Massachusetts will finally have a public law school, as UMass Dartmouth is to acquire Southern New England School of Law, a private institution that is donating its campus and assets to the state, The Boston Globe reports.
The school will concentrate on public service law and offer a curriculum in economic justice, legal support for businesses, community law practice, and civil and human rights.
In-state students will have to pay $23,500 a year for tuition, which is much less than at most private law schools. There will be public service fellowships subsidizing 50% of tuition and fees offered to 25 new students each year, as long as they work in public service law for four years after graduation.
UMass Dartmouth also hopes to uphold the 34 percent minority enrollment at Southern New England, which is the highest among Massachusetts law schools.
The public law school, not yet accredited by the American Bar Association, anticipates a program that will allow students from any UMass campus to earn an accelerated law degree, finishing their undergrad studies in three years, and beginning law school in their senior year.
There will be rolling admissions for the first year, and students can start applying now using Southern New England‘s online application. The public service fellowship applications will be available next week and are due March 20.
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