Why University of Maine?
Maine Law is the state's only law school, offering a personalized legal education with a strong emphasis on experiential learning and specialized programs in areas like environmental and oceans law and information privacy.
University of Maine is a moderately selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 54.6%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.70 GPA and 158 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.41–3.80 GPA and 153–162 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 84 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Maine, Massachusetts, and Texas — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, University of Maine admitted 1 transfer student into the 2L class. 1 1L transferred out.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #91
- Median GPA
- 3.70
- 25th–75th: 3.41–3.80
- Median LSAT
- 158
- 25th–75th: 153–162
- Acceptance rate
- 54.6%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 84
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 1
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students University of Maine admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
- Median
- —
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
1 1L transferred out of University of Maine in the same cycle — context for how portable University of Maine's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.
Top employment markets
- 1Maine
- 2Massachusetts
- 3Texas
Where the most recent graduating class concentrated employment, per the school's ABA 509 employment summary. Use this as a signal of where the alumni network and OCI recruiting pipeline are strongest.
Signature clinics
Clinical programs that define University of Maine's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why University of Maine" essay where they align with your interests.
- General Practice ClinicProvides legal services to low-income individuals across various civil, criminal, juvenile, and family law matters.
- Refugee and Human Rights ClinicOffers legal assistance to refugees and individuals seeking human rights protections.
- Rural Practice ClinicExtends legal aid to underserved communities in rural Maine, including a location in Fort Kent.
- Prisoner Assistance ClinicAssists incarcerated individuals with civil legal matters.
- Youth Justice ClinicFocuses on legal issues affecting youth, including representation and policy advocacy.
- Business & Law ClinicProvides legal services to small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Maine Law Review— General legal scholarship, including case notes and comments on current legal problems and articles by judges, professors, and practitioners.
- Ocean and Coastal Law Journal— Dedicated to facilitating discourse on legal issues related to domestic and international use of the sea and seashores.
- Student Journal of Information Privacy Law— Publishes student-authored scholarship on information privacy law, cybersecurity law, and emerging technologies.
Faculty highlights
Well-known faculty grouped by primary specialty. If a professor's scholarship aligns with your interests, name them in your essay and reference a specific paper or course.
Dean
- Leigh Saufley· also former Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Tax Law
- Jeffrey Maine
Clinical Law
- Caroline Wilmot· also Civil Practice
Property Law
- Sarah Schindler· also Land Use, Local Government Law
Environmental Law
- Amy F. Semet· also Energy Law
- Anthony Moffa· also Climate Change Law
Constitutional Law
- Dmitry Bam· also First Amendment, Judicial Decision-Making
Criminal Law
- Deirdre M. Smith· also Mental Health Law, Clinical Law
What makes University of Maine distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·One of the smallest law schools in the country, fostering close student-faculty interaction.
- ·Located in Portland, Maine, providing access to federal and state courts, law firms, and legal aid organizations.
- ·Offers dual degree programs including J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.P.H., and J.D./M.P.P.M. with other University of Maine System schools.
- ·Home to the Center for Oceans and Coastal Law and the Center for Law and Innovation.
- ·The only law school in the country offering an Arctic Law program.
- ·Guarantees students a clinical or externship experience.
Using this for your "Why University of Maine" essay
Strong "Why X Law School" essays are concrete and specific to the school — not interchangeable templates. Use these facts to anchor your essay, then layer on what you've found from the school's own faculty pages, clinical program descriptions, and journal listings.
Important note: admissions committees actively reject AI-written personal statements and "Why X" essays. Use this page as research material to write your own essay — never as a template to copy. Authentic, specific, personally-grounded reasoning is the only thing that wins these essays.
Frequently asked about University of Maine
What is the median GPA and LSAT at University of Maine?▾
University of Maine's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.70 and a median LSAT of 158. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.41–3.80 GPA and 153–162 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is University of Maine's acceptance rate?▾
University of Maine's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 54.6%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does University of Maine offer?▾
University of Maine's notable clinical programs include: General Practice Clinic, Refugee and Human Rights Clinic, Rural Practice Clinic, Prisoner Assistance Clinic, Youth Justice Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does University of Maine publish?▾
University of Maine's notable student-edited journals include: Maine Law Review, Ocean and Coastal Law Journal, Student Journal of Information Privacy Law.
Where do University of Maine graduates work?▾
University of Maine graduates concentrate employment in Maine, Massachusetts, Texas, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does University of Maine admit?▾
University of Maine admitted 1 transfer student into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle.
Schools similar to University of Maine
Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.
About to start at University of Maine?
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Try Case Cub free →Sources (5) — verify any fact above
- https://mainelaw.maine.edu/academics/clinics-centers/
- https://mainelaw.maine.edu/academics/journals/
- https://mainelaw.maine.edu/academics/signature-programs/
- https://mainelaw.maine.edu/about/at-a-glance/
- https://mainelaw.maine.edu/faculty/
Generated from public sources via search-grounded AI on 4/27/2026. If any fact looks wrong, click through to verify and let us know.