Resolve, to Establish a Hybrid Juris Doctor Program at the University of Maine School of Law to Address Access to Justice in Rural Maine

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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1162
H.P. 767 House of Representatives, March 20, 2025
Resolve, to Establish a Hybrid Juris Doctor Program at the
University of Maine School of Law to Address Access to Justice in
Rural Maine
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative FREDETTE of Newport.

Page 1 - 132LR1113(01)
1Sec. 1. Establishment of hybrid juris doctor program at University of
2Maine School of Law; report. Resolved: That, by the beginning of the 2027-2028
3 academic year, the University of Maine System shall establish at the University of Maine
4 School of Law a hybrid juris doctor program, referred to in this section as "the program,"
5 that allows a student enrolled in the program to fulfill the degree requirements for a juris
6 doctor primarily through online course work with periodic in-person instruction. The
7 program must be designed to:
8 1. Prioritize the enrollment of students from rural areas of the State who demonstrate
9 a commitment to practicing law in underserved communities in the State upon graduation;
10 2. Offer academic and professional training and educational opportunities to enrolled
11 students that are the same or substantially equivalent to such opportunities offered to
12 students enrolled in the school’s traditional in-person juris doctor program;
13 3. Implement technology for use in the program that delivers high-quality, accessible
14 online instruction to enrolled students;
15 4. Partner with law firms, businesses and community organizations to provide local
16 mentoring, internship and employment opportunities for enrolled students; and
17 5. Be funded through a self-sustaining model that combines tuition revenue, including
18 tuition payments from students enrolled in the program, with funding partnerships with
19 local law firms, businesses and community organizations and any grants, private donations
20 or state or federal funding available to support the implementation and operation of the
21 program.
22 No later than January 1, 2026, the University of Maine System shall submit a report to
23 the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs outlining its plan for
24 implementation of the program at the University of Maine School of Law by the beginning
25 of the 2027-2028 academic year. The report must include, but is not limited to, a
26 description of the rules, policies and procedures necessary for program implementation; a
27 detailed timeline for program implementation, including development, faculty recruitment
28 and student enrollment; an estimated budget for the program and identified funding
29 strategies for ensuring program sustainability; and recommendations for necessary
30 legislative or other action, including proposed legislation. After reviewing the report, the
31 committee may report out legislation related to the report to the Second Regular Session of
32 the 132nd Legislature.
33SUMMARY
34 This resolve directs the University of Maine System, by the beginning of the 2027-
35 2028 academic year, to establish at the University of Maine School of Law a hybrid juris
36 doctor program that allows a student enrolled in the program to fulfill the degree
37 requirements for a juris doctor primarily through online course work with periodic in-
38 person instruction.
39 Among other things, the program must be designed to prioritize the enrollment of
40 students from rural areas of the State who demonstrate a commitment to practicing law in
41 underserved communities in the State upon graduation; offer academic and professional
42 training and educational opportunities to enrolled students that are the same or substantially
43 equivalent to such opportunities offered to students enrolled in the school’s traditional, in-
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Page 2 - 132LR1113(01)
44 person juris doctor program; and implement technology for use in the program that delivers
45 high-quality, accessible online instruction to enrolled students.
3 No later than January 1, 2026, the University of Maine System is required to submit a
4 report to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs outlining its plan
5 for implementation of the hybrid juris doctor program at the University of Maine School
6 of Law by the beginning of the 2027-2028 academic year. After reviewing the report, the
7 committee may report out related legislation.
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