University of New Hampshire-Franklin Pierce School of Law

Key Highlights

• Public research university with state support
• Town setting offering focused academic environment
• Research-intensive with extensive graduate programs
• Diverse academic programs across multiple disciplines

Student Life & Environment

Student life at UNH Franklin Pierce Law unfolds in Concord, a small city of about 44,000 that moves at a gentler pace than urban law school settings. The tight-knit student body creates community bonds that students often cite as a defining feature of their experience. Study groups form naturally, and competition among classmates tends toward the supportive rather than cutthroat. Student organizations cover professional interests including the Intellectual Property Law Association, the Environmental Law Society, and the Criminal Law Society, along with affinity groups and public service organizations. The Student Bar Association coordinates social events throughout the year that bring the community together outside classroom settings. The law school's small size means students have access to faculty for mentorship, research opportunities, and recommendation letters based on genuine familiarity rather than brief classroom encounters. Outdoor recreation opportunities abound in New Hampshire, from skiing in winter to hiking, kayaking, and mountain biking in warmer months. Many students embrace the active lifestyle the state enables, using weekends for trips to the White Mountains or the seacoast. The law school atmosphere balances serious academic work with appreciation for quality of life outside the library.

Location & Surroundings

Concord, New Hampshire's capital city, provides a small-town setting for legal education that contrasts sharply with urban law school environments. The city of roughly 44,000 residents offers essential services and amenities without the crowds, expense, or distractions of larger cities. Downtown Concord features restaurants, coffee shops, and cultural venues including the Capitol Center for the Arts that bring performances and events to the region. The state government presence means legal opportunities in legislative work, state agency practice, and government relations. Boston lies approximately one hour south via Interstate 93, providing access to major legal employers, cultural institutions, and transportation connections. Manchester, New Hampshire's largest city, sits just twenty minutes south with additional commercial and entertainment options. New Hampshire's natural beauty defines the region, with the White Mountains providing world-class skiing, hiking, and wilderness recreation within ninety minutes of campus. The seacoast, about an hour east, offers beaches and coastal communities for warm weather recreation. New Hampshire's lack of state income tax and sales tax reduces living costs, while housing prices remain substantially lower than Boston or other major metropolitan areas.

Costs & Career Outcomes

UNH Franklin Pierce Law graduates pursue legal careers across New England and throughout the country, with particular strength in intellectual property practice where the school's reputation opens doors at specialized firms and corporate IP departments. The Career Services Office provides support including job search assistance, interview preparation, employer outreach, and networking event coordination. On-campus interviews bring employers to Concord, while the school's participation in regional job fairs expands student access to legal employers throughout New England. Many graduates establish successful practices in New Hampshire and northern New England, where the relatively small legal market means law school connections matter significantly. The intellectual property concentration positions graduates for practice in technology hubs from Boston to Silicon Valley, with alumni working at major technology companies and specialized IP law firms. Government positions at the US Patent and Trademark Office and other federal agencies attract graduates with IP expertise. As a public law school within the UNH system, tuition rates remain lower than most private law schools, particularly for New Hampshire residents. Bar passage rates meet or exceed state averages.

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