University of New Hampshire School of Law

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.

FPLC is consistently ranked among the top ten law schools in the U.S.(according to U.S. News and World Report)in regard to its Intellectual Property Law program and offerings. FPLC does, however, also offer the wide variety of areas of specialization found at most law schools in the U.S. The school is internationally recognized as a prestigious Intellectual Property training center. For that reason it attracts students from around the world. The school founder is Robert H. Rines a respected lawyer, inventor (holds more than 60 patents), researcher, composer and M.I.T. professor.

The school celebrates an annual Intellectual Property Summer Institute in cooperation with Tsinghua University Law School in Beijing. During the summer of 2005, Pierce Law offered students the opportunity to study in Ireland at the eLaw Summer Institute, a collaborative effort between Pierce Law and the University College Cork. 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 Programs in Intellectual Property, Commerce and Technology and the Master in Education Law. 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"

Traditions and Activities

Due to its international student body the school celebrates different activities around the year. The school actively celebrates the Chinese New Year, the Indian festival of lights or Diwali, the Afro-Caribbean Night, the Christmas Party, Jive, and Winter Graduation. It also holds the Advance Licensing Institute and barbecue evenings during the summer. For freshmen, the school offers the ice cream social and the Lake Region Visit. The school also celebrates two major beneficial activities, The Run for Justice and The Bruce Friedman Community Service Day. The second semester, international students from the graduate program celebrate Brown Bag Lunches where they present interesting aspects of their countries in an informal environment.