Information for New Students

We look forward to welcoming you to UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law! Here are some of the answers to commonly asked questions, but the most meaningful answers can only come by experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Student Health Benefits

• I have questions about the student health forms and/or the Student Health Benefit Plan.

  • UNH’s Health and Wellness office oversees requirements for all incoming students.

  • There is additional information for international students.

  • UNH Franklin Pierce staff are unable to assist students with their student health forms and/or obtaining student health insurance. Questions that can’t be answered through the above websites should be directed to the UNH Health and Wellness Office. 

Adjusting during your first semester

• Will the first semester of law school be tough?
  • ​​​​​​​Yes, but so was your first time riding a bicycle, your first semester of college, your first day on the job, or your first several months with a new baby. Let's face it, new experiences frighten most people. Be confident and be prepared to work and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. There are resources in place to help you gain the skills you need to be successful such as Faculty Advisors, Teaching Assistants and the Academic Success Program.
• ​​​​​​​How much work will I need to do?
  • ​​​​​​​Students should plan on doing 2 hours of work for each credit they are enrolled in. If you are taking 15 credit hours, you should plan on doing 30 hours of coursework outside of class. Students can anticipate reading between 225-300 pages each week during their first year. Most of the assigned readings are cases, and the most effective method of understanding these cases is to take notes as you read them (briefing). Briefing is time consuming but will help you better understand the material. Commercial study aids, such as case notes, bar review guides, and outlines are effective shortcuts and may save you time, but they cannot substitute for reading, studying, and preparing the course material.
• ​​​​​​​Are there any special study methods I should know about?
  • ​​​​​​​Chances are you will study the same way you did while in college. Students often find that that making an outline of your classes and updating it on a weekly basis is very helpful come finals time. A personal outline, if done in a thorough manner, will be superior to a commercial outline because you created it and it stresses the priorities of your instructor.
• ​​​​​​​Do students work during the semester?
  • ​​​​​​​Yes, many residential JD students work in jobs inside the law school or outside. There is no rule for how many hours a student should work but for a full-time, residential student, we wouldn’t recommend working more than 15-20 hours during your first year. Should you choose to work, first-year classes are typically in the morning and afternoon at various times Monday- Friday so finding a job with flexible scheduling would be important. International students cannot work off-campus on an F-1 visa.
• ​​​​​​​Is there a dress code?
  • ​​​​​​​Classes at UNH Law are generally casual; however, there are other occasions outside of the classroom that require business or more formal attire.