# Western New England University School of Law

Western New England University School of Law is a private, ABA-accredited law school in Springfield, Massachusetts. Established in 1919, Western New England Law offers both full-time and part-time programs. It is a college within Western New England University.

## History

Western New England College was established in 1919 as a branch of Northeastern University (then Northeastern College) and began offering evening law classes. In 1923, the first seven law graduates were recognized. In 1951, Western New England College received an independent charter and ended its affiliation with Northeastern. The full-time law program began in 1973. The law school has approximately 8,000 alumni. The S. Prestley Blake Law Center was first opened in 1978 at a cost of $3.4 million. The building is named after S. Prestley Blake, who made a substantial gift of $250,000 to the project. The law school underwent major renovations in 2007, including a new wing, lobby, and entrance. The project also saw the reconfiguration of several classrooms, creating smaller and more intimate learning environments.
On July 1, 2011, Western New England College School of Law officially became Western New England University School of Law. The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education approved the change in March 2011.

## Admissions

For the class entering in 2023, the school accepted 59.82% of applicants, with 21.55% of those accepted enrolling. The median enrollee had a 150 LSAT score and 3.30 undergraduate GPA.

## Ranking

For 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked the school No. 178-196 out of 196 ABA accredited law schools (bottom 9% at most).

## Programs

The primary aim of the law school is its J.D. program. The school also offers a part-time day or evening program. In addition, the law school has the following six joint-degree programs: J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.S.A., and J.D./M.S.O.L. with the Western New England University College of Business; J.D./M.S.E.M. with the Western New England University College of Engineering; J.D./M.S.W. with Springfield College; and a J.D./M.R.P. with the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Undergraduates of certain undergraduate institutions can take advantage of the "3+3 program," which allows certain students to complete a B.A. and a J.D. in six years.

### Concentrations

J.D. students have the option to concentrate in the following fields: Criminal Law Practice, Gender & Sexuality Law, International and Comparative Law Practice, Public Interest Practice, Transactional Law Practice.

### Clinics and Externships

The law school offers numerous clinical opportunities, where students can gain practical knowledge and develop professional skills under the supervision of experienced practitioners. The following clinics are currently offered: Criminal Law Defense Practicum, Criminal Law Prosecution Practicum, Family Defense Practicum, Family Mediation Clinic, Global Justice Clinic, Innocence Clinic, Legal Aid Clinic, Real Estate Practicum, Small Business Clinic. Students also have the opportunity to gain practical legal experience for academic credit through offered or student-secured externships.
The university's Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship also offers a resource for small business development in the greater Pioneer Valley region. The Small Business Clinic is the cornerstone program of the Center. The Clinic pairs students from the School of Law and College of Business to offer personal, professional legal assistance to entrepreneurs in the business start-up stage.

### LL.M. programs

The law school offers a live, interactive online program in Elder Law and Estate Planning.

### The Center for Social Justice

The Center for Social Justice was founded in 2019 with the stated mission to advance justice through research, education, advocacy, innovation, and public engagement to understand and address root causes of systemic social injustice and develop solutions for change. Through pro-bono representation, the school assists marginalized, underserved, BIPOC, low-income, women, LGBTQ+, and immigrant communities in the local region.

## Western New England Law Review

The Western New England Law Review publishes three issues per year. The editorial board consists of members of the School of Law who rank at or near the top 10 percent of their first-year class. The Law Review also permits a certain number of candidates based on the recommendation of their Legal Research and Writing professor at the end of their first year.

## Employment

ABA Employment Summary for 2022 Graduates :
| Employment Status | Employment Status | Percentage | Percentage |
| Employed - Bar Passage Required | Employed - Bar Passage Required | 62.0% | 62.0% |
| Employed - J.D. Advantage | Employed - J.D. Advantage | 12.7% | 12.7% |
| Employed - Professional Position | Employed - Professional Position | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| Employed - Other Position | Employed - Other Position | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| Employed - Start Date Deferred | Employed - Start Date Deferred | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| Unemployed - Not Seeking | Unemployed - Not Seeking | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| Unemployed - Seeking | Unemployed - Seeking | 8.9% | 8.9% |
| Employment Status Unknown | Employment Status Unknown | 6.3% | 6.3% |
| Total of 79 Graduates |||||
According to Western New England Law's official ABA-required disclosures, 62.0% of the Class of 2022 obtained full-time, long-term, bar passage-required employment nine months after graduation, excluding solo-practitioners. Most employment was in firms of 1 - 10 attorneys or government. The main employment destinations for Western New England Law graduates are Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York.

## Costs

For the 2023-2024 academic year, tuition was $47,450 for the full-time program and $31,540 for the part-time program. Estimated total annual cost, including fees and living expenses, is $70,000.

## Notable alumni

* Stephen Buoniconti '95 - Former member of the Massachusetts Senate (served 2005–2011) and former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (served 2001–2004).
* Lawrence F. Cafero '81 - Former member of Connecticut House of Representatives and Republican House Leader (served 1992–2015).
* Gale D. Candaras '82 - Former member of the Massachusetts Senate (served 2006–2014) and former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (served 1996 - 2006).
* Michael A. Christ '02 - Former Deputy Majority Leader of Connecticut House of Representatives.
* Cheryl A. Coakley-Rivera '95, Former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (served 1999–2014).
* Michael Charles Green '86 - executive commissioner of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, former District Attorney for Monroe County, New York.
* Daniel F. Keenan - Former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (served 1995–2007).
* John Kissel '84 - Member of the Connecticut State Senate
* Lois Lerner - Former director of the Internal Revenue Service Exempt Organizations Unit and central figure of the IRS targeting controversy
* Mark G. Mastroianni '89 - U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Massachusetts (confirmed 2014), Former Hampden County District Attorney
* Robert Meeropol '85 - Activist, former managing editor of Socialist Review and founder of the Rosenberg Fund for Children.
* Maura L. Melley '78 - Former Secretary of the State of Connecticut (served 1982–1983).
* Tim Murray '94 - Former Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts and former Mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts.
* Larry O'Brien '42 - Former National Basketball Association Commissioner and former U.S. Postmaster General.
* Angelo Puppolo '01 - Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (served 2007–present) and former City Councilor in the city of Springfield, Massachusetts
* Joseph Rallo '76 - State of Louisiana's Commissioner of Higher Education.
* Thomas L. Stevenson '77 - Former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (served 1997–2006).
* John E. Sweeney '91 - Former Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from upstate New York and noted conservative legislator.