University of New Hampshire (UNH) - Franklin Pierce School of Law

The University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law offers fully online, fully residential, and hybrid format post-graduate degrees for lawyers (LLM) and non-lawyers (Masters). The law school offers degrees in three specialized areas of the law: Commerce & Technology, Intellectual Property, and International Criminal Law and Justice. 

LLM in Commerce & Technology

The Commerce & Technology LLM focuses on enriching your career in the emerging areas of business created by rapid technological change and globalization. Students learn how the legal system in the US and abroad is accommodating the challenges of the information age as the economy, society, and our everyday lives are transformed by new and emerging technologies. Students have the flexibility to choose courses areas such as: intellectual property ownership and management, privacy and cybersecurity, blockchains and its legal implications, and artificial intelligence-enhanced legal and regulatory decision-making.

LLM in Intellectual Property

The Intellectual Property Law program has been ranked among the Top 10 in the country since the rankings began nearly 30 years ago. The school’s library includes the only academic IP library in the Western Hemisphere and is designated an Official Patent and Trademark Resource Center. LL.M. students select classes from one of the most comprehensive lists of IP and technology law courses in the US. Students are eligible to apply for an editor position on IDEA, Franklin Pierce’s world-renowned Intellectual Property Journal. This program is offered in residential, hybrid, and distance learning formats.

LLM in International Criminal Law & Justice

The online International Criminal Law and Justice LLM is the only online transnational crime program from a Top 100 law school. UNH Franklin Pierce is a leader in this emerging field of the law. The International Criminal Law & Justice LL.M. is an excellent fit for practicing lawyers and scholars in diplomatic, criminal justice, military, and law enforcement communities around the world. Students will study transnational law, focused on domestic crimes with international implications.

Please see the school's website for information about which program and format best suits your needs.

The University of New Hampshire was founded in 1866. The University of New Hampshire combines the living and learning environment of a New England liberal arts college with the breadth, spirit of discovery, and civic commitment of a land-grant research institution.

UNH spans all fields of study and unites them through interdisciplinary programs, labs, research centers, libraries, internships, and fieldwork. Warmly supported and encouraged by their faculty mentors, students participate directly in assisting in the University's historic mission of enriching society through the creation and application of new knowledge. With more than 14,000 students from across the country and globe, UNH embodies the diversity that symbolizes the finest in U.S. education.

The University of New Hampshire is fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and UNH Law is fully accredited by the American Bar Association.

The University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law’s practice-based approach to legal education, along with its extensive and innovative curriculum, ensures that students graduate ready to become leaders in their field.

For example, the International Technology Transfer Institute gives students the opportunity to contribute to scientific breakthroughs around the world and collaborate with organizations such as the World Bank, the World Intellectual Property Organization, the United States Department of Commerce, and the World Health Organization. Students in the Intellectual Property and Transaction Clinic help clients with business ventures, including IP strategy and execution, business transactions, and licensing.

LLM students are trained in the techniques of legal writing and research as practiced in the US, and have full access to the school’s Academic Success Program, including an opportunity to take a preliminary Bar exam – the test all US attorneys must pass to practice – and a dedicated faculty member who supports preparation for the legal classroom and for the Bar exam.

Upon graduation, students join a global network of alumni from more than 80 countries who are leading IP law and policy in countries like Argentina, Nigeria, and Taiwan, as well as for global tech giants, top law firms, and national IP offices.

UNH Franklin Pierce’s faculty are scholars, teachers, and mentors focused on preparing students to become the next generation of lawyers. Faculty stay connected to students from enrollment to graduation to career success and beyond. UNH Franklin Pierce’s small class sizes ensure LLM students have access to their professors during office hours, and faculty get to know every student in their classes. Those bonds create an exceptional academic experience and ensure LLM students can create strong social and professional networks that thrive well beyond graduation.

UNH Franklin Pierce faculty work diligently to ensure students have the right tools to engage with its expansive curriculum. LLM students experience the same level of support as JD students through the Academic Success Program, and Franklin Pierce provides LLM students their own faculty member to prepare them for the Bar exam.

Visit the school's website for a listing of faculty.

International applicants to the LL.M. program must hold a Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B.) from a foreign law school. Domestic applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and a J.D. degree from a law school prior to matriculation. Applicants to the Master’s program must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.

Candidates may submit their applications through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) or through UNH Franklin Pierce's website. Please visit the how to apply page and application checklist for more information.

The application requirements include a completed application form; official (translated and evaluated) academic records; two letters of recommendation; a personal statement and a résumé or CV. International applicants must also submit proof of English language proficiency.

Cost of tuition for the 2020-2021 Academic Year is $39,420.00 Additional information about tuition and fees is available here.

UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law offers generous, partial-tuition scholarships to qualified students in both our residential and distance learning programs. Applicants are considered for scholarships based on the review of their application for admission. There is no separate application process for scholarships, but students should indicate on their application that they would like to be considered for scholarship funding.

The University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law is in Concord, New Hampshire. The city is approximately one hour from downtown Boston, and less than an hour from New Hampshire's seacoast, White Mountains, and picturesque Lakes Region.

Montreal and New York City are under five hours away by car. Manchester Boston Regional Airport (MHT), located approximately 20 miles from the law school, offers jet service to national and international destinations on most major airlines. Buses provide almost hourly travel to Boston and Logan Airport.

US News and World Report ranked New Hampshire the #2 state to live and the #3 safest state in the United States.

Most students find housing within walking distance to campus and downtown. UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law has partnered with 
Places4Students.com, a company that specializes in providing Off-Campus Housing solutions for students. This service is FREE for anyone to use as an effective method of finding a place to live off-campus or finding a roommate. Students can search rental listings in the Concord area here. Students can register to post a Roommate or Sublet listing here.

Many students live near the campus in quaint, older homes divided into one and two bedroom apartments. A variety of housing types and arrangements are available within close proximity to the school. Over 60 percent of students live within walking distance, 75 percent live in the greater Concord area, while 25 percent commute. Concord is a compact, livable city. New Hampshire is consistently identified as one of the most livable states in the country.

Students at UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law are involved in an array of organizations that enhance the day-to-day life at the school. Groups include academic and professional organizations, wellness initiatives, sports and more. To find an organization that suits your interests, visit the listing of student organizations.

Students enjoy leaf peeping and apple picking in the fall, skiing, sledding, or ice skating in the winter, watching the flowers bloom in the spring, hiking in the White Mountains, and spending a day at the beach in the summer. Concord’s newly revitalized downtown offers activities for lovers of food, books, theatre, and the arts, and is the center of several special events throughout the year, such as Market Days, Halloween Howl, and Midnight Merriment. Students looking to connect with young professionals from the greater Concord community can participate in free, monthly networking events hosted by the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce.