Western New England School of Law offers a collegial atmosphere and strong ties to Western Massachusetts and Hartford, Conn.
“There is a real sense of community that the faculty build with the students,” said Dean Sudha Setty. “Faculty are deeply involved with students in all different aspects. Students really look to faculty to be guides and a portal to reach a larger legal community.”
Setty said teaching is very hands on and the school has increased its experiential offerings, including reinvesting a lot into its clinical space.
Springfield’s unique location, as the hub for federal and state courts, make it a prime site for externships and jobs.
In the Winter intercession, first-year students take a simulation model class that prepares them for the real world. Local lawyers and judges head up a firm of four to seven students. The students work as junior associates to identify legal issues, undertake negotiations and handle client counseling.
“It’s a way to introduce them to lawyering and reinforce what they learned in the first semester,” Setty said. “Students love it because they feel like they are doing actual lawyer work and it gets student engaged and energized. For the new semester.”
Western New England also prides itself on being affordable. The school froze tuition for three years, offers generous scholarships and Springfield has a low cost of living.
The school has strong programs in public interest, innovation and entrepreneurship, and an excellent moot court program with teams that have won several national competitions.