Professor Jon Chapman is closing a remarkable chapter at Maine Law after a decades-long career in public service. Known to students for his practical insight, steady presence, and trademark sense of humor, Chapman leaves behind a legacy shaped by both his long legal career and his deep commitment to teaching the next generation of lawyers.
Chapman joined Maine Law’s faculty after retiring as Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine in 2019, though his connection to the school stretches back much further. He had served as an adjunct professor since 2005, originally planning to continue teaching a limited schedule in retirement. That plan changed in 2023, when he was invited to expand his role and take on a broader slate of courses, including evidence, criminal procedure, trial practice, and criminal law.
“It’s been a wonderful three years,” Chapman reflected. “It was a great opportunity, and I never saw it coming. The last thing on my mind was that I’d be on the faculty, and it’s been an enormous pleasure.”
A graduate of Franklin Pierce Law School (now the University of New Hampshire School of Law) and a native of Cape Elizabeth, Chapman brought decades of courtroom experience into his teaching. His courses emphasized not just doctrine, but the realities of legal practice. Students quickly recognized the value of that perspective, particularly in hands-on settings like trial practice.
“When a student tells me that something I did or said triggered an interest in a particular area of law, like trial practice or criminal law, that means a lot,” he said. “I can’t tell you how many times a student comes to me and says, ‘Wow, that’s really intriguing, and I really want to do this now.’”
Chapman is quick to deflect praise, instead emphasizing the community he found at Maine Law. “People are just very nice here,” he said. “I can’t say enough good things about the students I’ve had. And being part of a faculty full of scholars is a little intimidating, but it’s also an honor.”
Dean and President Leigh Saufley praised Chapman’s lasting contributions to the law school. “Jon Chapman brought a lifetime of public service into our classrooms and gave our students something invaluable: a clear-eyed understanding of what it means to practice law with integrity and purpose,” she said. “His generosity as a teacher, his mentorship of our students, and his commitment to the profession have strengthened Maine Law in enduring ways. We are deeply grateful for all he has given to this community.”
As he steps away from the classroom, Chapman looks forward to traveling with his wife, Ann, spending time with their four grandchildren, and continuing to engage with the legal profession in new ways. He plans to remain active as a senior member of the bar and hopes to contribute where he can, particularly in support of the Rule of Law.
For Chapman, the transition is less an ending than a continuation of a life shaped by service, curiosity, and connection. For Maine Law, his departure marks the close of a meaningful era, one defined by experience shared generously and a lasting influence on the students who will carry that knowledge forward.
