities
UNH Franklin Pierce offers several unique facilities to support students:
- Campus Gym
- Cardio equipment
- Free weights
- Yoga mats
- Crossover machine
- Intellectual Property (IP) Law Library:
- The only Academic IP Law Library in the Western Hemisphere
- Covers traditional IP law, sports and entertainment law, and interdisciplinary content
Contact
Robin Ingli
Assistant Dean for Admissions
Assistant Dean for Admissions
Address
Two White Street
Concord, NH 03301
Concord, NH 03301
Phone
603-513-5300
Email
admissions@law.unh.edu