Volume I, Issue I
ARISTOTLE: The Premier Pre-law and First Year Law School Preparatory Tool and Bar Exam Review Find out why Rob Miller, Author of "Law School Confidential: The Complete Law School Survival Guide, By Students for Students" stated, "Going through this course before you get to law school will put you miles ahead of your classmates," and included Aristotle in the chapter of his book entitled "10 Things You Must Do Before Classes Begin!" Are you worried about law school competition? You should be. The course work is demanding; your peers, like you, are the best and the brightest; and time is at a premium. That's why we developed Aristotle ™, your head start to law school success. Aristotle, developed by law school graduates, attorneys, and professors, is specifically designed to help prepare you for law school, especially your most important year, your first year. Find out why Rob Miller, Author of "Law School Confidential: The Complete Law School Survival Guide, By Students for Students" stated, "Going through this course before you get to law school will put you miles ahead of your classmates," and included Aristotle in the chapter of his book entitled "10 Things You Must Do Before Classes Begin!" Aristotle will give you the edge you need to get ahead and stay ahead. Order Aristotle now, take our Tort Law Sampler Tour, or read more about Aristotle and see for yourself. ORDER NOW		Focus on Franklin Pierce Law Center By Richard Scandrett Location - Concord, New Hampshire ABA Approved Total Students - 475 Faculty Student Ratio - 18.5 - 1 1537 applicants with 578 accepted Median LSAT score - 154 Median GPA of 3.2 Full-time tuition approximately $27,230 Living expenses approximately $14,500 When looking for a law school that fits your needs and goals, it is important to look beyond simply numbers, programs and price. This column is not designed to discount or replace the extensive research required by all potential applicants when investigating law schools, but rather to supplement that research with a more personal perspective from the people who attend and work at a particular school. Franklin Pierce Law Center, nestled in the cozy community of Concord, New Hampshire, is one of 19 independent law schools in the United States. Its small size, and the school's relative youth, it was founded in 1973, are key draws to prospective students and faculty alike. "We're the small, warm and fuzzy law school," said Sharon Callahan, Director of Publications and Public Relations. The 18.5 - 1 student-to-faculty ratio in a school of 475 virtually guarantees a more close-knit academic experience than you might find at larger institutions. "People looking for a large university law school experience would not get it here," added Callahan. This is primarily what attracted third-year student Elizabeth Hahn, a native of the Chicago area when she was searching for a good fit at a Windy-City-area open house. "Pierce emphasized small class size and intimacy with the faculty. This is how I learn best," said Hahn. The cutthroat class ranking and academic rivalry prevalent at some of the older programs is secondary at Pierce. "There's still that competitive element, but we're also a close community. Concord is a small town, so you hang out with your classmates," said Hahn. That being said, while Pierce Law offers a reasonable variety of programs and degrees with ranging focus, students might not have the same mobility to change direction they would have at a larger school with a wider breadth of programs and disciplines. Pierce Law's flagship is its intellectual property law program. The school's founder, Robert Rines, felt that in Pierce Law he was creating a new approach to I.P. "He was dissatisfied with how I.P. law and patent law were being taught and being treated by the courts and by congress," said Bill Hennessey, longtime professor of international law, international I.P. and international trade at Pierce. The school offers over 60 I.P. classes with seven full-time faculty dedicated to the program. Although Pierce might not garner the prestige of the more blue-blooded schools, if a fresh, comprehensive study of patents and intellectual property pique your interest, it's definitely worth looking into. Other schools may look at I.P., but often do not dedicate so much energy to teaching it. Hennessey believes that Pierce attracts and fosters slightly more mature students with an artistic and entrepreneurial bent. "We're focusing our energies on studying how the I.P. system works and not whether or not it works," said Hennessey, "Franklin Pierce believes I.P. is an integral part of the economic well-being of the United States. In an innovative environment, there is an ongoing conversation about what kinds of things we can do, not about what will prevent us from doing those things." The student body is reasonably diverse at Pierce. Minorities composed 17.2 percent of the male and 20.2 percent of the female applicants. International flavor is not bland at the school either: there are students from over 30 countries at the Concord program right now. "A lot of foreign tongues will be heard around campus," said Callahan, "We're kind of a mini-U.N. program." The international experience is not limited to Concord, however. There are multi-week summer programs at Psing Hua University in Beijing and at University College Cork in Cork, Ireland. With regard to application standards, the process is traditional. There were 1537 applicants with 578 of those applicants accepted, according to the ABA's most recent online data. The median LSAT score for applicants was 154,with a median GPA of 3.2. As far as costs go, there are a number of financial aid options available through the school. The ABA data indicates that full-time tuition runs $27,230 and living expenses fall in the $14,500 range. Pierce offers a number of degrees. In addition to the JD program, there are joint JD/MIP and JD/ Health Certificate programs. The school also offers Masters programs for LLM and MIP/CT degrees. More information of financial and other natures can be obtained by visiting Pierce Law Center's official website at www.fplc.edu. Pierce may not be the perfect fit for everyone, but it definitely provided Hahn enough compatible elements to make her choice. She found that the school could combine disciplines that at first glance might seem disparate. The "Genetics and The Law" program appealed to her undergraduate experience. "As a bio major who wasn't sure why I wanted to go to law school, seeing courses that related the two fields was reassuring and encouraging," she said. Relating other professional disciplines to the law is not unique to Pierce, but for Hahn, who will be doing a fall externship with a judge in the northern district court of Illinois this fall, it was specific and special. Finding a nexus as she did, whether of varying interests, price range, and ultimately personal tastes and abilities, is the key ingredient in choosing a law school. Home | Archives | Store | Aristotle | Contact Copyright 2008, Law School Companion		More Archives Aristotle Goes to Suffolk Law School The Pilot Program at the Suffolk University Law School LL.M. Program in Global Technology Focus on Franklin Pierce Law Center Richard Scandrett Studying for Law School Exams Klia Ververidis Xanthopoulos, Esq.