Airforce pilot. Bartender. Legislative aid. Educator. Harm reduction advocate.
These are just some of the professions and pursuits held by Maine Law’s incoming class of 2025. While many arrive at Maine Law shortly after their undergraduate careers, a significant number are returning to school after experiences that strengthened their interest in public service and the law.
As Maine’s only law school, many students do hail from the state and greater New England, but the class of 2025 still has broad geographical representation. Students come from as close to home as Lewiston, ME and from as far away as Guyana, drawn to the school by its reputation for serving the public interest and stand-out programs in privacy, rural, and environmental law.
Maine Law Dean and President Leigh Saufley welcomed the incoming class on their first day of orientation, adding that this is an exciting and essential time to become students of the law.
“People will look back at the decisions made this summer in courts at the highest level for decades to come,” she continued. “You are the ones who are going to figure out how these historic rulings have an effect on the law, environment, economy, and life in the United States. We are looking to you.”
This resonated with students like Kim Stevens. Navigating current seismic shifts in the country’s legal, political, and social landscapes is why she felt compelled toward law school. After receiving her business degree from the University of Southern Maine, Stevens worked for several years in New Orleans in the service industry. That work was a great way to keep a finger on the pulse of the country while also interacting with many members of the legal profession.
“I found myself feeling a lot of anger and frustration during the pandemic,” she said. “I decided I needed to do something constructive with those feelings.”
Other incoming students, like Rowan Hickey, feel law school is not so much a change in direction as a natural progression of their interests and careers. Hickey previously worked as a legislative aid for a state senator and on various state-level campaigns in his home state of Pennsylvania. He’s interested in a profession that allows him to work adjacent to politics while specializing in certain legal matters.
While the incoming class has a range of backgrounds, interests, and motivations for attending Maine Law they all share a similar passion for work that improves the world around them.
“Maine Law is exceptional for many reasons,” Caroline Wilshusen, associate dean of admissions, said. “Where our students really stand out, however, is in their drive to advance justice, interrogate existing systems, and drive positive change in many facets of the law.”
