Bachelor - Juris Doctor, Accelerated Pathway (MaineLaw)

Accelerated Graduate Pathways to Maine Law School

UMFK’s Accelerated Graduate Pathways to the Maine Law School is for students who select to complete both a Bachelor’s and a J.D. (Juris Doctor, law) degree in six years rather than the typical seven years. By following a specific academic plan, a student is able to save one academic year of undergraduate education, as well as one year’s worth of undergraduate fees, tuition, and expenses. Students who meet the requirements avoid the considerable time and expense attached to preparing multiple law school applications. The chance to enter their chosen professional field a year early gives them an experiential advantage and has a beneficial impact on earning potential as well.

• Eligible majors to participate in this program:
  • Arts and Sciences (BAS)
  • Business Management (BS)
  • Conservation Law Enforcement (BS)
  • Environmental Studies (BS)
  • Rural Public Safety Administration (BS)

Program and Admission Requirements

In order to be considered for guaranteed admission, a student must:

• Successfully complete all but 30 credit hours of an approved Bachelor’s degree pathway at the University of Maine at Fort Kent by the end of their junior status
• Maintain an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.5
• Achieve a Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score that is no lower than the current median LSAT posted on the Maine Law website
• Complete all required Law School application materials (also posted on the Maine Law website), including compliance with all other Law School admission requirements by April 1 of the year in which the applicant would begin law school
• Be in good academic and disciplinary standing at the University of Maine at Fort Kent at the time of acceptance to the Law School
• Meet the standards for the Character and fitness portion of the Law School application
• Submit a letter of reference from a UMFK faculty member familiar with the student’s maturity, motivation, and academic ability to study law, and which details the student’s qualifications and abilities in each area

Students who do not meet these criteria are still eligible to apply for admission to the Law School, but will not be considered as part of the Guaranteed Admission Agreement through the Accelerated Law Pathway.

For more information, contact the UMFK Registrar.

University of Maine School of Law Tuition

For all Law coursework, students are charged the Maine School of Law per credit tuition rate. While the credits serve as both the final credits of the undergraduate degree and the first year of the Law curriculum, students are only paying the one tuition rate. Students may be able to retain their undergraduate merit aid for use during the fourth year of study (1L coursework), but it is imperative that a student meet with a Financial Aid Counselor to confirm retention of undergraduate merit aid.