Why University of Massachusetts-dartmouth?

Class profile

US News rank

#171

Median GPA

3.36

25th–75th: 3.10–3.69

Median LSAT

152

25th–75th: 148–154

Acceptance rate

59.4%

Class size (FT 1L)

113

Transfers admitted (2025)

0

ABA 2025 reporting cycle

Top employment markets

1. 1Massachusetts
2. 2New York
3. 3Rhode Island

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 Massachusetts-dartmouth's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why University of Massachusetts-dartmouth" essay where they align with your interests.

• Immigration Law Clinic
  Students provide legal services to immigrants in the SouthCoast area, handling cases such as deportation defense, family reunification, and political asylum.
• Community Development Clinic (Business Law)
  Students represent small businesses and non-profit organizations, drafting corporate documents, preparing filings, and conducting legal audits.
• Human Rights at Home Clinic
  This clinic focuses on securing fundamental human rights for individuals with limited means within the United States, working on policy issues and individual cases.
• Criminal Prosecution Clinic
  Students engage in the legal work of a prosecutor, gaining experience in discovery, legal writing, litigation strategy, and courtroom presentation.
• Mashpee Wampanoag Legal Services Clinic
  Students provide legal assistance to low-income litigants in Tribal Court and tribal members with civil legal issues.
• State Attorney General Clinic
  Students work onsite at the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, researching legal issues and writing memoranda in various fields.

Notable journals

Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.

• University of Massachusetts Law Review— A general-interest academic law journal publishing two student-reviewed issues per year, contributing to legal scholarship and debate.

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.

• Sam Panarella
  Dean of UMass Law
• Shaun Spencer
  Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Director of Legal Skills
• Margaret Drew
  Professor of Law, Interim Director of Clinical Programs
• Rebecca Flanagan
  Professor of Law, Director of Teaching and Learning Methods
• Spencer E. Clough
  Associate Dean, Director of the Law Library
• Akhi Johnson
  Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Environmental Litigation, Evidence
• Sean Lyness
  Civil Procedure, Property, Water Law, Administrative Law
• Dwight Duncan
  Constitutional Law, Legal Ethics, Religion and the Law, Bioethics
• Roni Amit
  Immigration Law, Refugee and Asylum Law
• Faisal Chaudhry
  Property Law, Environmental Law, Law and International Development

What makes University of Massachusetts-dartmouth distinctive

Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.

• ·Massachusetts' only public law school, committed to affordable and accessible legal education.
• ·Guaranteed clinic or internship placement for all students.
• ·Offers a 3+3 accelerated degree program allowing students to earn a bachelor's and JD in six years.
• ·Provides joint degree programs: JD/MBA, JD/MPP, and JD/MSW.
• ·Public Interest Law Fellowship (PILF) program offers a 50% scholarship for tuition and fees in exchange for a commitment to public interest law practice.

Frequently asked about University of Massachusetts-dartmouth

Schools similar to University of Massachusetts-dartmouth

Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.