Franklin Pierce Law Center

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Franklin Pierce Law Center in Concord, New Hampshire

The Franklin Pierce Law Center (Pierce Law or FPLC) is a private, American Bar Association approved law school, located in Concord, New Hampshire. The school is named after the 14th President of the United States and New Hampshire native Franklin Pierce.

In its 2007 publication, U.S. News & World Report ranked Pierce Law in Tier 4. Pierce Law's intellectual property program has consistently ranked among the top ten law schools in the U.S. FPLC does, however, also offer the wide variety of areas of specialization found at most law schools in the U.S. The school founder is Robert H. Rines, a respected lawyer, inventor (holding more than 60 patents), researcher, composer and M.I.T. professor.

The school holds an annual Intellectual Property Summer Institute in cooperation with Tsinghua University Law School in Beijing. In addition, Pierce Law offers students the opportunity to study in Ireland at the eLaw Summer Institute, a collaborative effort between Pierce Law and the University College Cork Faculty of Law. The school also offers a Health Care Certificate program in conjunction with the University of New Hampshire, and is actively developing other strategic alliances with UNH. The school is highly recognized for its Master of Laws in Intellectual Property, Commerce and Technology. It is also the only law school offering a graduate degree in intellectual property designed for scientists, engineers and any interested persons not holding a law degree (M.I.P.).

School Motto: "Inspiring Excellence".

1 Traditions and Activities
2 Daniel Webster Scholar Honors Program
3 Publications
4 Notable Faculty
5 Notable alumni
6 External links

[edit] Traditions and Activities

Students from around the world attend Pierce Law, and the school celebrates the traditions and cultures of its many international students throughout the year. The school hosts events such as Lunar New Year, the Indian "festival of lights" or Diwali, an Afro-Caribbean Night and a Christmas party. Each summer, Pierce Law also holds the Intellectual Property Summer Institute and the Advanced Licensing Institute, during which barbecues have become a tradition on evenings during summer. During Orientation Week, the school offers an annual ice cream social and tour of the Lakes Region. During the second semester, international students from the graduate program present "Brown Bag Lunch" programs where they present interesting brief lectures on the culture and traditions of their home country, and offer samples of native dishes. With a tradition rich in public service, the school hosts The Bruce Friedman Community Service Day each October, honoring the late Bruce E. Friedman, an advocate of social justice.

[edit] Daniel Webster Scholar Honors Program

In 2005, the New Hampshire Supreme Court launched an alternative bar licensing process at the state's only law school, Franklin Pierce Law Center. The Daniel Webster Scholar Honors Program, a collaboration of the Court, Pierce Law, the New Hampshire Board of Bar Examiners, and the New Hampshire Bar Association, is an intensive practice-based honors program that encompasses the last two years of law school. Students apply to the program during the spring of their 1L (first) year. Enrollment in the program is limited to 25 students.

Once accepted to the program, students will go through a rigorous program of clinical experiences under the supervision of judges, lawyers, and bar examiners, and will compile a portfolio of work. Graduates of the program must pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination and meet character and fitness requirements to be admitted to the New Hampshire bar, but are exempt from taking the state's bar examination. Webster Scholar graduates may still qualify to sit for the bar examination in any other U.S. jurisdiction.

The first class of Webster Scholars will graduate in 2008.

[edit] Publications

Pierce Law Magazine - Alumni Magazine
Pierce Law Review
IDEA: The Intellectual Property Law Review
Risk: Health, Safety and Environment
Germeshausen Center Newsletter

[edit] Notable Faculty

Thomas G. Field Jr. [1]
William O Hennesey [2]
John D. Hutson [3] -Dean
Marcus Hurn [4]
Karl F. Jorda [5]
William J. Murphy [6]
James E. Duggan, former professor and Associate Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court.[7]