Message from the Dean On any given day, if one were to walk about the campus, one would see students with backpacks streaming into our beautiful buildings, others kicking a soccer ball on one of our fields or perhaps see a class gathered at a picnic table in the grove taking advantage of a beautiful day. An observant watcher would see that there is steady movement of students and faculty from classroom to events, and gatherings of people engaged in conversations both great and small. These are but a few vignettes of the setting we cherish. However, there are other things- the intangibles- that make UConn Law School such an incredible place in which to spend three or four years as a student. To paraphrase Antoine de Saint-ExupĂŠry, the essentials may be invisible to the eye. For example, you cannot get lost here. While the campus is unusually large for a law school, the small sizes of the classes foster strong and remarkably enriching relationships with classmates and faculty. We take pride in the fact that this is a partnership, and that together we are engaging in a conversation about the law and its role in society. In fact, we would not have it any other way. At UConn Law School, we expect that our students will not only think about the language of lawyers Willajeanne F. McLean and the new modes of writing, thinking and speaking that they are learning, but that they will hone those Interim Dean & Professor of Law skills, be it in classrooms where they are embarking on a new area of study in one of the 164 classes offered this year or out in the world as they participate in clinics, externships, and pro bono opportunities. We encourage students to seek personal and professional growth in ways not previously imagined. Our students are always expanding their knowledge of the law, by melding new information garnered from our small class setting and quite exceptional education, with the experience they gain by writing for journals, participating in over 30 different student groups, attending symposia and employment events, and interacting closely with faculty and members of the legal community. All who come to study here, whether they are new, international students or visitors, find that they are experiencing a new legal culture, and are finding ways to incorporate it into their own worldview. There is a dizzying array of classes covering everything from administrative law to zoning law. Yet, you will also find that there is a constant evolution of course offerings, and members of the faculty are planning ways to improve and enrich our already extraordinary curriculum. The Law School is embarking upon a major expansion of the faculty in the areas of financial services, public policy, and human rights law to enhance an educational experience that is already rich and deep in opportunity for intellectual rigor in the classroom and application in the real world.
University of Connecticut School of Law I believe that our Law School will offer you a unique opportunity to develop under the guidance of faculty, staff and peers, into a lawyer fully prepared for the future. We are unwavering in our commitment to fostering ubuntu in our community as we engage in our intellectual enterprise. We cannot and will not forget our dedication to the mission of providing a first-rate legal education to our students. Our determination to excel in every respect as a law school is unwavering. Come test the proposition - visit. Take a look at our magnificent library, courtrooms, classrooms and campus. Speak to our students, faculty and staff. Let them tell you about life as a law student on our campus. Ask questions -and be prepared to hear a law school discussed in terms that I hope will make you, too, want to join us. I think you will like what you see.
Curriculum for Your Future The course of study at the University of Connecticut School of Law is comprehensive, global, rigorous and reflects the diversity and intellectual ambition of the students and faculty. All candidates for the degree of Juris Doctor must successfully complete a minimum of 86 semester hours, and pass all required courses. All first-year students participate in our comprehensive skills program, Lawyering Process, and an innovative Moot Court course. To meet the needs of our students, the Law School offers both full-time and part-time programs. The Law School offers a wide array of specialized seminars and courses designed to build a strong foundation for a successful legal career. The broad curriculum reflects the Law School’s commitment to expanding and evolving areas of law. In addition to the basic professional curriculum, our five dual-degree and five certificate programs provide a rich variety of educational opportunities to students with interests in fields such as business, environmental law, Insurance, intellectual property, human rights, public policy, public health, social work and taxation. UConn offers special programs in Energy and Environmental Law, Insurance Law, Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship and in International Law, which are designed to prepare graduates for the challenges we will all face in the future.
First Year Three Year Day Division Fall
Four Year Evening Division
Four Year Day Division
Civil Procedure/ Constitutional Law
Civil Procedure I
Civil Procedure
Contracts
Lawyering Process
Lawyering Process
Torts
Contracts Lawyering Process
Torts
Contracts I
Torts
Criminal Law Interterm
Moot Court
Spring
Constitutional Law/ Civil Procedure
Lawyering Process
Constitutional Law
Lawyering Process
Contracts II
Lawyering Process
Property
Criminal Law
Property
Stat/Reg
Civil Procedure II
Moot Court
Moot Court
June Term
Second Year Fall Spring
Electives Electives
Property
Criminal Law
Stat/Reg
Stat/Reg*
Constitutional Law
Electives
The schedule above reflects a typical course of study but is subject to revision at any time and is not a guarantee of an individual student’s classes.
Diverse Educational Options Study Abroad/International Exchange Programs Students may enrich their legal studies by spending an academic semester enrolled at one of the international law schools with which UConn Law has formal agreements. Students may apply for admission to programs located in eight countries: France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, and United Kingdom. Our sister schools offer a full spectrum of law courses in which our students may enroll. (www.law.uconn.edu/exchange-programs/study-abroad/ international-exchange-programs/semester-study-abroadprograms-applic)
Semester in Washington, D.C. Our students work in major federal, legislative or public interest organizations as legal interns for 30 hours a week. They take an evening seminar, and receive 13 academic credits for the term, as well as an amazing experience.
Vermont Law School Exchange
Students wishing to experience an intensive immersion in environmental law may wish to study for a semester at the Vermont Law Center though our exchange.
Dual Degree Programs • JD/LLM (Insurance Law) • JD/MBA • JD/MPA
• JD/MPH • JD/MSW
Clinical and Experiential Learning As the legal market continues to shift it is increasingly important to focus on experiential learning. The Law School has a long standing tradition of ensuring our students have the ability to gain significant legal experience through our many clinics. Students can also explore diverse areas of legal interest through excellent externship opportunities, a wealth of international programs and many specialized courses ranging from securities and taxation to human rights and children’s advocacy. Due to a liberal student practice rule, UConn law students may actually practice under the tutelage and supervision of our expert specialists. “Integral to the curriculum are the many opportunities for students to get hands-on, real-world experience alongside the legal theory they learn in the classroom. Connecticut’s clinical legal programs enable students to represent real clients in real cases in a supervised setting. Students are responsible for all aspects of client representation. Students do the initial client interview all the way to a trial or to a hearing. Throughout the process, they talk through all the decisions they are making with a supervisor. They are constantly evaluating their own performance and continually working to improve it. The standards are the highest, and the results are excellent. For example, students in our Asylum and Human Rights Clinic have won their cases at three times the national average.” Jon Bauer Clinical Professor of Law
Clinical and Experiential Learning Programs • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Administrative Clerkship Asylum and Human Rights Clinic Criminal Clinic Energy and Environmental Law Clinic Individual Externships Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship Law Clinic Judicial Clerkship Lawyering Process Program Legislative Clerkship LGBT Rights Clinic Mediation Clinic Poverty Law Clinic State’s Attorney’s Clinic Tax Clinic
Specialized Legal Centers • • • •
The Center for Children’s Advocacy Connecticut Urban Legal Initiative (CULI) Insurance Law Center The Center for Energy and Environmental Law
Certificate Programs • • • • •
Energy and Environmental Law Human Rights Intellectual Property Law and Public Policy Tax Studies
Faculty The foundation of a meaningful and enriching law school experience at the University of Connecticut School of Law is your close access to a strong faculty with an established body of legal scholarship, and your ability to participate in an interesting curriculum taught by experts. Our faculty members
are pre-eminent in their respective, and sometimes eclectic, fields and are prolific authors of books, articles, and treatises. More than half of the Connecticut faculty have graduate degrees in addition to their LL.B or J.D. degrees, including the J.S.D., Ph.D., LL.M., and master’s degrees in other disciplines. Our remarkably low student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1 ensures significant interaction with both professors and classmates. It is our goal to stay small; our objective is to ensure that the vast majority of upperclass courses have twenty or fewer students. The faculty are selected on the basis of their outstanding capacity for teaching and scholarship, as well as their prior experience in practice, judicial clerkships, government, and business. The Law
School is deeply committed to the free exchange of ideas and the small class setting is an ideal forum for discussion and debate. Our faculty challenge students with a variety of intellectual approaches, teaching methods, and legal settings. Whether participating in a discussion about legal philosophy, helping students prepare a case for argument to an appellate court, or engaging in a scholarly writing project under faculty supervision, the support and guidance you need is available at UConn Law School. “This is where you become a member of the legal community, and your first step in doing that is connecting with your peers and becoming part of the campus community. UConn is a place that has a collegial atmosphere: students want to do well, but they work together and really push each other; this is a terrific environment for peer-to-peer learning. In addition, this is a great place to work on your research and writing skills, and to produce publications. Because we are so small, you can get a lot of attention on your writing. The law professors say ‘come in and ask questions’ and that is a really wonderful thing about UConn. We get to know our students.” Kaaryn Gustafson, Professor of Law Author, Cheating Welfare: Public Assistance and the Criminalization of Poverty (NYU Press, 2011)
Admissions The faculty Admissions Committee makes all admissions decisions after a careful reading of each application. No numeric index is used to rank applicants. The Law School admits students once a year for the fall semester. Those eligible to be considered for admission must hold or expect to receive a bachelor’s degree from an accredited undergraduate college and must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Applicants must take or have taken the LSAT no more than five years before the date of expected enrollment. Applicants should refer to the Law School Admissions Council website (www.lsac.org) for greater detail about the test. The deadline to apply for admission is April 1, 2013. No particular undergraduate major is recommended, although an applicant’s academic preparation should include substantive courses emphasizing critical reasoning and writing, essential skills for the study of law. In selecting the entering class, the Admissions Committee makes difficult choices among a large number of qualified applicants. These choices are made by balancing a number of factors, including: the LSAT score; the type, breadth, and depth of college or graduate courses taken and the grades received; academic honors and awards; writing ability; letters of recommendation from persons who know the applicant well (academic letters of recommendation are the most helpful for fairly recent graduates); work record, including military service, Peace Corps, and VISTA; college and community activities; and character and motivation. Although performance on the LSAT and in college or graduate school is important, selection is made after a holistic review of the entire admissions file.
As a public institution, the Law School gives special consideration, though not an absolute preference, to residents of Connecticut. Residents of New England states without publicly supported law schools also receive some preference in admissions and tuition under the terms of the New England Higher Education Compact. Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis, and applicants are notified as final decisions are made concerning acceptance. We welcome applicants from every state and from around the world. Applicants may apply to the Day or Evening Division. The cost of applying is $60. All Evening Division students are part-time students and must take a June term. Transfers from one division to another are possible after the completion of the first full year of study. Students may attend the Day Division full-or part-time. Neither day nor evening students are permitted to deviate from the required curriculum for that division during the first year, nor may they add or substitute a course from the other division. (www.law.uconn. edu/admissions-/jd-admissions/how-apply)
by Allison Roso
Profile for Class Enrolling 2012 Applications First Year Students Enrolled Total J.D. Students Enrolled Women Students of color
2091 151 570 47% 26%
Students with advanced degrees Students with merit scholarships Undergraduate majors represented Undergraduate institutions represented States represented
13% 64% 44 95 21
Median LSAT 159 Median GPA 3.45 Day Division 25th-75th percentiles LSAT 157/162 Day Division 25th-75th percentiles GPA 3.23/3.66 Average age 26 Top five states most represented in class in descending order: CT, NY, CA, MA, NJ
“What made you choose UConn?” It’s a question that I get a lot. I found myself gravitating towards “the Constitution state” (admittedly, I had to Wiki that one.) I would also be lying if I told you I didn’tget hooked by the architecture of the buildings… I knew that I wanted to eventually have a career in the public interest, particularly focusing on human rights. Of the schools I had to choose from, UConn stood out to me for its strong public interest opportunities and concentrations in human rights. The past two years have definitely justified my decision. I’ve been able to participate with the Public Interest Law Group, find internship opportunities, and really get to know the fantastic network that is built into the school and the community. I’ve also had the opportunity to take a wide array of courses that I’m actually interested in, and at the same time, pursue a graduate certificate in human rights. The location of the school is great, within the city, the state, and the East Coast. Being so close to downtown Hartford gives students, myself included, a plethora of opportunities to find internships, externships, and pro bono work. I think one of the most significant things about UConn Law, which wasn’t even one of the major reasons I chose to come, is the amazing network of alumni both at the school, and around the country and world. The small size of the school has allowed me to make significant and meaningful connections with other students, professors, and employers. Of course, hindsight is always 20/20, but what I know now about UConn Law just reaffirms the decision I made.
Career Planning Center Recognizing and anticipating the ongoing changes in the legal landscape, our Career Planning Center offers focused and yet expansive programming, including highly individualized counseling to J.D. students, and significant outreach to employers. All first year students take part in a mandatory orientation to acquaint them with the world of legal employment and the many services offered by the Career Planning Center. Every student is strongly encouraged to take advantage of a series of personal career planning appointments with our staff attorneys. The Career Planning Center’s lawyers have great depth and knowledge about the many areas of practice and specialization in law and beyond. Our unique 5x3 Program counsels students to focus in intensely individualized ways on personal career goals. With close guidance from a staff specialist, students are encouraged to annually choose at least five well-focused and meaningful legal experiences directly targeted to assist them with exposure to their desired fields, network with professionals engaged in that practice or discipline, and create an opportunity to make personally meaningful connections with an eye toward employment.
by Don Bell I was a Connecticut resident; that allowed me to take advantage of in-state tuition, a big factor in my choice. Many of my classmates from other states came here because of the great education and because they can get in-state residency in just a year. It is a bargain for the education you get! What solidified my choice to attend UConn was a visit to the campus. From the administration to students (now I understand just how busy they were) to faculty, they all made me feel like I was part of a real community. In the rigorous and sometimes trying environment that is law school, having people there to support you when you are trying to find your way makes all the difference in the world. I am active in many student organizations and am spending the fall semester in Washington DC as part of our terrific Semester in DC program. I am getting both academic credits for classes taught by our faculty in DC, and a very significant externship in Senator Blumenthal’s office.
by Justine Le
Employment Statistics For Class of 2011 Graduate Distribution (166 of 179 graduates responded)
Employed Advanced Degree Not Seeking Seeking
Employment Distribution Academic Business Government Clerkships Military Private Practice Public Interest
Job Type Distribution Bar Required JD Preferred Other Professional Non-professional
83.1% 2.4% 6.0% 8.4% 4.4% 18.1% 9.4% 11.6% 2.1% 50.0% 4.4% 68.8% 20.3% 8.7% 2.2%
Reported as of February 15, 2012. Percent error = +/- 0.2%
For the full report, please visit www.law.uconn.edu/system/files/private/Career Planning Report 2011 03-09-12, pdf
Only one thought came to mind when I first law UConn Law’s campus: beautiful. The law school campus’s beauty alone was sufficient reason to love UConn, but I was even more impressed with UConn Law’s small class sizes, the close-knit campus community, and all the activities and opportunities it offered. Now, as a rising 3L, UConn Law was undoubtedly a great decision. In my first two years here, I have been an active member of multiple student-run organizations such as the Corporate and Securities Law Society and Connecticut Law Review. I have also taken many different and fascinating classes involving a wide-range of legal interests, and have also gained significant practical knowledge through legal externships. And lastly, I have made meaningful connections with students, professors, and alumni. Even though the campus’ beauty was the immediate draw, I am satisfied to have discovered that UConn law is truly a special place.
Tuition and Fees by Jose Maldonado
Tuition is based on residency. However, no matter where you come from, you will find that the University of Connecticut School of Law is one of the most affordable law schools in the nation. Our average debt for the class of 2012 was $65,641, which is far below the national average of over $100,000. UConn Law is one of a handful of law schools where tuition may drop for students after the first full year. Non-resident students who are US citizens or resident aliens, after living in Connecticut for one year may file for in-state residency, which can result a significant savings. In 2012-2013 that difference was $24,768.
UConn Law Tuition and Fees for 2012-2013 are: Connecticut Residents Full-Time Day Division Part-Time Evening Division*
New England Compact State Residents
Out-of-State Residents
Tuition
$22,416
$39,192
$47,184
Fees Tuition
$828 $15,620
$828 $27,340
$828 $32,920
Fees
$620
$620
$620
* based on credit hours taken per semester
For additional information, visit www.law.uconn.edu/bursars/business-office/tuition-and-fees/tuition-fees
I chose UConn Law because its educational goals went far beyond merely getting students to “think like lawyers.� UConn let me see that law can be an avenue for both societal and personal growth. The curriculum is so rich and varied that it is sometimes hard to choose what to do. I learn in both the classrooms and the courtrooms, where I am lucky enough to practice law in a heavily supported environment. I knew that UConn Law would give me opportunities and challenges to not only think like a lawyer but learn to be an effective and experienced advocate even before graduation.
Life in Hartford Founded in 1921, the University of Connecticut School of Law is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. The Law School’s beautiful 21-acre campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. Equally inviting is the campus’ surrounding area, the historic West End of Hartford. Beautiful and architecturally interesting homes abound, many of which provide living accommodations for students. Within a 10-minute drive or an easy mass transit trip are the Connecticut Supreme Court and Appellate Courts, the State Capitol, virtually all state and federal agencies, and numerous major law firms. Known as the international center of the insurance industry, Hartford is also home to several multinational
corporations. Each of these institutions provides opportunities for you to participate in off-campus study, externships, clinical practice, and employment, all within very close proximity to the Law School campus. Hartford is also an increasingly thriving cultural center. Students participate in “Creative Cocktail” events at Real Art Ways
as well as Broadway shows and the symphony, jazz and blues performances at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts. The Wadsworth Atheneum, the oldest public art museum in the United States, has extraordinary collections and shows. UConn basketball games are played both at Gampel Pavillion and the XL Center while the football team plays at nearby Rentschler Field.
by Brenda Benitez
In less than an hour’s drive, one will find excellent hiking trails, ocean views, organic farms, skiing and snowboarding, and quaint villages. Students can drive from the Hartford area to Boston or New York in about two hours. The Student Bar Association serves as the governing body for our students. In addition to the Student Bar, there are more than 30 active student organizations. Academic, affinity, athletic, political, practice area, religious, and social organizations enrich the life of the Law School. Whether through our Pro Bono Pledge program, a student organization, or on their own, our students are engaged in public service and community outreach.
There are a lot of really great student organizations at the Law School. They range from legal issues (Connecticut Unemployment Action Center, Health Law Interest Group), sports (Capital Punishment hockey team, UConn Law Golf Club), social (Latino Law Students Association, Black Law Students Association), and many others. There are so many from which to choose that you can be almost sure to find other students with common interests. The great thing is that they’re not strict about joining- you can become active from the first few weeks or wander in at the end of the semester and still be welcomed. And if you’re looking for leadership positions, the torches are usually passed down to aspiring 2Ls at the end of the year.
We encourage you to visit us! To schedule a campus tour with a current student go to: law.uconn.edu/content/visit-law-school admissions@law.uconn.edu 860-570-5100 45 Elizabeth Street Hartford, CT 06105-2213 This brochure is neither a contract nor an offer of a contract.The information it contains was considered accurate at the time of publication. Fees, deadlines, academic requirements, courses, degree programs, and other matters described in this brochure may change without notice. It is the policy of the University of Connecticut to prohibit discrimination in education, employment, and in the provision of services on the basis of legally protected class characteristics (unless there is a bona fide occupational qualification related to employment), or any unlawful factor. In Connecticut, protected class characteristics include race, color, ethnicity, religion, age, workplace hazards to reproductive systems, sex (gender, sexual harassment), marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, pregnancy, national origin, physical/mental/learning disability, and any other group protected by civil rights laws. The Law School assures that students with disabilities have access to the full range of programs and services it offers. Should you need an accommodation please contact (860) 570-5100. The annual Uniform Campus Crime Report is available at (www.law.uconn.edu/content/uniform-campus-crime-report-uccr.)
admissions@law.uconn.edu 860-570-5100