Western New England University School of Law

Introduction

For more than three-quarters of a century, Western New England University School of Law has been preparing men and women to succeed in the legal profession. Fully accredited by the ABA and a member of the AALS, our 7,000 alumni live and work in all 50 states and many foreign countries. They include judges, attorneys practicing in small and large firms, and lawyers for corporations, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and all levels of government. We are located in the heart of the beautiful and vibrant Pioneer Valley on a suburban campus, 90 miles from Boston and 150 miles from New York City.

Western New England University School of Law offers both full-time and part-time programs, each providing a strong, well-rounded curriculum that will enable you to succeed in your career. A distinctive feature of our law school is our personalized, student-centered approach to legal education and professional development. Our first-year section size, purposely among the smallest in the country, promotes effective learning in a challenging but collegial and supportive setting. Our accessible and dedicated faculty create a learning environment that helps every student succeed and reach his or her full potential. It is a wonderful place to begin your legal career.

Admission and Scholarships

Every application is read by members of the Admissions Committee. All facets of the application are carefully considered, including race, gender, language, and educational, social, and economic obstacles overcome in the applicant's pursuit of higher education. We seek candidates with well-developed writing ability and analytical skills who will contribute to classroom discussions and the law school community.

Each year partial-tuition scholarships are awarded to applicants whose credentials and backgrounds suggest they are likely to enrich the life of the School of Law. Partial-tuition scholarships may be awarded on the basis of academic merit or an applicant's area of interest. Partial scholarships are available for applicants who demonstrate potential for success and who have overcome cultural, economic, societal, physical, or educational obstacles. All admitted applicants receive automatic scholarship consideration. Typically, at least 50 percent of the entering class receives scholarship assistance.

In addition, several students are awarded full-tuition Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. Scholarships. The Holmes Scholars usually score in the top 20 percent of the LSAT nationally and finish very near the top of their undergraduate classes. Holmes Scholars receive full-tuition scholarships, with an additional $3,500 research stipend.

The School of Law also offers six Public Interest Scholarships to full-time students, ranging from $16,000 to full tuition, with an additional $3,500 summer stipend. Public Interest Scholars take special public interest courses, have regular meetings with public interest practitioners to discuss current issues in public interest practice, and are mentored in their public interest careers by faculty and members of the Public Interest Advisory Board. The $3,500 stipend supports the required public interest summer internship. The Public Interest Scholars program provides an exceptional opportunity to offset the cost of law school while preparing for a career in public interest lawyering. Additionally, applicants may also apply for scholarships associated with our Center for Gender and Sexuality Studies, Legislative Institute, or the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Please visit our website for more information.

Faculty

The 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio, the strong commitment to student learning, and the outstanding credentials of the 38 faculty members provide an outstanding learning environment dedicated to your professional success. The faculty have been educated at many of the nation's most prestigious law schools, and all have practiced law prior to joining our faculty. They all share a love of teaching and take pride in their ability to engage students in rigorous law study in a collaborative, collegial environment. They are productive scholars who are consistently praised by our students for their accessibility.

Curriculum

All required courses, both day and evening, are taught by full-time faculty members. Some upper-level courses are taught through classroom discussions of judicial decisions and statutes. Others are taught through simulations in which students perform the roles of lawyers in lifelike situations and through clinics in which students represent actual clients. Part-time day and evening programs are also available.

Our broad-based curriculum allows students the opportunity to focus their legal studies in many different areas of the law, including tax, public interest, and corporate law. To assist students in preparing for their careers, and selecting among electives, the School of Law offers seven concentrations (Business Law, Criminal Law, Estate Planning, International and Comparative Law, Public Interest Law, Gender and Sexuality Law, and Real Estate Law), along with several specializations. For a full list, please reference our website.

We also offer four joint-degree programs:

• JD/MBA (Master of Business Administration) with Western New England University
• JD/MSA (Master of Accounting) with Western New England University
• JD/MSW (Master of Social Work) with Springfield College
• JD/MRP (Master of Regional Planning) with the University of Massachusetts at Amherst

The Law School offers two Master of Laws (LLM) programs:

• Estate Planning and Elder Law
• Closely Held Businesses

Please visit our website for more information.

Experiential Learning: Clinics, Simulations, and Externships

Clinics and simulation courses are integral components of the curriculum at Western New England University School of Law. Each type of course offers an opportunity to put theory into practice, thereby enhancing advocacy skills and enriching the understanding of core course materials. Students also apply their legal skills through externships.

Clinics provide an opportunity for upper-class students to represent clients with actual legal problems. Currently, the School of Law offers six different clinics in which students can gain valuable lawyering skills, such as legal writing, interviewing, and negotiating. The following clinical opportunities are offered:

• Criminal Law Clinic—students prosecute cases for the Hampden County District Attorney's Office.
• Legal Services Clinic—students work in the office of Western Massachusetts Legal Services, Inc.
• Consumer Law Clinic—students work in the City of Springfield's Consumer Protection Program.
• Real Property Practicum—students work with practitioners in the real estate area.
• Small Business Clinic—students help start-up businesses at the Scibelli Enterprise Center's business incubator.
• International Human Rights Clinic—students work collaboratively with organizations to advance human rights across borders.

Simulation courses allow students to represent hypothetical clients with challenging legal problems drawn from the experiences of practicing lawyers. Students perform research, prepare legal documents, and negotiate with and argue against role-playing students and faculty.

Externships enable students to work with judges or alongside attorneys in public interest organizations or government agencies. Externs are called upon to perform research and prepare legal documents. Externships allow students to refine their lawyering skills and provide interaction with professionals who can offer advice and career insights. Students receive two or three hours of academic credit for one nonpaying externship.

Western New England University School of Law students compete in many trial, appellate, and negotiation competitions, honing their research, writing, and advocacy skills, and gaining valuable experience. Our teams have won national championships in 2009, 2008, 2006, 2004, and 2001, and numerous regional titles.

Library, Facilities, and the Area

The recently renovated S. Prestley Blake Law Center has a spacious law library, excellent classrooms, and comfortable student study and social space. With a collection of over 375,000 volumes, the Law Library also provides comprehensive access to numerous electronic resources. The School of Law's robust wireless network facilitates research and communication.

The Law Center is located in a residential section of Springfield, on Western New England University's 215-acre campus, with ample, free parking for all students. Springfield is a small city, located in the Pioneer Valley, with a wide array of recreational, social, and cultural attractions. There is a range of affordable off-campus housing options, as well as some on-campus housing options.

Attending the only law school in western Massachusetts, students have access to a host of externship and clinical opportunities throughout the Massachusetts/Connecticut/New York region, including state and federal courts, the attorney generals of several states, district attorney and state's attorney offices, public defender offices, public interest organizations, and small, medium, and large firms.

Student Activities

Western New England University School of Law students enjoy a strong sense of community and support, strengthened and nurtured by numerous and varied student organizations and cocurricular activities. The Student Bar Association plays a leading role, with elected officers and appointed members to faculty/student committees. There are many other active student organizations, including the Multi-Cultural Law Students Association, the Women's Law Association, OUTlaw, and a variety of groups formed around interests in particular areas of law and practice, including the Health Law Association, the Family Law Association, the Criminal Law Society, and the Real Estate Guild. There is also a productive Western New England Law Review, many active moot court teams, and a student newspaper, Lex Brevis.

Applicant Profile

Western New England University School of Law

This grid includes only applicants who earned 120–180 LSAT scores under standard administrations.

	GPA
LSAT Score	3.75+ Apps	3.75+ Adm	3.50– 3.74 Apps	3.50– 3.74 Adm	3.25– 3.49 Apps	3.25– 3.49 Adm	3.00– 3.24 Apps	3.00– 3.24 Adm	2.75– 2.99 Apps	2.75– 2.99 Adm	2.50– 2.74 Apps	2.50– 2.74 Adm	2.25– 2.49 Apps	2.25– 2.49 Adm	2.00– 2.24 Apps	2.00– 2.24 Adm	Below 2.00 Apps	Below 2.00 Adm	No GPA Apps	No GPA Adm	Total Apps	Total Adm
LSAT score 175–180	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
LSAT score 170–174	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3
LSAT score 165–169	4	3	3	3	4	3	1	1	0	0	1	1	3	3	1	1	0	0	0	0	17	15
LSAT score 160–164	10	10	5	4	5	5	11	11	7	7	3	3	2	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	44	42
LSAT score 155–159	15	15	27	25	20	20	47	45	21	20	13	13	5	3	2	2	0	0	3	2	153	145
LSAT score 150–154	28	27	57	53	62	59	82	76	58	47	37	30	24	13	6	3	3	0	5	1	362	309
LSAT score 145–149	15	10	44	22	73	22	82	10	55	8	26	0	23	0	8	0	1	0	8	1	335	73
LSAT score 140–144	6	0	24	0	26	0	31	0	26	0	21	0	5	0	6	0	2	0	1	0	148	0
LSAT score 135–139	2	0	9	0	8	0	8	0	10	0	12	0	5	0	3	0	2	0	3	0	62	0
LSAT score 130–134	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	3	0	3	0	2	0	1	0	2	0	1	0	17	0
LSAT score 125–129	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	6	0
LSAT score 120–124	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
Total	83	67	169	107	199	110	268	143	181	82	119	48	70	20	28	7	11	0	22	4	1150	588

Apps = Number of Applicants
Adm = Number Admitted
Reflects 99% of the total applicant pool; highest LSAT data reported.