A Liberal Arts Education Provides the Ideal Background for Law School
Law schools have long recognized the value of traditional liberal arts education — the broad exposure to a variety of disciplines; the focus on writing and critical thinking; the well-rounded, wide-ranging undergraduate education — the kind of liberal arts experience Farmington is known for.

Because law schools do not require its students to have a specific bachelor's degree (again, law schools are interested in well-rounded students from a variety of backgrounds) almost any undergraduate major you choose at Farmington will allow you entrance into some of the finest law schools in the nation.

The key — selecting and completing the right courses while you earn your bachelor's degree. You should consider selecting courses at Farmington that will develop your ability to write, to argue persuasively, to conduct independent research, and to analyze critically the arguments of others.

A variety of academic disciplines at Farmington will help you to develop the skills vital to a career in law: Political Science, Philosophy, English, Business, Economics, the Sciences, Environmental Planning and Policy, and others.

In addition, we offer a number of law-related courses that examine various aspects of law:

• World Law
• Qualitative Methods in Anthropology
• Business Law
• International Business
• Biomedical Ethics
• and other law-related classes

• Constitutional Law
• Critical Thinking
• Civil Liberties
• Journalism
• Law and the Legal System
• Logic

(Note: Undergraduate-level law-related courses, at any college,will introduce you to thought-provoking legal issues, but you should take them on the assumption that they are of personal educational value — not in the belief that the classes will impress a law school admissions committee or give you a real feeling for the study of law.)

See the Law in Action — Just Minutes from Campus
The town of Farmington happens to be the seat of Franklin County government. This means the Franklin Country District Court and Franklin Country Superior Court are both just a 3-minute walk from campus and many UMF students who have an interest in pursuing a law degree choose to sit in on public court proceedings — criminal cases, civil cases and more — to see the legal system in up close and personal (often discovering it's not exactly what they've seen on television or in the movies).

In addition, some of our long-time adjunct faculty, distinguished practicing attorneys in the town of Farmington, have mentored our students and showed them how their own law offices function and operate — again, just a short walk from campus in downtown Farmington.

It Takes Teamwork and Inspiration
If you are interested in a law career, then you will have two advisors, one in your major and one specifically for your law interests. They take the time and interest to understand your goals and help you discover what your inclinations are.

Your advisors will provide you with information on requirements for law school and will work with you to tailor your course selections to focus on legal and Constitutional issues, critical thinking, writing and other areas. They will also guide you through the law school application process, provide you information about the LSAT and will help you to explore a variety of career options in law — providing you all the tools necessary to help get you into law school.

It's an academic track specially designed as an apprenticeship for law school.

Your Farmington Pre-Law advising team will hold periodic gatherings for all Pre-Law students (students from a variety of UMF majors). These sessions will focus on the specialties and options in the field of law, advice and thoughts from guest speakers, the skills and courses you’ll need to be successful, identifying and researching law schools, preparation for the LSAT and the application process.


Going the Extra Mile — A Farmington Hallmark
Your Pre-Law advising team will also assist you in finding internships. For example, the Political Science faculty at Farmington recently helped a UMF student to be named a prestigious Maine Public Policy Scholar, worth $2,000 in support of a year-long research project. The student does an internship in an area of State of Maine government.

Our Pre-Law advisors have also assisted other UMF students obtain contact-building internships in Washington, D.C., most often with a member of a congressional delegation.

In addition, your Pre-Law advisors will help with above-and-beyond opportunities such as: organizing field trips, connecting you with Farmington alumni currently working in law, coordinating job shadowing opportunities with practicing attorneys and others, arranging on-campus visits by law school representatives, coordinating memberships in appropriate national or regional law organizations and listservs, arranging for your attendance at legal conferences and workshops, and more.


Farmington's Pre-Law Track: A Proven Record of Success
Here’s where some recent graduates went on to Law School:

• Franklin Pierce Law Center (Vt.)
• University of Maine Law School
• Chapman University
  School of Law (Calif.)
• St. Thomas University
  School of Law (Fla.)
• University of Akron School of Law (Ohio)

• Northeastern University
  School of Law (Mass.)
• Suffolk University Law School (Mass.)
• Quinnipiac University
  School of Law (Conn.)
• Thomas Jefferson Law School
  (San Diego, Calif.)

Getting Involved Early and Often
Our experience with law school acceptances proves that students who are engaged on the campus or in the surrounding community are often the most successful. Here, you will be encouraged to be involved in campus and state or national organizations.

In Fall 2007 the UMF Political Science Club worked with "Project Vote Smart," an acclaimed nonpartisan national organization that helps ensure voters cast an informed ballot in elections — from the Presidential level to the state legislature level.

At Farmington, there are many political, activist, and advocacy groups on campus seeking your involvement. We have student organizations that focus on a "green" environment; sweatshop-free clothes; social issues pertaining to drugs, women’s issues and cultural and religious diversity; as well as the political standard bearers — the UMF College Republicans club and UMF College Democrats club. Each of these student organizations touch on various aspects of the national and state legal system, further enhancing your involvement in and understanding of Constitutional and legal issues at the grassroots level.

Contact Us For Details
For additional information about Pre-Law offerings at the University of Maine at Farmington, just contact the UMF Office of Admission:

Office of Admission
University of Maine at Farmington
246 Main Street
Farmington, Maine 04938-1994
tel 207-778-7050
fax 207-778-8182
TDD/TYY 207-778-7275
umfadmit@maine.edu