Quinnipiac University School of Law

Quinnipiac University School of Law
Type Private
Law school
Established 1990
Dean Jennifer Gerarda Brown
Students 388
Location Hamden, Connecticut, US
Campus suburban
Website law.quinnipiac.edu
Aerial view of campus

Quinnipiac University School of Law is the law school of the Quinnipiac University. The School is the youngest law school in the U.S. state of Connecticut, having received full accreditation from the American Bar Association in 1995. It is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. It is currently ranked 127th by U.S. News & World Report for 2015.[1]

According to Quinnipiac's 2013 ABA-required disclosures, 34.5% of the Class of 2013 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment nine months after graduation, excluding solo practitioners.[2]

History

The law school was formerly the University of Bridgeport Law School, part of the University of Bridgeport. The University of Bridgeport went through financial hardships in the early 1990s. The University of Bridgeport received financial assistance from the Professors World Peace Academy, (PWPA), an organization affiliated with the Reverend Sun Myung Moon. The law school decided that Rev. Moon was an unworthy associate and severed any legal relations with the University. In order for the law school to remain open it had to merge with a financially sound university. The law school received bids to be taken over by nearby Sacred Heart University, Fairfield University, and Quinnipiac University. The law school faculty and students voted to merge with Quinnipiac University because they felt it was a more financially sound University than Sacred Heart. The law school retained the name University of Bridgeport Law School until the name was officially changed in the 1990s.

Academics

The most recent 2014 U.S. News & World Report law school rankings placed Quinnipiac lower than past years at 134th.[3] The 2008 ranking showed a marked improvement, with the law school moving up eight spots to #108 from the previous year.[4]

The Princeton Review, rated the School of Law as one of the nation’s outstanding law schools, featuring the school in the 2009 edition of “Best 174 Law Schools”. [5]

The university offers three degree programs: The Juris Doctor (J.D.), the J.D./Master of Business Administration (MBA) double degree program, and the Master of Laws (LL.M) in health law. Students may have concentrations in civil advocacy and dispute resolution, criminal law and advocacy, family and juvenile law, health law, intellectual property, and tax.

The law school has an enrollment of 388 students. The class of first-year law students was 47 percent male and 53 percent female, with an average age of 25. Eighteen percent of students were people of color. The student-to-faculty ratio is 10 to 1, and the average class size is around 25. There are 37 full-time faculty members, and 35 adjunct instructors per semester.

Students have had externships in corporate counsel, criminal justice, family and juvenile law, judicial, legal services, legislative, mediation, public interest, field placement II. There are in-house clinical programs in civil, tax, advanced, evening, defense appellate, prosecution appellate. Other learning opportunities include summer study at Trinity College, Dublin in Dublin, Ireland and other opportunities to study abroad.

Quinnipiac publishes three legal periodicals- the Quinnipiac Law Review, the Quinnipiac Probate Law Journal (formerly the Connecticut Probate Law Journal, once the official reporter of probate decisions in the State of Connecticut) and the Quinnipiac Health Law Journal.

The 25th–75th percentile range of LSAT scores is 150-155 for the day division (full-time) program, and 152-156 for the evening division (part-time) program. Tuition for full-time students is $47,076 ($23,130 per semester). Tuition for part-time students is $1,620 per credit. Admitted applicants also automatically considered for merit-based grants and scholarships that range from $3,000 per year to full tuition. Other financial aid is available. The Deans Fellowship is typically awarded to 8-10 students per year and covers full tuition.

Bar Passage Rate: In 2014, Quinnipiac had a combined bar passage rate of 88 percent for first-time takers of the February and July Connecticut Bar Exams. The Class of 2008 achieved a 96 percent first-time pass rate on the Connecticut bar exam, besting the statewide first-time pass rate of 88 percent. The Class of 2008 also fared well on bar exams in two additional states: New Jersey (100 percent) and Massachusetts (100 percent). [6]

The dean of the law school is Jennifer Gerarda Brown. The school is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.

The Raymond E. Baldwin Award for Public Service is an award given for public service in honor of Judge Raymond E. Baldwin

There are approximately 4,800 alumni.

Employment

According to Quinnipiac's official 2013 ABA-required disclosures, 34.5% of the Class of 2013 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment nine months after graduation, excluding solo-practitioners.[7] Quinnipiac's Law School Transparency under-employment score is 20.9%, indicating the percentage of the Class of 2013 unemployed, pursuing an additional degree, or working in a non-professional, short-term, or part-time job nine months after graduation.[8]

Costs

The total cost of attendance (indicating the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses) at Quinnipiac for the 2014-2015 academic year is $66,713.[9] The Law School Transparency estimated debt-financed cost of attendance for three years is $252,646.[10]

Facilities

The 50,000-square-foot (4,600 m2), two-level Law Library is recognized by the American Institute of Architects and the Library Administration and Management Association. The law library houses more than 425,000 volumes and offers wireless access throughout.

Located within the School of Law Center, the Grand Courtroom is designed as a place where students can conduct a mock trial before a judge and jury and make appellate arguments to a panel of judges. On several occasions it has hosted sessions of the Connecticut Supreme Court and Connecticut Appellate Court. It also serves as a spacious lecture hall for guest speakers who visit the School of Law.

Student Competition Teams

Quinnipiac University School of Law boast several student competition teams, including a Mock Trial Society, Moot Court Society, and Society for Dispute Resolution.

Mock Trial Society

Quinnipiac University School of Law is home to a strong mock trial program with a track record of success. The mission of the Mock Trial Society is to cultivate ethical and intellectual trial advocates whose excellence in courtroom presence and ability will be recognized on both regional and national levels. Through rigorous preparation for student trial advocacy competitions, the society's members gain a unique, invaluable courtroom education that will serve as a foundation for a successful legal career.

Members of the Mock Trial Society obtain a comprehensive understanding of the Federal Rules of Evidence and the Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure. Students are coached and mentored by former members of the society who are now practicing attorneys. In addition, the society ensures that its members are properly trained in all areas of trial advocacy and courtroom etiquette by keeping all members apprised of traditional and modern trial techniques.

The Mock Trial Society hosts two competitions each fall - an in-house intramural competition for students and an invitational competition against various schools. The society also attends numerous competitions throughout the year. In the fall of 2015, the Mock Trial Society hosted its 15th Annual ABA sponsored Criminal Advocacy Competition.[11] The Mock Trial Society has recently achieved great success in this competition by winning the last 3 out of 4 years - 2012, 2013, and 2015 - and placing as a finalist in 2014.

While each of the school's competition teams have enjoyed success over the years, the Mock Trial Society remains Quinnipiac's most decorated organization.[12][13]
[14][15]

References

  1. ↑ "Best Law School Rankings | Law Program Rankings | US News". grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. Retrieved 2015-06-08.
  2. ↑ "Employment Summary for 2013 Graduates" (PDF).
  3. ↑ "Best Law School Rankings | Law Program Rankings | US News". grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. Retrieved 2015-06-08.
  4. ↑ University, Quinnipiac. "Program Spotlight". Quinnipiac University. Retrieved 2015-06-08.
  5. ↑ University, Quinnipiac. "About Us". Quinnipiac University. Retrieved 2015-06-08.
  6. ↑ University, Quinnipiac. "(Press Release) Anthropologist appointed to faculty". Quinnipiac University. Retrieved 2015-06-08.
  7. ↑ "Employment Summary for 2013 Graduates" (PDF).
  8. ↑ "Quinnipiac University Profile".
  9. ↑ "Costs".
  10. ↑ "Quinnipiac University Profile".
  11. ↑ http://www.quabacomp.net/
  12. ↑ http://issuu.com/quinnipiac/docs/quinnipiac_winter2014
  13. ↑ http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/championship-year-for-school-of-law-competition-teams/
  14. ↑ http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/mock-trial-team-wins-criminal-justice-trial-advocacy-competition/
  15. ↑ http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/mock-trial-team-wins-regionals-and-advances-to-national-trial-competition/

External links

Coordinates: 41°25′12″N 72°53′39″W / 41.42007°N 72.89420°W / 41.42007; -72.89420

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