University of Massachusetts School of Law

UMass Dartmouth is a research university that allows students to explore and discover new things. The faculty are world-class researchers, and their students have the opportunity to experience real-world innovation.

History

UMass Dartmouth was established in 1895 and had a long history. A significant chapter in that history occurred in 2010 when the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education voted to approve the university’s authority to grant the degree of Juris Doctor, and the University of Massachusetts School of Law - Dartmouth (UMass Law) was established. UMass Law was made possible by a $23 million donation of assets—a facility, land, library, technology, and cash— from the Southern New England School of Law. Southern New England School of Law was established in 1981 with a volunteer faculty, a handful of part-time students, no home, no cash, not even a name—nothing but the excitement of creating an environment for teaching and learning the law. It grew from a literal store-front operation, offering a weekend program of study in Fall River, to a dual-division law school in its state-of-the-art facility in North Dartmouth. SNESL had 1,200 alumni, 200 students, 13 full-time faculty members, and two dozen adjunct faculty at the time of the donation.

Admissions

The University of Massachusetts School of Law does not have any specific pre-law course of study that it favors. Instead, the admissions process is based on thoroughly evaluating all factors in an applicant's file. This means that each applicant is evaluated as an individual, not just based on their GPA or LSAT score. This allows students with varied backgrounds and experiences to be admitted to the school.

Statistics

Admissions Stats
Class of:	2020-2021	2021-2022
25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT	146 - 149 - 152	148 - 150 - 153
25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA	3.03 - 3.27 - 3.53	2.99 - 3.36 - 3.62
Acceptance rate	56.1%	64.5%
Applications received	1122	1199
Acceptances	629	773
Matriculants	45	36

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth has a 1L class size of 126, with a yield of 15.65%. Out of the 1,199 people who applied, 121 out of 773 applicants who were offered admission were accepted, meaning that 15.65% of that offered admission ended up attending the school. The 1L class at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth has a median LSAT of 150. The 25th percentile LSAT is 148, and the 75th percentile LSAT is 153. The median GPA is 3.36. The 25th percentile GPA is 2.99, and the 75th percentile GPA is 3.62.

Application Fee

To apply to law school, you must complete an online application through LSAC.org. You will also need to pay the non-refundable application fee of $50. It is your responsibility to ensure that all admission materials are received.

To be admitted to UMass Law, you must have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. You must also submit an LSAT or GRE score. LSAT scores are more important for admission than GRE scores. If you take both tests, the LSAT will be the main score in the admission process. You must also register with CAS and submit transcripts to LSAC.

Letters of Recommendation

You will need to provide two letters of recommendation: One should be from a faculty member who has taught you in college or graduate school. If you are coming directly from the college or another graduate program, you may submit recommendations from two faculty members. If you have been employed, you should also submit a recommendation from someone who has known you during your employment. Your letters of recommendation must be submitted through the LSAC service. This service is included in your CAS registration. Your letters will be included in your CAS report. Follow the directions for submitting letters outlined on the LSAC website. LSAC allows you to submit school-specific letters of recommendation. If your recommender submits a specific letter for UMass Law, make sure you note that when selecting which letters of recommendation you include in your CAS Report.

Resume and Personal Statement

The personal statement should include information about why you want to study law and what other information you would like the committee to know about you. You should also explain your reasons for wanting to attend this law school in particular.

Admission Decision

At UMass Law, they use a rolling admissions process. This means that once your application is completed, it will be reviewed by our Admissions Committee within a few weeks. However, the Committee may defer making decisions on completed applications until it has had a chance to review a substantial number of applications for the upcoming year. The Committee takes into account many factors when rendering a decision on an application for admission. This includes your academic record from undergraduate and graduate school, your LSAT score, recommendations, work experience, and reasons for wanting to study law.

Transfer

A student who has completed one or more years at a law school accredited by the American Bar Association or a state-approved law school may apply for transfer admission with advanced standing. In addition to UMass Law's normal applications materials, you will need to submit the following:

• A CAS report • An official transcript • A letter of good standing from your previous law school Your previous law school should also provide one letter of recommendation, although it doesn't have to be from a faculty member. LSAT scores over five years old are not acceptable for admission consideration. No more than 30 credit hours will be given, and transfer credit will not be factored into your GPA.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees 2022-2023 Tuition and mandatory fees: Full-time: 12 or more credits

In-state - $30,450.00 ($15,225.00/semester)
Out-of-state - $39,550.00 ($19,775.00/semester)
Regional/proximity (RI or VT residency) - $32,450.00 ($16,225.00/semester)

Part-time: 9 credits

In-state - $22,906.04 ($11,453.02/semester)
Out-of-state - $29,731.10 ($14,865.55/semester)
Regional/proximity (RI or VT residency) - $24,406.16 ($12,203.08/semester)

Part-time students are those who enroll in fewer than 12 credits. The normal course load for part-time study is 8-10 credits. Students who enroll in fewer than 8 credits are charged per-credit basis. All students are charged a one-time transcript fee of $100.

The graduation fee is a one-time fee for all law students who have completed 60 credits. The alumni association fee is a one-time fee charged to all law graduates and provides them with a membership in the alumni association. Any graduate not wishing to participate in the association must complete the online waiver process.

Student health insurance

The insurance policy runs from August 1 through July 31. The annual premium is $3,076. Beginning in fall 2022, students will be billed separately for health insurance premiums per term. The fall health insurance premium of $1,305 covers the fall term from August - December. The spring health insurance premium of $1,771 covers the spring term, January - July. All students should either enroll in or waive the insurance by the due date indicated on the student invoice. If you have completed the online waiver of the insurance, deduct the insurance charge from the total due if that charge appears on your invoice.

Financial Aid

Financing your UMass Law education can be done in a variety of ways. Fellowships, scholarships, loan programs, and payment plans are available to help you cover the costs. Financial Aid staff is prepared to help you find what is available and how to access the funding you need for your studies.

Scholarships & Fellowships

Public Interest Law Fellowships - Offered to enter students interested in working in a public interest field upon graduation.
Commonwealth Fellows Program - Offered to incoming students who are Massachusetts residents or attended a Massachusetts public college or university and who meet the qualifying criteria.
Scholarships - UMass Law also offers academic merit scholarships.

Law School Culture

At UMass Law, student life is centered around developing a professional identity as you grow in the knowledge of the law. The sense of community is strong, and people begin to form study groups. Professors become advisors, mentors, and guides. Student organizations enhance your interests and aspirations. The opportunities to gain practical experience are wide-ranging: clinics, field placements, pro bono work, and the legal skills program. The commitment to justice is real. UMass Law prepares lawyers to pursue justice through research, practice, public service, professional partnerships, advocacy for legal access, and social and economic development contributions.

The most important thing you can learn as a law student is to develop strong legal skills and ethical values. To provide quality legal representation to clients, you must be able to not only hone your technical lawyering skills but also grapple with the ethical issues that come up in day-to-day practice. This experience is essential in putting your classroom knowledge into action.

Academics and Curriculum

At UMass Law, they offer a variety of degree programs that allow students to tailor their education to their needs. They have full-time and part-time programs and day, evening, weekend, and summer session options. Students can also pursue a JD degree with a business concentration to obtain a JD/MBA, with public policy to obtain a JD/MPP degree, or with social work to obtain a JD/MSW degree. Additionally, they offer three "fast-track" programs for undergraduates who want to advance more quickly into law school.

Faculty

The professors at this school have a lot of practical legal experience and are great teachers. They are supportive mentors committed to helping students develop their professional capabilities.

Class

At UMass Law, they believe that smaller class sizes create a stronger sense of community and allow for greater interaction between students and faculty. Their smaller class sizes mean you will have access to their faculty, enabling you to get the most out of your legal education. According to ABA data over the last two years combined, UMass Law has the smallest average first-year doctrinal class size of any law school in Massachusetts.

The HLS community is supportive and welcoming, with people of all ages, genders, races, backgrounds, and sexual orientations represented. Their extremely diverse classes make HLS a great place to learn and grow.

Clinics

The UMass Law School operates two legal clinics on campus. These clinics provide a real-life experience for law school students. The Immigration Litigation Clinic is located on the first floor and provides easy access for its clients. It comprises a director's office, a library, a conference room, a reception area, and a large work area with computer workstations and desks. The Community Development Clinic is located in Room 118. It provides a productive work environment with ample, flexible space suitable for large or small student and client meetings, six computer workstations, large worktables, five telephone lines, and a full complement of office equipment.

Public Interest Fellowships

The PILF Fellowship Program is designed to provide students with the skills and training necessary to pursue a career in public service. The program offers specialized counseling, regular exposure to public interest lawyers and policymakers, and opportunities for hands-on experience in public interest law internships. Up to 25 Fellowships are awarded to entering students each year. In exchange for a commitment to practice public interest law for four years after graduation, the Fellowship includes a 50% scholarship for tuition and fees. While enrolled at the law school, participation in various public service programs is required, including performing 200 hours of community service and participating in various co-curricular events each semester.

Employment Prospects & Bar Passage

The median salary for JD graduates from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth who work in the private sector is $60,000. If they go into the private sector, they can expect to make $64,500. A majority (47.9%) of law graduates from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth go directly to work for law firms, while 8.3% clerk for a judge and 8.3% go into public interest. 62.0% of University of Massachusetts Dartmouth graduates pass the bar on their first try.

Quality of Life

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee at UMass Law exist to create a diverse and inclusive community. Their mission is to provide a supportive environment that celebrates differences and encourages collaboration. They strive to educate the UMass Law community on equity, inclusion, and diversity issues. They work to empower their students to lead by example and bring about change.

Synopsis

The School of Law provides students with excellent preparation for a legal career. You will learn essential legal skills, the fundamentals of statutory and case law, and new and emerging practice areas. This preparation begins with our simulation-based Legal Skills sequence of courses and culminates in the real-world clinic, internship, and pro bono opportunities.

Contact Information

University of Massachusetts School of Law
333 Faunce Corner Road
Dartmouth, MA 02747-1252
Phone: 508.985.1110
Fax: 508.985.1175
Email: lawadmissions@umassd.edu

Summary

Established	2010
Location	Dartmouth, MA 02747
Dean	Eric Mitnick
2022 US News Ranking	147
LSAT Median Score	150
GPA Median Score	3.36
Bar Passage Rate	62% (2022)
Employment Rate	34% (2022)
Cost	In-state - $30,450; Out-of-state - $39,550 (fulltime) In-state - $22,906.04; Out-of-state - $29,731.10 (part time)
Average Debt	$114,268
Application Deadline	1-Mar-2023

Forum and Discussion

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Reference

LSD Law
Ranked 147
BCG Attorney's Advice for Associates
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
Guide to Fee Waivers