Financial support
Franklin Pierce Law Center recognizes the high debt load that face many JD graduates and wants to enable those graduates to still pursue public interest law careers. Pierce Law established the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) for JD graduates who take low paying public interest law jobs. There are also scholarships and fellowships, and funding is provided through the Social Justice Institute with Pierce Law’s Institutional Advancement, Career Services, LRAP committee and Student Financial Services.
Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP)
LRAP is available for JD graduates who are practicing law full-time in a qualified public interest job and are making less than $45,000/year. Full-time public interest employment is defined as providing legal assistance to individuals who cannot afford to purchase private legal services. The assistance takes the form of reimbursement of a portion of the law school loan repayments that the public-interest graduate made in the previous tax year. Reimbursement is limited to five years and will not exceed 50% of the annual consolidated federal loan payments for the average Pierce Law graduate. >>read more
The Robert M. Viles Public Interest Scholarship
This scholarship commemorates Franklin Pierce Law Center's long-standing tradition, as inspired by Robert M. Viles, founder and former dean, to educate, train and graduate law students who are committed to careers in public interest law. Candidates must show evidence of future dedication to public interest law and should be involved in public interest efforts beyond the reaches of academia. Amount: $5,000 toward tuition in each year of full-time enrollment. Renewable each year with minimum year-end grade point average of 3.2.
Bruce E. Friedman Scholarship Fund
The Bruce E. Friedman Scholarship is named after a professor and former
director of the Civil Practice Clinic. The award of $1,000 is based on
community service, public service participation, and commitment of the
student while attending Pierce Law. Students from the first and second
year classes may apply. Two faculty recommendations are required,
including one recommendation from a member of the clinical faculty.
Applications are accepted through the deadline. Funds are disbursed the
following fall and spring semesters.
Bruce E. Friedman 1947-97
As an attorney for poor people in New Hampshire, Professor Friedman, with the help of his students, won major victories for children and other under-served and vulnerable clients. Professor Friedman was awarded the 1991 Voice of Children award by Child and Family Services and the NH Bar Association's 1993 L. Jonathan Ross Award.
Professor Friedman was a frequent lecturer in education programs for lawyers and others. He and his students also authored Justice for Juveniles, a widely quoted blueprint for improving the court's treatment of children of divorces. Professor Friedman taught Civil Procedure, Alternate Dispute Resolution and was the director of Pierce Law's Civil Practice Clinic.
