About Pierce Law
Franklin Pierce Law Center, an intimate, innovative law school, is committed to developing students who enjoy challenging dialogue from the first moments of orientation, embrace practice-based learning, grow through the collegiality of a 14:1 student/faculty ratio, and stand ready to join the ranks of alumni who are global leaders in intellectual property, general practice, social justice, and commerce and technology.
At Pierce Law, diversity in perspective is foundational to effective, cooperative dialogue. Each year, the Admissions Committee carefully reads every application received, searching for students who not only possess the intellect, focus, drive and maturity to succeed in a challenging environment, but who also will add perspective to campus conversation through their experience, background and character. This fall's first-year JD class hailed from 33 states, 9 nations, spanned from 21 to 55 years of age and was 24% minority. Our alumni are found in 49 states and 78 nations.
Practice-based learning is foundational to a Pierce Law education. Our founders wanted our students to graduate knowing how to think like lawyers and knowing how to practice, too. We offer ten different clinics, where, by law, our students can perform nearly all tasks required of a lawyer.
Our externship programs allow students to work in their fields of interest for up to a full semester while receiving credit and our Daniel Webster Scholar Honors Program is the only practice-based bar exam alternative in the nation. Our location in Concord, New Hampshire's capital, and our status as the state's only law school offer numerous pro bono, externship and Federal Work Study experiences, too. Pierce Law constantly updates its technology and programs to ensure that graduates are prepared to practice today's law.
Pierce Law's faculty consists of practitioners experienced in their fields of interest. Their open door policy extends throughout the campus from Scholars in Residence to our dean, John Hutson. The small student/faculty ratio promotes collaboration and collegiality as evidenced in our publications, activities and special events. The atmosphere of the school is one of co-commitment.
Since its founding in 1973, Franklin Pierce Law Center has been a global leader in innovative legal education. Our concentrations help you shape your future practice: Intellectual Property boasts the largest full-time faculty in the field and our IP library is the largest in the nation; Commerce and Technology includes a razor edge focus on e-Law; Social Justice trains students in the delivery of legal services to all people in an ever-changing society, while our newest concentration, International Criminal Law and Justice, focuses on the emerging field of legal issues that know no borders.
