UMass Law

04/14/2026

UMass Law's inaugural in-house mock trial competition brought the courtroom to life this past weekend—featuring a star-studded bench.

Students argued their cases before Bristol County DA Thomas M. Quinn III, Judge Joseph P. Harrington, and Attorney Erin Steadman, showcasing their advocacy skills in front of some of the region's most respected legal leaders.

This is practical training in action.

Three-day event brings together students and prominent SouthCoast legal leaders for hands-on courtroom experience

04/07/2026

UMass Law continues to gain recognition for its impact-driven legal education, particularly in public service, ranking 26th nationally and 17th among U.S. public law schools for most graduates entering public interest law.

These rankings reflect our commitment to preparing students for careers that serve our communities and advance justice.

See the latest rankings ⬇️

UMass Law ranks No. 26 for most graduates entering public interest law

04/07/2026

POV: Your personality is a law school class⚖️

03/23/2026

"Pursue Justice" isn't just a slogan at UMass Law—it's a call to action.

Through an immersive civil rights-focused trip with federal judges, UMass Law students explored historic and contemporary sites central to the American civil rights movement, deepening their understanding of the legal struggles that have shaped—and continue to shape—our society. By engaging with these spaces and their stories, they gained powerful insight into the ongoing fight for equity and justice.

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Five-day tour across the Southern U.S. connected classroom learning with the people and places that shaped the civil rights movement

03/12/2026

The Massachusetts Appeals Court recently held a special sitting at the UMass Law, giving students the rare opportunity to observe live appellate arguments and experience the judicial process firsthand.

Events like this bring the law to life—connecting classroom learning with real-world practice and reinforcing UMass Law’s mission to prepare practice-ready attorneys committed to public service.

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Visit sponsored by the Bristol County Bar Association brings appellate proceedings and learning opportunities to campus

03/09/2026

ICYMI: The UMass Law Review celebrated a major milestone—20 years of student-led legal scholarship!

This latest volume explores topics including generative AI and legal scholarship, criminal justice accountability, incarceration rights, and environmental law, reflecting the evolving challenges facing the legal profession and society.

Congratulations to the student editors continuing this important tradition! Read more:

Student-run publication launches Volume 21 with scholarship on AI, criminal justice, incarceration rights, and environmental law

01/27/2026

Congratulations, Kate Hancock, MBA '08, JD '27, who earned second place in a national employment law writing competition for a scholarly paper developed during a Summer Research and Writing Seminar!

"Having worked in the field of Human Resources for over 20 years, I have a strong interest in employment law topics. I enjoyed the opportunity to apply scholarly attention on one of the most frequent and challenging issues faced by HR professionals: interpretation of reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act."

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Second-place finish in New York State Bar Association competition recognizes scholarship on disability law

01/12/2026

Can an Executive Order Regulate AI?

UMass Law Professor Eric Mitnick joined The Michael Smerconish Program on Sirius XM this morning to discuss constitutional standing, federalism, and why only Congress—not the White House—can create a unified national AI framework.

UMass Darmouth Law professor Eric Mitnick joins guest host Danny Cevallos to unpack President Trump’s executive order on artificial intelligence, arguing it is “dead on arrival.” The conversation explores constitutional standing, federalism, and why only Congress—not the White House—can cr...

12/15/2025

2025 was a year of achievement, impact, and service at UMass Law. From celebrating the Class of 2025 to surpassing 250,000 public service hours, hosting the Federal Circuit Court, and earning national recognition for practical training and public interest outcomes, our students and faculty continued to and broaden access to the legal profession.

Read about our top stories and milestones from the year! 👉

UMass Law reflects on a year of achievement, service, and impact in 2025

11/06/2025

Welcoming new Justice Bridge Executive Director, Kelli Proia, JD.

"Her extensive experience, entrepreneurial mindset, and commitment to bridging legal service and education make her the ideal person to lead Justice Bridge forward," said Dean Sam Panarella. "I look forward to what we will accomplish under her leadership."

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Innovative attorney and educator to lead UMass Law's access-to-justice initiative into its next decade

11/05/2025

📚 A day in court — right on campus!

UMass Law was honored to host the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit for a special sitting. Students witnessed live appellate arguments, engaged directly with federal judges, and gained invaluable insight into the appellate process and the path to clerkships and federal practice.

This extraordinary learning experience reflects UMass Law’s commitment to practice-based education and preparing our students to lead with integrity, skill, and purpose. ⚖️

🔗 Read the full story:

Students witness appellate arguments and engage with judges in an extraordinary learning opportunity

10/15/2025

This weekend!

Experience an epic campus takeover filled with alumni events, tailgates, sports, and unforgettable moments.

Learn more: https://brnw.ch/21wWEGC