Juris Doctor

Our juris doctor program is rooted in practice-oriented instruction, featuring courses taught by renowned faculty – many of whom have extensive practice experience – as well as live-client clinics and a far-reaching legal residency (externship) program that provide substantive real-world, hands-on experience. Qualified students can also take part in the Daniel Webster Scholar program, the first and only-in-the-nation competency-based bar-alternative program. DWS students hone their skills in both simulated and real settings (counseling clients, working with practicing lawyers, taking depositions, appearing before judges, and mediating), while creating portfolios of written and oral work for bar examiners to assess every semester. Successful DWS scholars are sworn into the New Hampshire Bar the day before graduation, allowing them to practice immediately upon graduation.

JD students can choose from a robust selection of courses and opt for a curricular track focused on:

• Business Law
• Criminal Law
• Intellectual Property: Patent Law
• Intellectual Property: Trademarks and Copyright
• Sports and Entertainment Law
• Litigation
• Public Interest and Social Justice

Offerings also include dual degrees in partnership with UNH, including JD/MBA, JD/MSW, and JD/MPP, as well as several joint degrees, including JD/LLM in Intellectual Property, and JD/LLM in Commerce and Technology.

In addition, our curriculum allows JD or joint degree candidates to specialize further by earning a JD certificate in a specific area of study:

• JD or dual degree candidates with an interest in sports and entertainment can pursue a JD certificate in sports law, entertainment law or sports and entertainment law from the Sports and Entertainment Law Institute.
• JD and joint degree candidates specializing in intellectual property may opt for a Franklin Pierce Intellectual Property Law JD certificate.
• Students interested in shaping innovative health care policies and research may earn a JD certificate of health law and policy.