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University of Connecticut School of Law
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The University of Connecticut School of Law (commonly known as UConn Law) is the only public law school in Connecticut and one of only two in New England. The school was recently ranked forty-sixth (46) out of the 190 American Bar Association-accredited law schools in the United States by U.S. News & World Report. The law school is in Hartford, Connecticut, though the main campus of the University of Connecticut is in Storrs.
ded in 1921, the Law School is accredited by the American Bar Association, and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.
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Encyclopedia
The University of Connecticut School of Law (commonly known as UConn Law) is the only public law school in Connecticut and one of only two in New England. The school was recently ranked forty-sixth (46) out of the 190 American Bar Association-accredited law schools in the United States by U.S. News & World Report. The law school is in Hartford, Connecticut, though the main campus of the University of Connecticut is in Storrs.
Background
Founded in 1921, the Law School is accredited by the American Bar Association, and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Its campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The campus' gothic-style buildings, constructed in 1925 (except for the new library, which was completed in 1996), housed the Hartford Seminary until 1981. The recently-constructed law library is one of the largest law-school libraries in the United States. Two miles from the center of Hartford, the school is located in a neighborhood of large Victorian homes, where many students, staff, and faculty live. The campus is just a few minutes away from the State Capitol, courts and agencies, and the offices of Hartford's law firms and corporations.
History
George William Lillard and his wife Caroline Eiermann Lillard founded the Hartford College of Law. When the doors opened on October 25, 1921, the College was unaccredited and the students would earn a certificate at the completion of their studies. The faculty consisted of James E. Rhodes, Allan K. Smith, John J. Burke, James W. Knox, and Roger Wolcott Davis. Night classes were held in rented rooms at the Hartford Wire Works located on 94 Allyn Street in Hartford.
In February 1921, the College moved to the Hartford Life Insurance Company Building at the corner of Asylum and Ann Streets. The second year classes were held on the top floor of the Hartford-Connecticut Trust Company located on the corner of Main and Pearl Streets.
In 1924, the first graduating consisted of just six members. J. Agnes Burns '24 was the first graduate admitted to the Connecticut Bar and would be the first woman to plead before the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors on March 4, 1925.
In July 1925, the Connecticut General Assembly granted the College of Law a special charter under Special Act, 1925, Senate Bill No. 190-292 as a private educational institution. The next year saw the College move to the Graybar building at 51 Chapel St. in Hartford. In 1933, the Lillards conveyed all their financial interest in the corporation to a Board of Trustees. On September 18th of that year the College was approved by the American Bar Association and accredited by the Examining Committee of the Connecticut Bar Association.
In 1934, the Charter was amended so the College of Law could be organized as a non-profit educational corporation. In 1940, the College of Law for the first time was able to purchase property at 39 Woodland Street and would remain there for the next twenty-four years.
On June 1, 1943 the Connecticut General Assembly authorized a five-year lease of the College of Law and Insurance to the University of Connecticut, and on September 1, 1948, the Board of Trustees gave the deed conveying full title to President Jorgensen of the University of Connecticut.
In 1947, the Board of Student Editors started to contribute to the Connecticut Bar Journal published by the State Bar Association. Twelve years later, the Board of Student Editors became the Connecticut Law Review and continued to prepare a section of the Connecticut Bar Journal. In 1968, Dean Howard Sacks announced that the Connecticut Law Review would become an independent publication. Subsequently the Connecticut Journal of International Law (1985), Connecticut Insurance Law Journal (1995), and the Connecticut Public Interest Law Journal (2000) began publication.
In 1960, the Student Bar Association (SBA) was founded. It was established to administer the Honor Code, sponsor the school's participation in the National Moot Court Competition, plan social and informal educational activities, and participate in regional and national conferences of the American Law Student Association. Some of the later student organizations that were established on campus were: the Connecticut Moot Court Board, Adlai E. Stevenson Society of International Law Chapter (1966), Legal History Society (1968), Black American Law Student Association Chapter (1969), Law Women's Association (1972), Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity (1972), Environmental Law Society (1976), National Lawyer's Guild (1976), Gay Law Student Association (1980), Health and Social Services Law Association (1981), and the Hellenic Association (1992).
In 1961, The Starr Report, a student newspaper edited by the SBA and the Alumni Association, was published periodically during the academic year. Other student newspapers followed: Legal Realist (1968-74), Pocket Part (1974-1984), News (1985-1988), University of Connecticut Law School News (1984), J.D. (1989), Public Forum (1995-1998), University of Connecticut School of Law Newsletter (2000), Dicta (2000), and Pro Se (2006-present).
On May 1st, 1964, the new building on Trout Brook Drive in West Hartford was dedicated, where the Law School was relocated. Dean Hopkins accepted the building that had physical facilities designed for the purpose of a law school for the first time in its history. In 1966, a National Moot Court Competition was established on campus and in 1966 the law school began to participate in the prestigious Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot Competition.
In 1969, the legal clinics began as a 14-credit course for third year students in criminal law. Additional clinics were initiated later: Judicial Clerkship (1975), Mental Health Law (1976), Civil Rights (1979), Labor Relations (1981), Legislative, Administrative Law, Mediation (1994), Tax (1999), Asylum & Human Rights (2002), Civil Appellate Litigation (2002), and Intellectual Property (2007).
In 1972, Constance Belton Green ‘72 is the first African-American woman to graduate from the law school. Bessye Bennett ‘73 was the first African-American woman admitted to the Bar in the State of Connecticut.
On June 1, 1978, Governor Ella Grasso authorized $6 million for the purchase and renovation of the campus of the Hartford Seminary. The campus included six gothic buildings, designed by Charles Coffen and built during 1922-1926. The move to this campus would not take place until 1984 under Dean Phillip I. Blumberg.
In 1996, the Law School celebrated its 75th anniversary and dedicated the new Law Library building with speaker Justice Stephen Breyer.
Academics
Clinical education
Clinical education is available but not required. UConn Law students have an opportunity to enroll in clinics following their first year. The following clinics were offered to J.D. students for the 2007-2008 year:
- Asylum and Human Rights
- Tax
- Criminal Trial
- Criminal Appellate
- Mediation
- Intellectual Property
All students can also receive Law School credit for work in externship placements. Externships are available in health law, environmental law, poverty law, women's rights, and other areas. Clinical externships are available at the Connecticut legislature and with members of the state and federal judiciary as well. Clinical placements are also available at two public interest law firms that are located on the Law School campus, the Center for Children's Advocacy and the Connecticut Urban Legal Initiative.
Certificate Programs
UConn Law offers certificates in the following areas:
- Intellectual Property
- Tax Studies
- Law & Public Policy
- books
L.L.M. Programs
- Insurance
- U.S. Legal Studies
Library
Dedicated in 1996, the library houses more than 450,000 volumes in a facility, making it one of the largest law libraries in the country. There are 400 individual study carrels, 14 study rooms, computer laboratories, a rare book and manuscript center, a student lounge, periodical reading rooms and more than of shelving. Collections include federal and state statues as well as judicial opinions, treatises and other primary sources. There are substantial collections of international legal materials, U.S. government publications, and insurance law materials. The library is currently being renovated and will be completed in June 2009.
Journals
There are four scholarly journals edited on campus: the Connecticut Law Review, the Connecticut Public Interest Law Journal, the Connecticut Insurance Law Journal, and the Connecticut Journal of International Law.
Alumni
- Bessye Bennett, 1973, was the first African-American woman admitted to the Bar in the State of Connecticut
- Joe Courtney, 1978, Congressman from Connecticut's Second District
- Hon. Vanessa Lynne Bryant, 1978, district judge for the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
- Hon. Alfred V. Covello, 1960, senior judge for the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
- John A. Danaher III, 1980, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Public Safety; former U.S. Attorney for Connecticut
- Hon. Alexandra Davis DiPentima, 1979, appointed to the Connecticut Appellate Court in 2003
- Hon. Anne C. Dranginis, 1972, former judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court
- Hon. Christopher F. Droney, 1979, district judge for the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
- J. Michael Farren, Deputy White House Counsel to President George W. Bush
- Hon. Paul M. Foti, 1959, judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court
- Hon. F. Herbert Gruendel, 1984, judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court
- Hon. Lubbie Harper, Jr., 1975, appointed to the Connecticut Appellate Court in 2005
- Hon. Francis X. Hennessy, 1961, judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court
- Wesley W. Horton, 1970, appellate attorney who argued Kelo v. New London on behalf of the New London before the U.S. Supreme Court and partner at Horton, Shields & Knox, P.C.
- Justice Denise Johnson, 1974, Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
- Kevin T. Kane, 1968, Chief State's Attorney for Connecticut
- Justice Joette Katz, 1972, appointed to the Connecticut Supreme Court in 1992
- Edward Kennedy, Jr., 1983, Son of Ted Kennedy
- Hon. Robert L. Krechevsky, 1948, judge for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut
- Hon. Douglas S. Lavine, 1977, appointed to the Connecticut Appellate Court in 2006
- Martin Looney, Majority Leader, Connecticut Senate
- Hon. Joan G. Margolis, 1978, magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
- Hon. Donna F. Martinez, 1978, magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
- Thomas Joseph Meskill, 1956, Former Governor of Connecticut, Congressman, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Senior Judge
- Hon. Kenneth S. McHargh, 1974, magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
- Chris Murphy, 2002, Congressman from Connecticut's Fifth District
- Hon. Socrates H. Mihalakos, 1962, judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court
- Kathleen A. Murphy - CEO, ING U.S. Wealth Management; named to Fortune Magazine's 50 Most Powerful Women in Business List
- Hon. J. Garvan Murtha, 1968, district judge for the United States District Court for the District of Vermont
- Kevin J. O'Connor, 1992, U.S. Attorney for District of Connecticut 2002-Present, Chief of Staff for the Department of Justice 2007-Present
- Justice Richard N. Palmer, 1977, appointed to the Connecticut Supreme Court in 1993
- Hon. Juan Ramirez, Jr., 1975, judge for the Florida District Court of Appeals, Third District
- Hon. Jeffrey L. Resnick, 1967, magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of the Virgin Islands
- Gerard Smyth, former Chief Public Defender of the State of Connecticut
- Justice Christine S. Vertefeuille, 1975, appointed to the Connecticut Supreme Court in 2000
- Hon. Ariane Vuono, 1984, Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court
- Hon. William A. Webb, 1974, magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
- Hon. Lorraine Murphy Weil, 1983, judge for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut
- Donna D. Young, 1980, chairmen, president and CEO of The Phoenix Companies, Inc.
Deans of the School of Law
- 1933—1934 Thomas A. Larremore
- 1934—1942 Edward Graham Biard
- 1942—1946 Laurence J. Ackerman
- 1946—1966 Dr. Bert Earl Hopkins
- 1967 Cornelius J. Scanlon
- 1967—1972 Howard R. Sacks
- 1972—1974 Francis C. Cady
- 1974—1984 Phillip I. Blumberg
- 1984—1990 George Schatzki
- 1990—2000 Hugh C. MacGill
- 2000—2006 Nell Jessup Newton
- 2006—2007 Kurt Strasser (interim)
- 2007— Jeremy Paul
Faculty
Paul Bader
Loftus Becker
Robin Barnes
Bethany Berger
Paul Schiff Berman
Robert L. Birmingham
Deborah Calloway
Anne Daily
Laura Dickinson
Kaaryn Gustafson
Mark Janis
Richard Kay
Hugh MaGill
Thomas Morawetz
Leonard Orland
Richard Parker
Richard Pomp
Peter Siegelman
James Stark
Steven Utz
Robert Whitman
Steven Wilf
Statistics
Class of 2010 profile
- Applications 2,852
- Acceptance Rate 17%
- First Year Students Enrolled 230
- Total J.D. Students Enrolled 621
- Women 50%
- Minorities 23%
- Median LSAT 162
- Median GPA 3.46
- Day Division 25th-75th percentiles LSAT 160/164
- Day Division 25th-75th percentiles GPA 3.24/3.65
- Average Age 25
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