Quinnipiac University School of Law

Introduction

Excellent law schools share many common traits—faculty renowned for their scholarship and commitment to teaching; academically rigorous courses; loyal, successful alumni; and motivated, focused students. All of these are essential components of Quinnipiac Law's identity. However, what sets Quinnipiac apart is its personal, student-centered approach to the law school experience. Contributing to this identity is a favorable 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio, the extraordinary accessibility of the faculty, and an environment that both challenges and supports its students as they prepare for careers in law.

Nestled among the hills, woods, and waterways of Connecticut on one of the most beautiful campuses in New England, yet just 75 miles from New York City, Quinnipiac's setting and location are ideal. The beautiful, state-of-the-art law center opened in 1995. Wireless computer access throughout provides students with a modern, relaxed, and safe environment for study.

Faculty

Our faculty's academic credentials span the nation's leading institutions from Harvard, Yale, and Berkeley to Chicago, Michigan, and Columbia. They combine excellence in scholarship and teaching with exceptional accessibility. The care with which faculty members demonstrate their interest in each student's progress and success is a distinguishing characteristic of Quinnipiac Law. Most faculty have an open-door policy and generously share their expertise, insight, and time. The low student-to-faculty ratio (13:1) allows students to work closely with faculty, and this translates into a different kind of law school experience.

Library and Physical Facilities

The 50,000-square-foot law library is at the center of the School of Law complex. With a collection of more than 450,000 volumes, it also provides comprehensive access to numerous electronic resources and databases such as LexisNexis, Westlaw/Dialog, JSTOR, and other web-based services. Its interlibrary loan network makes it possible to obtain materials from any library in the world. The beautiful facility features spacious public areas, numerous reading rooms, and individual study carrels, providing a comfortable and relaxing environment for research and study.

Curriculum

The law school is fully approved by the ABA and is a member of AALS. Full-time day and part-time evening programs are offered beginning each fall. The academic program is designed to prepare students to be generalists or specialists. The program provides a dynamic blend of traditional classroom instruction and extensive practical learning opportunities.

Students who wish to focus on a specific area of study may choose from six different concentrations—Civil Advocacy and Dispute Resolution, Criminal Law and Advocacy, Family Law, Health Law, Intellectual Property, and Tax. About one-third of our students choose a focus in one of the above concentrations. However, one may develop an informal concentration in a variety of other fields with the advice and assistance of a faculty member.

The law school also offers a joint JD/MBA degree (with a health care management track) and a summer study-abroad program with Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.

Special Programs

Quinnipiac is recognized as having one of the premier clinical and externship programs in the country, and students often cite their experiences in these programs as one of the highlights of their law school career. Every student is guaranteed participation in at least one of these practical learning opportunities that allow students to bridge the gap between theory and practice. A total of 15 clinical and externship programs are available to students.

The six clinical programs include Civil, Tax, Advanced, Evening (for part-time students), Defense Appellate, and Prosecution Appellate. The Civil Clinic typically deals with the following types of cases or issues: education, employment, health, housing, family and children, immigration, law reform, and poverty. The nine externship programs are Corporate Counsel, Criminal Justice, Family and Juvenile Law, Judicial, Legal Services, Legislative, Mediation, Public Interest, and Field Placement II.

Quinnipiac has established two centers in specialized fields of law—the Center for Health Law and Policy and the Center on Dispute Resolution—both of which draw on the considerable academic strengths and resources within the law school community.

Admission

Admission is competitive and based upon a variety of factors: undergraduate academic record, LSAT scores, personal statement, letters of recommendation, résumé, and other evidence such as advanced degrees, life and work experience, and extracurricular activities. Applications are welcomed from students of color, nontraditional students, and all students who add to the diversity of the student body. A rolling admission system is employed; however, the priority application deadline for admission and scholarship consideration is March 1. Candidates for the full-tuition Dean's Fellows awards must apply by February 1.

Student Activities

Quinnipiac students often comment about the strong sense of community that permeates the law school. That sense of community is enhanced by the numerous and varied opportunities for students to participate in cocurricular activities, including a dynamic Student Bar Association, more than 25 different student organizations, a thriving Moot Court Society, a Mock Trial team, an active Quinnipiac Law Review, and two student journals—the Health Law Journal and the Probate Law Journal.

Expenses and Financial Aid

Approximately 90 percent of the student body receives some form of financial assistance. Every applicant is considered for merit-based scholarships that range from $3,000 to full tuition per year. March 1 is the application deadline for most merit awards. However, candidates for the full-tuition Dean's Fellows scholarships must submit applications by February 1. Total institutional scholarships and grants for the 2011–2012 academic year totaled approximately $5.3 million.

Housing

Campus housing for graduate and professional students is not available. However, there is ample, affordable housing available near the campus and throughout New Haven county. The School of Law Admissions Office maintains a housing website and roommate locator online for its admitted students and also provides personal assistance in securing off-campus accommodations.

Career Services

The Office of Career Services provides students and graduates with the expert guidance necessary to make informed career decisions. It offers substantial support through individual counseling and workshops on topics such as writing résumés and interviewing techniques.

The office coordinates on- and off-campus recruitment programs. Students interview with employers for a variety of summer internships and permanent jobs in the private and public sector.

Over the past six years, more than 90 percent of our graduates have been employed within nine months of graduation. The graduating class of 2010 had a 90 percent placement rate and found employment as follows: 35 percent entered private practice, 17 percent took positions in business and industry, 24 percent chose government service work, 9 percent received judicial clerkships, 9 percent went into public interest law, and 2 percent were studying for advanced degrees. The remainder went into other fields of employment.

Applicant Profile

Quinnipiac 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	Below 2.50 Apps	Below 2.50 Adm	No GPA Apps	No GPA Adm	Total Apps	Total Adm
LSAT score 170–180	3	3	1	1	5	5	2	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	12	11
LSAT score 165–169	14	14	15	15	18	17	11	11	5	5	8	8	2	2	1	1	74	73
LSAT score 160–164	46	46	65	63	66	62	44	43	22	22	14	12	10	5	0	0	267	253
LSAT score 155–159	75	75	119	109	141	130	102	92	69	41	35	12	26	3	4	3	571	465
LSAT score 150–154	62	30	124	44	131	35	177	22	101	6	52	1	30	0	6	0	683	138
LSAT score 145–149	21	3	30	2	55	5	60	4	34	1	23	0	21	0	5	0	249	15
LSAT score 140–144	7	0	20	0	18	0	29	0	11	0	11	0	13	0	0	0	109	0
LSAT score Below 140	5	0	4	0	11	0	11	0	12	0	7	0	9	0	2	0	61	0
Total	233	171	378	234	445	254	436	174	254	75	150	33	112	10	18	4	2026	955

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