In compliance with the American Bar Association’s Standards, the following information about the University of Maine School of Law’s J.D. program is provided to current and prospective students.

Academics

Standard 509 Report

Bar Passage Data and Employment Outcomes Information

Accreditation, Approvals & Memberships

The University of Maine School of Law’s J.D. program is approved by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association (ABA). For additional information, please contact:

American Bar Association
Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar
321 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: 312.988.6738
Fax: 312.988.5681
legaled@americanbar.org

Read our complete accreditation and membership information.

Transfer of Credit Policies

Transfer Students – A student who has been accepted for transfer to the University of Maine School of Law from another ABA-accredited institution where the incoming transfer student was enrolled in a J.D. degree program will be given credit for the number of hours accepted in transfer as determined by the Vice Dean/Provost. Courses completed with a grade of “C” or above are eligible for transfer, and a maximum of 45 hours of course credit may be transferred. The prior grades of a transfer student will be reflected on the transcript but will not be figured into the student’s grade point average. Transfer students will not be ranked in class standings but will be eligible for graduation honors and Dean’s List. Transfer students must meet all graduation requirements, which may include successfully completing some first-year courses not taken at their original institution.

No credit will be given for courses taken prior to matriculation at an ABA-accredited law school with the exception of students who are applying for advanced standing credit for prior foreign study or from Maine Law’s LL.M. degree program. For complete transfer of credit details, read the J.D. Student Handbook.

Tuition/Financial Aid/Scholarships

Tuition

Tuition rates vary according to the student’s residency and are determined at the time of acceptance. Maine resident tuition rates are lower than out-of-state tuition rates. A number of New England residents, from states that do not have a state law school, are granted New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) rates. Canadian citizens are granted a tuition rate similar to the NEBHE rate. For additional information on determining your residency status, please visit the residency section of USM’s Student Accounts Office’s website.

Financial Aid

Financial aid for students at the University of Maine School of Law is administered through the Financial Aid Office of the University of Southern Maine. The USM Financial Aid Office provides substantial need-based financial assistance to many first-year law students in the form of Stafford Loans (Guaranteed Student Loans), Perkins Loans, and work-study employment. In addition, private loans (alternative loans) are also available.

Students are encouraged to apply for aid by January 15th. (Do not wait for an admissions decision to apply for financial aid!) This will enable the Financial Aid Office to determine eligibility before the first non-refundable tuition deposit is due.

Scholarships

All students admitted to the University of Maine School of Law are automatically considered for scholarships funded by the Law School; a separate scholarship application is not required. No scholarships awarded by Maine Law are conditional; they require only that the student remain in good academic standing. The scholarship committee begins awarding scholarships in late January, and decisions are made on a rolling basis.

Refund Policy

The charges assessed to students who withdraw from all classes at Maine Law are adjusted in accordance with the date the student officially withdraws from classes. Thus, the date the Registrar receives written notification of withdrawal is used when calculating refunds. A semester begins with the first day of scheduled Law School classes and includes weekends and holidays.

Failure to notify the Registrar promptly will increase financial liability. A student who feels the withdrawal was caused by reasons beyond student’s control (extended illness or military service obligations, for example) may petition for special consideration up to 90 days after the close of the semester/session for which the student is claiming a refund. Charges will not be reduced for voluntary absence from classes.

Licensure Disclosure

The Juris Doctor (J.D.) program is accredited by the ABA, and as such, it meets the requirements for licensure in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. Visit the University of Maine System State Authorization and Licensure page to learn more about the licensure requirements in other states and territories, in addition to the contact information needed to inquire further into the licensure requirements associated with this program.