Quinnipiac University School Of Law

Quinnipiac University School of Law is the law school of the Quinnipiac University. The School is the youngest law school in the U.S. state of Connecticut, having received full accreditation from the American Bar Association in 1995. It is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. It is currently ranked 127th by U.S. News & World Report for 2015 [1].

According to Quinnipiac's 2013 ABA-required disclosures, 34.5% of the Class of 2013 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment nine months after graduation, excluding solo practitioners.

History

The law school was formerly the University of Bridgeport Law School, part of the University of Bridgeport. The University of Bridgeport went through financial hardships in the early 1990s. The University of Bridgeport received financial assistance from the Professors World Peace Academy, (PWPA), an organization affiliated with the Reverend Sun Myung Moon. The law school decided that Rev. Moon was an unworthy associate and severed any legal relations with the University. In order for the law school to remain open it had to merge with a financially sound university. The law school received bids to be taken over by nearby Sacred Heart University, Fairfield University, and Quinnipiac University. The law school faculty and students voted to merge with Quinnipiac University because they felt it was a more financially sound University than Sacred Heart. The law school retained the name University of Bridgeport Law School until the name was officially changed in the 1990s.

Academics

The most recent 2014 U.S. News & World Report law school rankings placed Quinnipiac lower than past years at 134th [2]. The 2008 ranking showed a marked improvement, with the law school moving up eight spots to #108 from the previous year. [3]

The Princeton Review, rated the School of Law as one of the nation’s outstanding law schools, featuring the school in the 2009 edition of “Best 174 Law Schools”. [4]

The Princeton Review’s editors praised Quinnipiac's wide variety of courses and small class size. "There are ample opportunities to study any legal subject which interests you." Classes are intimate and "the small size of the academic universe here at QUSL makes it nearly impossible for a student to be lost in the mix." [5] Editors mentioned Quinnipiac's "outstanding" clinics and externship programs, which provide "plenty of hands-on practical learning." The editors also noted the law school's approachable and student-oriented faculty members. The book quoted one student who said, "To be able to sit down, one on one, with some of these people is mind-blowing."[6]

The university offers three degree programs: The Juris Doctor (J.D.), the J.D./Master of Business Administration (MBA) double degree program, and the Master of Laws (LL.M) in health law. Students may have concentrations in civil advocacy and dispute resolution, criminal law and advocacy, family and juvenile law, health law, intellectual property, and tax.

The law school has an enrollment of 388 students. The class of first-year law students was 47 percent male and 53 percent female, with an average age of 25. Eighteen percent of students were people of color. The student-to-faculty ratio is 10 to 1, and the average class size is around 25. There are 37 full-time faculty members, and 35 adjunct instructors per semester. Professors come not only from academia, but include several United States Supreme Court clerks, various state and federal law clerks, private practice attorneys, along with state and federal prosecutors.

Students have had externships in corporate counsel, criminal justice, family and juvenile law, judicial, legal services, legislative, mediation, public interest, field placement II. There are in-house clinical programs in civil, tax, advanced, evening, defense appellate, prosecution appellate. Other learning opportunities include summer study at Trinity College, Dublin in Dublin, Ireland and other opportunities to study abroad.

Quinnipiac publishes three legal periodicals- the Quinnipiac Law Review, the Quinnipiac Probate Law Journal (formerly the Connecticut Probate Law Journal, once the official reporter of probate decisions in the State of Connecticut) and the Quinnipiac Health Law Journal.

The 25thâ€"75th percentile range of LSAT scores is 150-155 for the day division (full-time) program, and 152-156 for the evening division (part-time) program. Tuition for full-time students is $47,076 ($23,130 per semester). Tuition for part-time students is $1,620 per credit. Admitted applicants also automatically considered for merit-based grants and scholarships that range from $3,000 per year to full tuition. Other financial aid is available. The Deans Fellowship is typically awarded to 8-10 students per year and covers full tuition.

Bar Passage Rate: In 2014, Quinnipac had a combined bar passage rate of 88 percent for first-time takers of the February and July Connecticut Bar Exams. The Class of 2008 achieved a 96 percent first-time pass rate on the Connecticut bar exam, besting the state-wide first-time pass rate of 88 percent. The Class of 2008 also fared well on bar exams in two additional states: New Jersey (100 percent) and Massachusetts (100 percent). [7]

The dean of the law school is Jennifer Gerarda Brown. The school is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.

The Raymond E. Baldwin Award for Public Service is an award given for public service in honor of Judge Raymond E. Baldwin

There are some 4,800 alumni.

Employment

According to Quinnipiac's official 2013 ABA-required disclosures, 34.5% of the Class of 2013 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment nine months after graduation, excluding solo-practitioners. Quinnipiac's Law School Transparency under-employment score is 20.9%, indicating the percentage of the Class of 2013 unemployed, pursuing an additional degree, or working in a non-professional, short-term, or part-time job nine months after graduation.

Costs

The total cost of attendance (indicating the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses) at Quinnipiac for the 2014-2015 academic year is $66,713. The Law School Transparency estimated debt-financed cost of attendance for three years is $252,646.

Facilities

The 50,000-square-foot (4,600 m²), two-level Law Library is recognized by the American Institute of Architects and the Library Administration and Management Association as one of the six most architecturally distinguished libraries in the country. The law library houses more than 425,000 volumes and offers wireless access throughout. An agreement with Yale Law School allows students full use of their law library.

Located within the School of Law Center, the Grand Courtroom is designed as a place where students can conduct a mock trial before a judge and jury and make appellate arguments to a panel of judges. On several occasions it has hosted sessions of the Connecticut Supreme Court and Connecticut Appellate Court. It also serves as a spacious lecture hall for guest speakers who visit the School of Law.

Student Competition Teams

Quinnipiac University School of Law boast several student competition teams, including a Mock Trial Society, Moot Court Society, and Society for Dispute Resolution.

The Society for Dispute Resolution has enjoyed success recently. Two times in three years the Society for Dispute Resolution has won the regional mediation competition, sending teams to the national competition.

Below is a list of some of the recent regional and national victories:

• ABA Client Counseling 2008 Won Region, Advanced to National Competition
• ABA Mediation Advocacy 2008 Won Region, Advanced to National Competition
• ABA National Mediation Advocacy 2008, Won National Competition
• ABA Mediation Advocacy 2010 Won Region, Advanced to National Competition
• St. Johns FINRA Competition, Won Mediation Competition
• ABA Client Counseling 2011 Won Region, Advanced to National Competition
• ABA Client Counseling 2014 Won Region, Advanced to National Competition

The Society for Dispute Resolution is also unlike the other competition teams in that it is not purely a competition team. Instead, the organization has a strong community service arm, and strives to have as many activities as possible that are available to the entire student population. This includes information events, social events, and more than one competition each year that is open to the entire student body.

The Society strives to keep the student body informed of new developments in the field of alternative dispute resolution. This is because over 90% of complaints filed are settled and never go to court. Negotiation, Mediation, Arbitration, and Client Counseling are areas of focus. A new and developing area is collaborative law.

Mock Trial Society

Quinnipiac University School of Law is home to a strong mock trial program with a track record of success. The mission of the Mock Trial Society is to cultivate ethical and intellectual trial advocates whose excellence in courtroom presence and ability will be recognized on both regional and national levels. Through rigorous preparation for student trial advocacy competitions, the society's members gain a unique, invaluable courtroom education that will serve as a foundation for a successful legal career.

Members of the Mock Trial Society obtain a comprehensive understanding of the Federal Rules of Evidence and the Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure. Students are coached and mentored by former members of the society who are now practicing attorneys. In addition, the society ensures that its members are properly trained in all areas of trial advocacy and courtroom etiquette by keeping all members apprised of traditional and modern trial techniques.

The Mock Trial Society hosts two competitions each fall - an in-house intramural competition for students and an invitational competition against various schools. The society also attends numerous competitions throughout the year. In the fall of 2014, the Mock Trial Society will host its 14th Annual ABA sponsored Criminal Advocacy Competition. The Mock Trial Society has recently prevailed in this competition in back to back years - 2012 and 2013.

While each of the school's competition teams have enjoyed success over the years, the Mock Trial Society has enjoyed the most success recently.

Recent Mock Trial Accomplishments

• 2014 Quinnipiac University School of Law / ABA Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition

Finalists: William Bennett, Justin Durelli, Elizabeth Moran, Sarah Seman
Best Closing Argument: Elizabeth Moran

• 2014 Peter James Johnson '49 Memorial National Civil Rights Trial Competition

Finalists: Taylour Equi, Patricia Jimenez, Kara Moreau, Chelsea Vetre

• 2014 ABA Labor and Employment Trial Advocacy Competition, National Competition

Semi-Finalists: Dawud Amin, Melissa Cowan, Christopher Farrell, William Toomer

• 2014 ABA / John Marshall Law School National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition

Semi-Finalists: Philip Brown-Wilusz, Alexandra Byrd, Steven Landis, Robert Shrage
Best Direct Examination: Robert Shrage
Best Closing Argument: Robert Shrage

• 2013 Quinnipiac University School of Law / ABA Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition

Champions: Philip Brown-Wilusz, Alexandra Byrd, Steven Landis, Robert Shrage
Best Closing Argument: Robert Shrage

• 2013 ABA / John Marshall Law School National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition

Quarter-finalists: Michael Bivona, Maura Crossin, Richard Stannard, James Fraguella

• 2013 ABA Labor and Employment Trial Advocacy Competition, National Competition

Finalists: Philip Brown-Wilusz, Alexandra Byrd, Amita Patel, Robert Shrage

• 2013 TYLA National Trial Competition, Region 1 (Advanced to National Competition)

Champions: Christine Gertsch, Steven Landis and Pat White
Best Overall Advocate: Pat White

• 2012 Quinnipiac University School of Law / ABA Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition

Champions: Michael Bivona, Maura Crossin, Richard Stannard, James Fraguella
Best Overall Advocate: Michael Bivona

• 2012 ABA Labor and Employment Trial Advocacy Competition, New York Region (Advanced to National Competition)

Champions: Philip Brown-Wilusz, Alexandra Byrd, Amita Patel, Robert Shrage

• 2011 Quinnipiac University School of Law / ABA Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition

Semi-Finalists: Christian Gunneson, Evan O'Hara, Robert O'Brien, Michael Sekkas

• 2011 TYLA National Trial Competition, Region 1

Finalists: Kelly Obermeir, Denise Graham, Brett Aielo
Finalists: Andrea Finan, Laurence Tamaccio, Christian Gunneson

• 2010 TYLA National Trial Competition, Region 1

Finalists

Best Overall Advocate: James Belforti and Andrea FInan

• 2009 American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition, Providence Region

Finalists: James Cresswell, Chrysten Dufour, Natasha Rabinovich, Tom Leaf

• 2009 Quinnipiac University School of Law / ABA Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition

Best Closing Argument: James Belforti

• 2008 TYLA National Trial Competition, Region 1 (Advanced to National Competition)

Champions: Amy Calvo, Ryan O'Neill and Allison Worysz
Best Overall Advocate: Ryan O'Neill
Semi-Finalists: Sean McGuinness, Natalie Rezek, Jennifer Springer

• 2007 American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition, Boston Region

Semi-Finalists: Casey Gatzki, Cara Gitlin, Justin Rindos, Kristin Stoop

• 2007 TYLA National Trial Competition, Region 1 (Advanced to National Competition)

Champions: Isaias Diaz, Michael Schweitzer, Allison Woryz

• 2006 Quinnipiac University School of Law / ABA Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition

Best Cross: Tushar Shah
Best Closing Argument: Isaias Diaz

• 2006 TYLA National Trial Competition, Region 1

Semi Finalists: Tushar Shah, Michael Schweitzer, Amber Samo
Semi Finalists: John Daddona. Isaias Diaz, Lauren James

• 2005 Quinnipiac University School of Law / ABA Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition

Best Cross: Karen Roberg

References

External links

• Official website