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Western New England College School of Law [By Akbar Ali] Located in picturesque Springfield, Massachusetts, Western New England College School of Law is one of the region’s lowerprofile law schools, operating as a small, private facility which offers both J.D. and LL.M. degrees. The university is currently in the midst of a $20 million fundraising effort and expansion of its law center in order to upgrade its facilities to better serve students and faculty. The school is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.
In addition to its traditional J.D. and LL.M.
and law students to work and consult with
building currently housing the law school,
programs, the school offers three joint
local entrepreneurs who are expanding
the S. Prestley Blake Law Center, did not
degree programs: a J.D./M.B.A. program
and building new businesses. Likewise, the
open until 1978. It was named after S.
with the School of Business, a J.D./M.S.W.
Small Business Clinic matches students
Prestley Blake, president and co-founder of
(Master of Social Work) program with
from the business and law schools together
Friendly’s Ice Cream, who donated $250,000
Springfield College, and a J.D./M.R.P.
to provide services and consulting to local
for the construction of the building. The
(Master of Regional Planning) program with
business owners. The clinic is considered
school is also home to three publications:
the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
the most important program at the Law and
the Western New England Law Review, the
Business Center and, through its students,
school’s scholarly legal journal; Lex Brevis,
Undergraduate students at the main campus
offers advice on matters such as corporate
a student-run newspaper; and Lytae, the law
are also offered the opportunity to complete
and commercial law, marketing, human
school’s yearbook and journal of record.
their undergraduate and J.D. programs
resources, and competitive analysis.
in a six-year program known as the 3+3
In 2001, the school’s ABA Negotiation Team
Law Program. Most majors are allowed to
Current enrollment at the school is 580, with
won the National Negotiation Competition
complete both bachelor’s and J.D. work
39 full-time faculty members and 35 adjunct
out of nearly 200 competing law schools. The
within a six-year time frame with three years
faculty members. The current student-to-
following year, the team placed fourth in the
allotted for each degree.
faculty ratio stands at 16:1. For the fall 2007
national competition.
class, the median LSAT score was 154, with Additionally, a new, similarly structured
the 25th percentile coming in at 150 and the
A number of influential and high-profile
program was implemented in the fall of
75th percentile at 156. The median GPA was
local and state figures have graduated
2007 which coordinates biomedical study
3.14. The average age of students was 25,
from Western New England College School
with a career in law: the six-year Biomedical
although students ranged in age from 20 to
of Law, including Massachusetts state
Engineering/Law Program allows students
45. Minority students comprised 12% of the
representatives and senators Stephen
to earn an undergraduate biomedical
total class population.
Buoniconti and Gale D. Candaras, Connecticut
engineering degree and a J.D. in six years.
State Representative Lawrence Cafero,
Separate admission to each program is
According to the school’s most recent profile
Connecticut State Representative Michael
required.
in the Princeton Review, the pass rate
Christ, Massachusetts State Representative
for graduates taking the bar exam for the
Cheryl A. Coakley-Rivera, U.S. Marine Corps
In terms of LL.M. opportunities, one of
first time is 76%, and the average starting
Lawyer Michael Mori, current Lieutenant
the school’s unique offerings is its LL.M.
salary is $51,664. Tuition in 2007 ran to
Governor of Massachusetts and former Mayor
Program in Estate Planning and Elder Law,
$31,048 for full-time students and $23,286
of Worcester, Massachusetts, Tim Murray,
the only program of its kind in the Northeast
for part-time students. 40% of students are
former NBA Commissioner Larry O’Brien
and one of the few in the nation offering this
granted institutional scholarships, including
and former Springfield City Councilor Angelo
specialty. This program is only offered on a
full-tuition scholarships. Out-of-state tuition
Puppolo.
part-time basis.
totals about $29,456, and the average loan amount in 2007 was $30,273. Room and
The school also operates five clinics as well as the Law and Business Center for
Western New England College School of Law
Advancing Entrepreneurship. This center
Western New England College’s full-time
provides practical experience for business
law program began in 1973, though the
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board fees total $11,578. www1.law.wnec.edu