University of Maine - School of Law

All too often, law school is viewed as a “stress inducing experience that breaks people.” University of Maine takes a decidedly softer approach. Students here love that the “school focuses on creating the best possible advocates for clients while emphasizing that self care matters.” And they promise that “you will not find a better place to get personal and professional mentorship.” After all, Maine Law “works with students to develop a program that reflects their personal and professional goals starting in the first year.”

When it comes to coursework, students are quick to tout the great “clinical offerings [in] juvenile justice, prisoner assistance, general practice [and] refugee and human rights.” They also note that “Maine Law is well known nationally and internationally in the field of privacy law, and has an excellent Information Privacy Program.” And the accolades don’t end there! University of Maine also boasts “a nationally recognized Moot Court Team and Legal Writing Program.”

Of course, the best aspect of UM might just be the “incredibly knowledgeable” and “invested” professors. Students have the opportunity to “work closely with some of the greatest legal minds in Maine.” And the “access to faculty is unparalleled.” Professors “take a huge interest in their students and provid[e] them with all the resources they could ever need.” Even better, they know how to make their courses endlessly interesting. We’ll let this impressed student explain. “I came into school knowing that I wanted to focus in juvenile justice but I left 1L year with a newfound respect for a range of subjects that I never cared about before. I am fascinated by property law now and could even manage to care a little bit about contracts (which is wild).”

Further, many professors “practice locally and help students make connections outside of school.” The university also does a great job of encouraging “relationships between students and local attorneys.” Additionally, “the First Circuit and the District Court for the District of Maine partner with the law school to provide opportunities exclusively to students at Maine Law.” And a number of people highlight the fact that the “vast majority of the Maine State Bar is comprised of Maine Law grads.” In other words, “If you’re interested in practicing law in Maine, Maine Law is pretty much the ONLY school worth attending.”

Maine Law does an excellent job at fostering a “strong sense of community.” There’s certainly a “cooperative spirit among students” and they happily “support one another.” In fact, “during reading week leading up to finals, you’ll routinely see students working together and answering each other’s questions.” They do acknowledge, however, that ethnic diversity is lacking. As this student plainly states, “If you’re looking for diversity based on skin color, please note that Maine is the ‘whitest state in the union.’” Fortunately, “the school is very diverse with regards to age, background, political viewpoint, sexual preferences, etc.” Though a handful of people argue that the law school “is overwhelmingly liberal, and if you are conservative, you feel uncomfortable expressing any of your views.”

One point virtually all students agree on? The fact that Portland is a “beautiful city on the ocean.” Of course, if you come from a larger metropolitan area, it can feel like a “small town.” The upside is that “you always know where your friends and classmates are on the weekends.” Plus, Portland has a “nationally recognized foodie scene” and “lots of craft cocktail bars.” All in all, the city is “a great place to spend three years.”