Register for June 9th Information Session
There are so many options to advance your legal career with an online legal graduate degree that it can be hard to narrow down your search and choose from among the alternatives.
Accredited by the American Bar Association and located in vibrant Concord, New Hampshire, the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law has been ranked a top 10 law school to study intellectual property law for more than 30 years, since the rankings began. The law school offers online LLM and master’s degrees in Intellectual Property and International Criminal Law and Justice.
Here are the top five questions to answer when exploring whether you’d like to attend an online legal graduate program.
1. Is it flexible?
Before choosing a program, it is important to know how much flexibility is built into the program structure. Choosing a program with classes where students are required to log in at a certain time, also known as synchronous courses, can be difficult for students who are in different time zones or who have set work schedules. You should ask how classes are delivered, because if real-time instruction doesn't work for your schedule or time zone, that program may not be for you.
With recorded, or asynchronous, courses you can go back and re-watch entire lessons to make sure you are absorbing the material. That's why UNH Franklin Pierce delivers online legal graduate programs asynchronously; students gain greater flexibility and increased opportunity to learn the material. This also allows international students to take courses and receive the same quality education without leaving their jobs or families and moving to the United States.
Ian Courts, an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia and student in our online LLM in International Criminal Law & Justice program, says, “[The online option] is innovative because the law, especially as a prosecutor in Philadelphia, is a full-time service; thus, my time is limited. The online program allows me to maximize that limited free time while enjoying the learning process.”
2. Will I have access to expert faculty who are leaders in the field so that I can become an expert as well?
It is important to ask who will be teaching your classes. At UNH Franklin Pierce, online students learn from a formidable faculty of fulltime professors, high-end practitioners, scholars, and experts from around the globe.
Students are often already professionals in the area of law they're looking to become experts in. Faculty at UNH Franklin Pierce find teaching online legal graduate students rewarding because students often have a base of knowledge and can share their experiences with the topic. This makes for an enriching learning experience for all students.
“I can have in-depth conversations with these students and really help them get to the next level in their careers. It's the personal interactions I have that not only make me a better online professor, but also give the online student exactly what they need to succeed in and outside the classroom,” says Professor Albert Scherr, Chair of the school's online International Criminal Law and Justice program.
Megan Carpenter, Dean of UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law continues, “We take the approach that all students deserve the opportunity to learn from our top-rated faculty, regardless of whether that student is here in New Hampshire or online. Online students receive the same education as they would if they were physically in our classroom. That matters. Not only to our students, but to us. We want to make sure everyone has the same quality experience.”
3. How do I interact with other students?
Though you may not meet them in person, your fellow online classmates become your community. Interacting with classmates helps students better understand the material or spark ideas they may not have considered. When choosing an online legal graduate program, ask whether the courses are strictly lecture-based or if there is built-in time for conversation via online discussion boards. When classes are in a blended format, this means that professors aren't just delivering information, but also leaving time for discussion between students.
At UNH Franklin Pierce, online classes require class participation. Professors aren’t just looking for how many times a student comments, but how meaningful their contribution is. Students frequently share how support networks among classmates developed organically and that they forged lifelong friendships and professional relationships during their time as an online student.
4. How will I be supported during my time at the law school?
At the UNH Franklin Pierce, all departments, including the Registrar, Library, Academic Success Program, Dean of Students, and more strive to provide the same level of support to online student that is provided to residential students.
UNH Franklin Pierce has faculty mentors supporting students every step of the way. Support like this can be necessary for finding your balance between studies, work, and home life. Your faculty mentor, alongside your academic advisor, will help you select courses that will put you on the path toward achieving your professional goals.
UNH Franklin Pierce also offers a flexible Academic Success Program (ASP) for students to cultivate the essential skills necessary to excel in law school, on the bar exam, and in legal practice. ASP is there to determine how you learn best and to help you apply those insights to your studies. They work with you in a variety of ways, including individual counseling.
5. Will you help me find a job?
Yes! A legal graduate program shouldn't only support you while you're a student, but after you graduate. Earning your LLM or master’s degree is an investment, so make sure that investment works for you well after graduation. That's why many professors at UNH Franklin Pierce serve as lifelong mentors for their students. They keep in touch and have proved to be excellent career advisors.
In addition, UHN Franklin Pierce’s Career Services Office continues their work with students once they have made the transition from student to alum. This individualized support includes guidance on preparing your resume and cover letter, developing strong interview skills, and guidance on effective networking techniques. The Career Services Office maintains an internal platform with resources for students and alumni which includes a special section dedicated to legal graduate and international students. Among other things, this platform includes alumni contacts, job postings, and information about employers who have previously hired UNH Franklin Pierce graduates.
Our students and alumni at a reception in Washington, DC
Alumni of UNH Franklin Pierce’s online programs say the friendships built at UNH remain accessible after graduation and have been instrumental in expanding their professional networks. Online students become a part of the same robust alumni network (more than 6,000 alumni in over 80 countries) as residential students and can access the school's services as they launch or continue to grow their careers.
Understandably, you will have many questions when you choose an online LLM or legal master’s program. These five questions will help you get on the right track to uncovering the information you need to make your decision. The admissions team at UNH Franklin Pierce is always available to answer your questions and looks forward to working with you! To learn more about our online legal graduate programs in Intellectual Property and International Criminal Law and Justice, join us for a virtual information session on Thursday, June 9 at 12:30pm EDT. Register Now.
