At the University of Maine School of Law, the bridge between classroom learning and professional impact is more than a promise—it’s a lived experience.
This year’s Student Impact Summit brought together students, faculty, and alumni to celebrate the tangible difference Maine Law students are making through the Business and Transactional Law Certificate Program, immersive field placements, and the newly launched Business & Law Clinic.
Hosted virtually, the annual summit offered a dynamic platform for showcasing how Maine Law’s commitment to experiential education prepares students to thrive in today’s legal marketplace. Professor Erin Cusenberry, Professor of Practice and Legal Director of the Business & Law Clinic, led the event, guiding a conversation that spanned faculty insights, student stories, and alumni achievements.
Professor Andrew Kaufman, Director of the Business and Transactional Law Certificate Program, captured the essence of transactional law’s forward-thinking mindset:
“The most important thing… is that litigation is necessarily looking back at something that has already happened, [but transactional law] is forward looking. We work to prepare for the future.”
That future-focused approach is woven throughout Maine Law’s curriculum, where students tackle complex business challenges, collaborate across disciplines, and hone the judgment essential for advising clients in a rapidly evolving world.
For 3L Tyler Davis, the program’s breadth and depth are unmatched:
“The unique thing about Maine Law is that there are also really diverse course offerings within the business and transactional law certificate program.”
This diversity of programs extends beyond the classroom. Students engage in cross-disciplinary projects with peers from the University of Maine Graduate School of Business and gain hands-on experience through the Business & Law Clinic, working directly with real clients on real issues.
Alumni like Emma Collins ’23, now at Pierce Atwood, credit Maine Law’s curriculum with preparing them for the realities of practice:
“It’s a lot of communicating with clients on a day-to-day basis to figure out what the terms of our deal are, what the ultimate goal is, and all the things that can go wrong along the way,” Collins said. “I could not do what I do if I didn’t understand entity structure, the basics of taxation. Those concepts are just absolutely the basis of what I do on a day-to-day basis.”
Current students echoed the program’s emphasis on creative problem-solving and client-centered thinking.
“Instead of going right to the law, really take a moment to understand what the client is trying to do fundamentally,” Davis shared, highlighting a lesson he’ll carry into his legal career.
The summit underscored Maine Law’s unwavering commitment to experiential learning—equipping students not only with legal knowledge, but with the practical skills and adaptability needed to lead in a dynamic legal landscape.
As Professor Kaufman advised, the journey is as important as the destination:
“Follow your expanding intuition, follow your interests, and be open to the idea that how you end up proceeding will evolve.”
Through innovative programs like the Business & Law Clinic, Maine Law continues to empower students to lead, adapt, and make a lasting impact—wherever their legal careers may take them.
