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I'm interested in hearing intelligent, non biased comments about this school. 1) School reputation 2) Employment prospects after graduation. 3) UNH merger pros and cons 4) externships opportunities 4) Bar exam preparation 5) Professors knowledge and reputation

Thanks.

I have a tech background – both academic and work ex. I know FP has some standing in IP. Can you please give some idea about how the placement scene is (or was) for the 3Ls that just graduated. I’d also like to know how much out-of-state flexibility the patent guys generally have.

I know some alumni.
With the exception of some IP placement, it's strictly for those who want to practice in NH. According to my friend, they aim to produce generalists....basically old fashioned, small town lawyers. He spoke highly of the professors and his experience at the school in general.
But like I said, it's only for those who want to work in NH.

Thanks, Reverendt.

Would you be able to suggest some schools for me. I have a 160 LSAT. Tech background and work ex in IP. As I am an intn’l applicant, so there is no official GPA figure, but LSAC’s evaluation comes to an A grade. I have yet to apply anywhere.

UNH Law graduates work and have practices all over the country. Placements and Practices are Not just limited to IP. Most graduates however end up practicing in the new England/Northeast states.

I thought Franklin Pierce was an independent law school. Did they recently affiliate with UNH?

I am in the New Hampshire area and I have heard a lot about this school and talked to recent alums about their experiences. It seems to have a really good reputation in the NH area (probably Maine and Vermont too), and I have heard of students from the school getting jobs in other places like NYC. Those who have gone to the school seem to have really liked the atmosphere- they personally knew professors and it's a small school in the state's capital. Definitely seems like a good choice if you are interested in the area.

And yes they are affiliated, the schools merged earlier this year and it's now "UNH Law."

I applied here b/c of its rep as an "IP powerhouse" and the prospect of getting some significant $.

I would *love* to hear from current students and recent grads with science/engineering undergraduate degrees, particularly in chemistry/chem engr. If I can avoid a ton of debt and live in lovely NH and not be thought of as an "untouchable TTT grad" forever that would be wonderful.

I also like how you can get the LLM in IP in 3 years. Probably helps get adjunct IP law teaching positions at regional schools.

Even considering UNH IP grads are doing well, I'm still pulled toward DC/VA because of the possibility of getting WE at the patent office during school. I'm 26 and I don't want to be 29/30 and applying for a job without some substantial WE in the area.

Androstan –

That is a wise thought. I am also told that DC has several IP firms where you might get some work ex if you are a techie. What schools in DC/VA are you also applying to? What is your LSAT like, if you don’t mind posting the number here?

Joymin

Joymin wrote:Androstan –

That is a wise thought. I am also told that DC has several IP firms where you might get some work ex if you are a techie. What schools in DC/VA are you also applying to? What is your LSAT like, if you don’t mind posting the number here?

Joymin

#'s in my profile, 2.9/163/167/December.

Admitted to American U in DC. Still waiting to hear from George Mason and George Washington. Submitted an ED to GULC but told them to hold the file until December LSAT.

Cool!

Accepted today, not sure if/how they're going to make $ offers.

Accepted where? Did you apply to GWU's Binding EArly?

Joymin wrote:Accepted where? Did you apply to GWU's Binding EArly?

Accepted t UNH.

Got the letter from UNH today. 35k/year scholarship (tuition is around 39) contingent upon a 3.2 GPA. Their curve is at 3.0.

Cool! So are you joining?

Joymin wrote:Cool! So are you joining?

joining?

androstan wrote:

Joymin wrote:Cool! So are you joining?

joining?

I meant are you accepting the offer or considering any other law school's?

Joymin wrote:

androstan wrote:

Joymin wrote:Cool! So are you joining?

joining?

I meant are you accepting the offer or considering any other law school's?

Don't have to decide anything until April. Gonna wait and see if AU/GMU offer anything, and if GWU/GULC want me at all.

I think this (currently) third tier law school may be poised to take a serious rise in the rankings. The affiliation and merger will only help. For people in the area without BU/BC numbers this may become the place to go. It attracts a lot of engr/science types with higher LSATs. There is going to be a 3/3 program where you do your BS/JD in 6 years at UNH. UNH has a pretty good engineering program, particularly electrical, and I see this program as simply feeding the law school a bunch of highly employable candidates with strong LSATs.

With all the changes happening there recently a lot of older, less productive faculty are leaving. Current and new faculty are being pushed to publish more to get the name out there.

UNH's employment stats already outclass the rest of the third/fourth tier and it already places plenty of graduates outside its region. They are generous with scholarship offers, indicating they are aggressively recruiting candidates with higher numbers and also that they have the $$$ support to do so. The "Franklin Pierce" name is already fairly famous in the IP world and will not be going away since this past year a new building was constructed for the newly created "Franklin Pierce Institute for Intellectual Property". They have the only academic intellectual property law library in the country and the largest one to boot.

I'm not saying this school is going to catapult into the top 50 in the immediate future, but I see a solid tier 2 rising up. They should easily be able to eclipse Maine. Now may be time to strike while the iron's hot. Get $$$ there now when it's not as competitive to obtain, get accepted there now when your numbers have a chance. In a few years, I have a feeling they will be able to afford to be a lot more picky. A lot of this info is coming from 3Ls I've gotten in touch with.

With the DC market so oversaturated and me being dead-set on IP/patents, the $35k/year they are offerring me is incredibly tempting...

Thank you for summarizing your interaction with 3Ls at FP. This is valuable info.

I don't know anything about the school, but I have an IP thread saved which was stared by Ken (the founder of this site). From what little I know he is an IP lawyer in Cal. and has a great deal of experience in the field. Here's what he says about Franklin Pierce:

Ken wrote:Franklin Pierce Law School had the number 1 ranked intellectual property program for many years. This was when IP law was not as vibrant and thriving of a field. While still respected and considered to be a top 10 law school for IP, overall I think the heavy weights on the coasts will continue to put distance between their programs and that at Franklin Pierce Law School.

That being said, for those who are interested in IP and will not be attending a top 100 law school, Franklin Pierce offers a great specialty program and has a strong regional reputation (competition is a bit weak in New Hampshire).

Depaul University Law School also has a strong IP program, but generally ranked just below Franklin Pierce Law School. Additionally, Depaul University Law School does not have the reputational legacy that Franklie Pierce Law School does for IP. Additionally, Depaul University Law School is an urban campus, mainly just a cluster of buildings in downtown Chicago, so not a good law school for those seeking a collegial environment.

In sum, I think both Franklin Pierce Law School and Depaul University Law School have strong fields in IP, but Franklin Pierce has the slightly better IP program. The very distinct locations (cold but beautiful Concord, New Hampshire vs. downtown Chicago) ensure that any student considering these two law schools visit them both, for locational desires will play a large role what law school is more attractive.

Also, for regional law schools, your best employment prospects are generally in your local market, where your reputation is most known and alumni can help each other out. For this, Depaul Law School offers a better and more thriving legal market.

Thanks jw, while that info is a bit old, it's still relevant.

It would be very interesting to hear what Ken has to say now, in light of the affiliation/merger, and considering that UNH's dip in the IP rankings can be explained by noting that UNH professors have not received voting ballots the last two years! True story.

I would also love to hear what Ken thinks in light of all the other changes happening at UNH because of/related to the affiliation and merger.

androstan wrote:Thanks jw, while that info is a bit old, it's still relevant.

It would be very interesting to hear what Ken has to say now, in light of the affiliation/merger, and considering that UNH's dip in the IP rankings can be explained by noting that UNH professors have not received voting ballots the last two years! True story.

I would also love to hear what Ken thinks in light of all the other changes happening at UNH because of/related to the affiliation and merger.

You might try just shooting him a PM. He still posts every once in a while and I'm sure he'd be happy to answer your question.