Robert Rines, an engineer and patent lawyer, opened this school in Concord in 1973 as the Franklin Pierce Law Center. Intellectual property has been its specialty from the start, and it is now the University of New Hampshire's law school. International students mostly come for the LLM or the Master of Intellectual Property, studying alongside JD students from across the US. Concord is New Hampshire's small state capital, a little over an hour north of Boston.
Concord, New Hampshire, United States
Official website: law.unh.edu
1973, as Franklin Pierce Law Center
University of New Hampshire
Intellectual property law
American Bar Association
$46,000 – $52,000
International students, JD and LLM, approximate
$16,000 – $20,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on law.unh.edu before you apply.
Juris Doctor (JD)
Professional DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
LSAT or GRE, TOEFL: 90
LLM in Intellectual Property
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
First law degree, TOEFL: 90
Master of Intellectual Property (MIP)
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 90
LLM in Commerce and Technology
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
First law degree, TOEFL: 90
Intellectual property law taught since the school opened in 1973.
The Daniel Webster Scholar programme, an alternative route to the New Hampshire bar.
The IP Mall, a free online library of patent and IP resources.
IP graduates join patent firms, in-house legal teams and university technology transfer offices.
JD graduates sit bar exams across the US, most often in New England.
LLM graduates often return home to IP practice or national patent offices.
Undergrad
JD: main intake
Postgrad
LLM/MIP: main intake
Undergrad
No JD intake
Postgrad
LLM/MIP: selected
The law school is in downtown Concord, within walking distance of the gold-domed State House and the cafes on Main Street. Most students rent apartments in town.
Concord is small, safe and quiet, with cold, snowy winters. Concord Coach Lines runs buses to Boston's South Station and Logan Airport, and the White Mountains are about an hour north.
Form I-20 issued by University of New Hampshire
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
JD applications open in the autumn and are reviewed on a rolling basis, so apply by early spring for August entry. LLM and MIP applicants can apply later, but international students should allow three to four months for the I-20 and visa interview.
The JD starts in August only. The LLM and Master of Intellectual Property start in August, and some students can begin in January.
You'll need an F-1 visa. Once you accept your offer and send proof of funding, University of New Hampshire issues the Form I-20. After that it's the SEVIS fee, the DS-160 form and an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
The JD, the LLM in intellectual property and the Master of Intellectual Property draw most international applicants. The JD needs a bachelor's degree and an LSAT or GRE score. The LLM needs a first law degree, while the MIP suits engineers and scientists. Expect to show TOEFL 90 or IELTS 7.0.
The school gives merit scholarships to many JD students at admission. Awards for LLM and MIP students are smaller and fewer, so ask the admissions office what's available when you apply.
