Husson Law Holds First Open House
Guests ask questions about Husson’s Law School at a recent open house on campus.
“Husson is not just in Maine, Husson is of Maine,” Husson University President William Beardsley once said, and that same thought was reiterated when Husson Law School Dean Michael Mullane quoted Beardsley in his opening statement at the school’s first open house. Mullane explained the impact a law school will have for both the northern Maine communities and rural Maine communities. The law school will produce competent and ethical lawyers who Mullane believes will help serve Maine communities where they grew up.
The school will embed ethics into the entire system, even within the first year of attending. Comparatively, many larger law schools insist their students take an ethical course or two at the end of their education. However, Mullane states Husson will be different from other law schools, beyond just the requirement of injecting ethical situations into every course. Each student will be given an advisor to review all students testing done throughout their academic career at Husson. Also, assessments will be given in every class, every three weeks that will mimic questions on the bar exam.
As of now, however, Husson’s Law School has not been approved to allow their graduates to sit for the Maine Bar Exam. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court had concerns regarding Husson’s Law School and the hearing is set for December 1, with the actual decision to be reached by late December to early January. The court was concerned over the quality of the law school’s curriculum, the requirements for the library as well as the experience of its professors.
Husson has considered these questions and has responded with detailed answers to all of them. Husson has employed four additional law school professors, as well as adjunct professors, to better meet quality of curriculum and requirements. The students will all be given a professional mentor who is currently practicing in the field of law; one who they will work with closely throughout their education.
Husson Law School has also addressed the issue regarding the quality and quantity of books pertaining to law in its library. Generally, a law school’s library is supposed to have 300,000 books on law as required by the American Bar Association, or ABA. The ABA, however, is looking to change this requirement due to the increase of electronic research being done today by law practitioners. Dr. Harry Martin, who is a professor at Harvard Law School as well as a Henry N. Ess III librarian, has stated in a letter that the Husson Law School library is sufficient for its students and in his opinion it should be approved.
If the Maine Supreme Court allows Husson Law School graduates to sit for their bar exam, it is another step in the right direction for the school. Not all states require their law practitioners to have sat for the ABA Bar Exam. Mullane is confident that Husson has addressed all issues given and law school graduates will be able to sit for the exam. Things are looking good for graduates to sit for the exam, but should Husson not be approved it will reimburse students half their cost of the LSATs.
The school will have the curriculum broken down into two parts: a full time program and extended program. The full-time program is 90 credits in six semesters, averaging 15 credits per semester. The full-time program will have classes in the fall and spring semesters in the afternoon and evening and is considered a four-year degree program. The extended program will be a part-time program at 90 credits in 9 semesters. The semesters will average about 10 credits per semester and will be during the summertime, fall and spring as evening classes for three years. The tuition for the law school will average $18,000 per year and the school is now taking applications.
Law School Dean Michael Mullane addressing questions at the first Open House here on campus.
The school will allow students to focus on two out of four concentrations. Unlike most other law schools, which only require the student to have one area of concentration, Husson wants to prepare students in two areas. Students are required to choose two out of the four following concentrations: criminal law, family law, transactional business law and civil practice with a focus on Maine disputes (such as property). The school will prepare every student to be in both an externship and clinic to prepare them for practicing in the real world. Students will graduate with entry-level competency in both areas of their concentration and will already have real-world experiences to begin their career.
article by Leigh-Anne Hurley
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