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New England Law Boston
New England Law Boston is a law school providing legal education and training since its founding in 1908, focusing on creating a more inclusive legal community. It is now a coeducational institution, and its student body reflects the diversity of the wider world. Over 30% of the students identify as members of racial minorities, with many also being first-generation students.
The school strongly values the importance of student organizations and clubs and their role in creating an atmosphere of acceptance and respect for one another. These clubs include professional societies, religious groups, recreational activities, and more – all working together to foster growth, learning, and understanding. Furthermore, New England Law’s culture encourages students to get involved in their community, from volunteering opportunities to pro bono initiatives.
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History
New England Law | Boston is a trailblazing legal institution that traces its roots back to 1908 when it was founded as Portia Law School – the only law school that exclusively catered to female students. This was particularly significant when most other educational institutions had not opened their doors to women, making Portia Law School a beacon of hope for many who were determined to pursue legal careers.
Most early Portia Law School students came from working-class and immigrant families, while a significant portion only had a high school education. Despite this, they were able to pass the Massachusetts bar examination with flying colors – a testament to the quality of their legal education.
Over the past century, New England Law | Boston has seen many changes, including new and updated facilities, its name change to New England Law | Boston, a more diverse student body that includes both men and women, and an expansive curriculum that covers global issues. Despite this progressive evolution of the institution, one fact remains consistent – its commitment to offering an excellent legal career foundation to those willing to work hard and seize the opportunity. New England Law | Boston is proud of that legacy and looks forward to continuing to provide students with the education they need for a successful legal career.
Admissions
For those looking to apply, their admissions staff is on hand to answer any questions ranging from requirements and deadlines to the admission committee’s evaluation process. Plus, they offer a variety of scholarships and grants to make a legal education at New England Law | Boston accessible for those who qualify.
Their dedicated staff is here to help guide you through the admissions process, financial aid opportunities, and all the resources available at New England Law | Boston. You can confidently pursue a rich and rewarding legal education with our guidance. So, take the next step today and begin your journey towards becoming a practice-ready lawyer with New England Law | Boston!
Statistics
| Admissions Stats | ||
| Class of: | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT | 148 - 152 - 155 | 149 - 154 - 157 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA | 2.92 - 3.27 - 3.59 | 2.92 - 3.28 - 3.58 |
| Acceptance rate | 70.5% | 66.1% |
| Applications received | 2452 | 2720 |
| Acceptances | 1729 | 1799 |
| Matriculants | 115 | 171 |
In the 2022 admissions cycle, New England Law | Boston offered admission to 1,799 applicants out of the total pool of 2,720. This resulted in a yield rate of 21.68%, with 390 accepted students from the initial 1,799 who had received an offer.
The school's class size is 392, and the median LSAT score is 154. The 25th percentile LSAT score is 149, and the 75th percentile LSAT is 157. The median GPA of this class is 3.28, with a 25th percentile GPA of 2.92 and a 75th percentile GPA of 3.58.
New England Law | Boston's admissions team looks for students who are committed to their studies and are passionate about pursuing the legal profession. The school considers academic excellence, personal achievements, and professional goals in its admissions decisions. The school prides itself on providing an environment that encourages diversity of thought, background, and perspective among its students.
Overall, New England Law | Boston is highly competitive regarding admissions. Applicants should strive to demonstrate clear and consistent commitment to their studies and other personal achievements to stand out among the thousands of applications each year. With its impressive yield rate, New England Law | Boston is an attractive option for those wanting a quality legal education in a vibrant city.
JD Applicants
If you aspire to become a lawyer and want to apply to New England Law, the first step is creating an account with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). This account is necessary for submitting your application online. Registering through LSAC is quick and easy, but if you encounter any issues during the process, don’t hesitate to contact their Technical Support at 215-968-1393. After creating your account, you can start filling out the online application. Make sure to include all supporting documents (transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal essays) and submit them before the specified deadline.
Application Deadline
New England Law Boston provides students with plenty of opportunities for admission for the upcoming Fall 2023 semester. All prospective applicants should aim to submit a complete application by April 1st to be considered for admission. The review process is done on a rolling basis, starting in December, and most applicants will be notified of a decision within four to eight weeks of submission.
New England Law offers the option for applying after the April 1st deadline for applicants facing exceptional circumstances or who may require additional time to apply. However, this will be subject to program availability, and we encourage all prospective students to apply as early as possible to ensure their desired program is available.
Students who are unsure of their eligibility or need to meet the standards should contact New England Law Boston's admissions office to determine their best options. It is essential to recognize that securing admission will be more difficult once the deadline has passed, so it is advised that prospective students submit before the April 1st deadline.
Application Form
The application process for New England Law Boston's JD program is reasonably straightforward. To begin, applicants must create an account and complete the online law school application on the LSAC website. This secure platform ensures that all personal information provided by students is kept safe and private. When all the necessary fields have been completed, applicants must indicate which JD program they are applying to.
Undergraduate Degree
New England Law | Boston has strict entrance requirements for applicants who wish to enroll in their undergraduate program. To be accepted, applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited American institution or the equivalent of a diploma from a foreign institution. Regardless of the college or university where the applicant obtained their degree, New England Law | Boston requires that transcripts be submitted to the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Provided by the LSAC, CAS will analyze each transcript to compile relevant information about the applicant and then send it to their chosen law school.
Applicants who have obtained an undergraduate degree outside of the United States or Canada must meet the transcript requirements listed in the applicants with foreign undergraduate degrees section. This includes submitting to CAS an official, detailed, certified English translation of all post-secondary transcripts, along with a copy of the original documents in their native language. Additionally, they may need to submit additional documentation, such as diplomas or certificates of completion.
LSAT or GRE
Applicants to New England Law Boston must submit their Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) or General Record Exam (GRE) scores with their application. If the applicant submits an LSAT score, it should be taken by March of the year enrollment is sought. Since LSAT scores for the March exam may be released after the application deadline, applicants should submit their application and all required materials before the deadline. Applicants repeating the LSAT must note that the Admissions Committee will consider only the highest score. In some cases, however, they may also give weight to all scores obtained.
Applicants without a reportable LSAT score may submit a GRE score instead. The applicant must indicate their intention to do so on the application and is responsible for requesting that their GRE scores are sent to New England Law by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The school code is 2841. Applicants must have taken the LSAT or GRE within the past five years.
Personal Statement
Each applicant must present a personal statement as part of the admission procedure for legal education at New England Law Boston. The Admissions Committee needs this statement to assess prospective candidates since they cannot conduct personal interviews. This essay should focus on topics that will enable the committee to understand the candidate's background, suitability for admission, and motivations for undertaking legal studies. It is possible to discuss personal characteristics and circumstances in the statement, strengths, work experiences, extracurricular activities, ethnic background, economic status, and educational qualifications. Doing so will help the committee appreciate a candidate's life story from different perspectives and make an informed decision about their application. This is a unique opportunity for applicants to demonstrate the qualities that make them stand out from other candidates and illustrate their commitment to their legal education. Thus, each student needs to put some thought into what they write to convince the committee of their potential as an attorney. Writing a compelling personal statement will help applicants increase their chances of being accepted into New England Law Boston.
Letter of Recommendation
New England Law Boston is an institution that requires applicants to submit at least one letter of recommendation from a professor or employer. It is preferred for the letter to come from a college professor who can assess the applicant's abilities to enter a competitive professional program; however, if the applicant has been out of school for some time, then an employer's reference may be sufficient. More than one letter may be sent, although once the first has been received, the applicant's file is sent to the Admissions Committee for review.
New England Law Boston does not accept faxes and photocopies of recommendation letters as valid forms of reference. Instead, there are two options available for submitting these documents. The first is the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service, which will copy and send the letters to New England Law with a CAS report. This service is updated weekly.
The other option is for applicants to mail their recommendation letters directly to New England Law Boston. The envelope must be sealed by the recommender and have their signature over the seal. This will ensure the authenticity and validity of the recommendation letter. Once received, it will be added to the applicant's file for review by the Admissions Committee.
New England Law Boston takes letters of recommendation very seriously as they offer insight into the applicant's academic and professional abilities. Therefore, applicants need to take the time to find suitable references and ensure that the letters are submitted in the correct format. Doing so will give any applicant a better chance at being accepted into New England Law Boston.
TOEFL/IELTS (if required)
New England Law Boston requires students whose native language is not English to demonstrate proficiency in the language by providing proof of performance in either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The minimum score for a successful outcome on either exam is 100 for TOEFL and 7.0 for IELTS. To send test scores, applicants must contact the Educational Testing Service and request that their TOEFL score be sent to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) using their TOEFL code 8395. Applicants should also use the LSAC website for more information regarding English proficiency exams.
Addendum
Law school applicants may choose to include an optional supplement to their application to provide additional information that needs to be addressed elsewhere. This can benefit the Admissions Committee, as it helps them better understand factors such as a student's LSAT score or undergraduate GPA and how they may impact their performance in law school. For instance, it may be beneficial to compare SAT or ACT scores with post-secondary academic performance as a way of helping the Admissions Committee understand if an LSAT score genuinely reflects their law school prospects.
Tuition
New England Law Boston offers a variety of J.D. programs to fit the needs of its students. The Full-Time J.D. The program is a 12-15 credit program, with tuition set at $27,192 per semester (annually: $54,384). For each extra credit taken, the cost increases to $2,266. Those who prefer a part-time option can choose between Evening or Day Part-Time J.D. Programs. With 9-12 credits, tuition is $20,396 per semester (annually: $40,792). Again, for any additional credit taken above 12, the cost increases to $2,266. Finally, New England Law Boston also offers a Flexible Part-Time J.D. Program. This program has ranges of tuition depending on the number of credits taken, with 13-15 credits set at $27,192 per semester (annually: $54,384), 8-12 credits set at $20,396 per semester (annually: $40,792) and seven credits or fewer at $2,266 per credit. With these options, New England Law Boston allows students to pursue their J.D. on a schedule that fits their needs and lifestyle.
For all programs, additional fees may apply, including an application fee of $55 for U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents; or an application fee of $75 for International applicants. Students should also remember that tuition and fees do not include the cost of books and other materials needed to complete their studies.
Academics & Curriculum
New England Law has four divisions: full-time, part-time day, part-time evening, and special part-time. The last category is reserved exclusively for the primary or only caregivers of children. Students in this division may take up to six years to complete their degrees, whereas students in the other part-time divisions must complete their degrees in four years.
The school has three special academic centers: the Center for International Law and Policy, which sponsors research, various pro bono projects, and study abroad opportunities; the Center for Law and Social Responsibility, which organizes public service and pro bono activities; and the Center for Business Law, which provides research opportunities and offers students class credit for internships involving business law. The Center for Public Health and Tobacco Policy is a five-year, approximately $2.5 million grant program through which New England Law operates a policy resource center for New York State's tobacco control program efforts.
There are several study-abroad opportunities. Students can participate in summer programs in England, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Chile, and Malta and spend semesters in Denmark, Netherlands, or France.
New England Law differs from many other third- and fourth-tier law schools and is similar to its higher-ranked counterparts in that there are only eleven required courses, so half of a student's curriculum is chosen from electives. Students must take one semester each of Contracts, Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Property, Evidence, Criminal Procedure, Torts, Criminal Law, and Law and Ethics of Lawyering. They must also take three semesters of Legal Research and Writing. For graduation, students must take one seminar and two experiential (simulation/clinical) courses. New England Law offers various clinics in subjects as diverse as tax, health law, land use law, and federal courts.
First-Year
New England Law Boston offers a comprehensive range of courses tailored to the needs of first-year law students. These classes are designed to provide students with the theoretical and practical knowledge they need to excel in practice and are essential for a successful legal career.
Civil Procedure I and II, Constitutional Law, Contracts I and II, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure I, Evidence, Law and Ethics of Lawyering, Legal Research and Writing I, II and III, Property I and II, and Torts are all courses offered to first-year students. Faculty members will foster an academic environment that encourages critical thinking and the application of legal knowledge.
In addition to their required coursework, first-year students will participate in New England Law Boston’s Academic Excellence Program. This weekly class teaches students effective learning strategies and encourages them to become better law students. Many of our first-year students report that this has helped them enhance their academic performance and prepared them for the next steps in their careers. Overall, New England Law Boston’s courses are designed to give first-year students the essential knowledge they need to become successful lawyers. Our faculty and program staff strive to provide an engaging and educational learning environment that allows our students to reach their full potential.
Concentrations
New England Law | Boston offers a range of in-demand concentrations designed to provide law students with the specialized knowledge and experience necessary for successful law careers. The curriculum is tailored to provide extensive experiential learning opportunities, cutting-edge coursework, and faculty advisors with deep expertise in their chosen legal specialization. Through these unique and comprehensive concentrations, students can gain valuable experience in their particular area of legal practice.
The concentration options at New England Law | Boston include Business Law, International Law, Intellectual Property Law, Health Law, Criminal Justice & Litigation Advocacy, Dispute Resolution & Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Legal Writing & Research, and Corporate & Regulatory Compliance.
Each of these concentrations offers students a comprehensive legal education tailored to meet their chosen profession's needs. Through specialized coursework, faculty guidance, and immersive experiential learning opportunities such as clinics and internships, New England Law | Boston's concentrations allow students to gain the competitive credentials necessary for a successful law career.
Clinics
At New England Law | Boston, students have an incredible opportunity to gain hands-on, real-world legal experience through participating in clinics and externships. Clinics provide a great way for law students to learn the practical application of laws and legal procedures. Through taking part in these valuable experiences, students can develop vital skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and working with clients.
The school's clinics are run by expert faculty members with years of experience in the legal profession. This gives students access to valuable mentorship and guidance as they explore their chosen field of law. Clinics cover a wide range of topics, from criminal defense and immigration to human rights advocacy and mediation.
Externships
Externships present another opportunity for students to gain experience in the legal field. Through externships, students can work closely with attorneys and judges in various settings, including judicial chambers or firms. This allows students to develop strong professional relationships, learn about different types of law, and build their resumes before graduating from law school.
At New England Law | Boston, students can participate in clinics and externships early and often. This gives them an edge as they pursue their legal careers. These invaluable experiences help give graduates a competitive advantage when looking for employment or pursuing higher education opportunities after graduation. With the wealth of knowledge and experience students gain from participating in clinics and externships, New England Law | Boston offers a unique opportunity to all its students.
Pro Bono
New England Law | Boston is passionate about providing students with the opportunity to gain invaluable insight into the legal profession through pro bono work. This volunteer or unpaid legal service enables law students to build their skills and experience in a real-world setting. It allows them to use their knowledge to benefit individuals who may not otherwise have access to the legal system.
Students can choose from a variety of pro bono opportunities, such as representing clients in court proceedings; providing advice and representation on consumer debt and rights issues; assisting with immigration cases; or working with local social service agencies to provide support for victims of domestic violence.
New England Law | Boston also offers a wide range of opportunities to help individuals in other ways. For example, students can volunteer their time and skills to provide legal advice through clinics, become a mentor for at-risk children, or work with local organizations that provide direct service to those in need.
Employment Prospects & Bar Passage
New England Law | Boston boasts an impressive passing rate for the bar examination, with an impressive 78.1% of their graduates passing on their first attempt. The school is committed to helping its students to succeed and excel in their chosen field of law. They provide various learning opportunities through class lectures, seminars, clinics, externships, and a comprehensive mentoring program. They also provide students individualized attention to ensure they can reach their goals. Additionally, the school is actively involved in the larger legal community, participating in events such as moot court competitions and hosting conferences on emerging legal topics. With its strong reputation for excellence in education, New England Law | Boston is an excellent choice for those seeking to pursue a career in the legal profession.
Students who attend New England Law | Boston can rest assured that they are receiving an education that will prepare them for their future in the legal profession. The school's commitment to excellence ensures its graduates have what it takes to succeed and thrive in the legal world. With a high bar passage rate and involvement in the larger legal community, New England Law | Boston is an excellent choice for those pursuing their dreams in the legal profession.
Quality of Life
Living in the bustling city of Boston, New England Law is situated in the thriving Theater District. Housing nearby can be costly; a one-bedroom apartment in the vicinity can cost anywhere from $1,300 to over $2,000 per month. Fortunately, students interested in lower rental prices have many options with Boston's comprehensive public transportation. Moving to Allston, Brighton, Brookline, Roxbury, Mission Hill, and Jamaica Plain all provide one-bedroom apartments for under $1,000 or studios for around $800 per month.
Boston is very affordable for those willing to share a three- or four-bedroom apartment with roommates, like most urban areas. In addition to the high cost of living and cold winters, Boston provides many advantages not easily found in other American cities. These outstanding features include various dining options, world-class entertainment, shopping, and sports opportunities, stunning natural sites such as mountains and beaches, prestigious museums, medical facilities, educational institutions, and research centers. Plus, the city is steeped in fascinating history. New England Law is excellent for students seeking an exciting and dynamic college experience. The city of Boston offers something for everyone!
Synopsis
There are several reasons a prospective student should approach NESL with caution. The school charges very high tuition and is located in a city with the fairly high cost of living. Employment data indicates that between 17% and 24% of graduates are jobless even nine months after graduation. The way the school chooses to report salary data, giving only average and maximum salaries, leaves no clear picture of the overall salary trends for New England Law graduates. Finally, it shares a market with Northeastern, Suffolk, Boston College, and, to the extent that their students seek jobs in the area, Boston University and Harvard. However, it offers more clinics, electives, and study abroad opportunities than most similarly-ranked law schools. The school's location is very appealing, not just for the quality of life it provides but also because the school is situated close to Boston City Hall, the Massachusetts State House, and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, which is convenient and exciting for students who are interested in local government. For the student who has the plan to reconcile the school's high cost with its modest career placement profile - a scholarship, a guaranteed job, a solid understanding of income-based repayment (IBR), etc. - New England Law is certainly worth investigating.
Contact information
Office of Admissions New England Law Boston
154 Stuart Street
Boston, MA 02116
Phone: (617) 422-7210
Fax: (617) 422-7201
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Reference
Ranked 147
LSD Law
Guide to Fee Waivers
LSAC Guide
How to Learn to Do Well on a Law School Exam
Success in Law School - A Unique Perspective
The Guide to Law School Loans
