Law Schools in Maine + LSAT Prep (2026 Guide)

Maine has one ABA accredited law school, the University of Maine, so the state is small for legal education. Its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure reports a median LSAT of 158, so the practical target for law schools in Maine sits in the high 150s, eight points above the scale midpoint.

By Ali Unar, Georgetown Law, Founder of Lovare Institut.

Ali Unar is a Georgetown Law student and the founder of Lovare Institut, an admissions and LSAT-prep practice built on primary-source law school data.

Verified August 2026.

What law schools are in Maine?

Maine has exactly one ABA accredited law school: the University of Maine, whose law program is based in Portland, the state's largest city. Because a single institution serves the entire state, Maine is one of the smallest legal-education markets in the country. The table below lists the median LSAT, acceptance rate, and full-time tuition for that school, each figure taken from its 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosure for the fall 2025 entering class.

SchoolMedian LSATAcceptance rateFull-time tuitionUniversity of Maine15837.3%$26,100

Each figure in the table above is drawn from the University of Maine's 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosure. The 509 disclosure is the annual, standardized report every ABA accredited school files, which is why it is the cleanest single source for comparing medians, acceptance rates, and tuition across law schools in Maine and beyond.

Two things stand out about the one law school in Maine. First, its median LSAT of 158 sits eight points above the 150 midpoint of the 120 to 180 LSAT scale, which is the highest in-state median among the smallest one-school states and signals a program that expects a solid score. Second, the full-time tuition of $26,100 reported in the 2025 ABA 509 disclosure is moderate by national standards for a law degree, which matters in a state where the in-state legal market is compact and where a public program keeps costs reasonable. When you are deciding among law schools in Maine, you are really deciding whether the University of Maine fits your goals, because there is no in-state alternative accredited by the ABA.

Being honest about scale matters here. With one ABA law school, Maine does not offer the menu of price points, specializations, and admissions profiles that a large state like California or New York provides. What it does offer is a clear, single target and a comparatively affordable public path for students who intend to build a career in Maine or the wider New England region. The practical effect for an applicant is that the in-state decision is a single yes or no rather than a ranking exercise, and the rest of this guide treats that single school in depth and explains how to plan an application, a budget, and a bar-admission timeline around it.

What LSAT and GPA do you need for law school in Maine?

In-state median LSATs run from 158 to 158 across law schools in Maine, because the University of Maine is the only ABA school and its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure reports a median of 158. That single number is the anchor for everything below. The University of Maine is by definition both the top-median and the most accessible school in the state, since it is the only one, and its 37.3% acceptance rate from the same disclosure tells you this is a selective program that admits a little over a third of the people who apply.

A median is the 50th percentile: half of the enrolled class in Maine scored at or above 158, and half scored at or below it. On the 120 to 180 scale, 158 is eight points above the midpoint, so this is the most demanding score target among the smallest one-school states, though it remains well short of the elite range. If your LSAT is at or above 158, you are competitive at the University of Maine and you sit in the stronger half of the applicant pool, which also improves your standing for merit scholarship consideration.

If your LSAT is below 158, do not assume you are out of contention for law schools in Maine. A median is by definition the middle, so the University of Maine admitted many students below 158 as well as above it. Where a below-median score costs you is scholarship dollars and margin for error, and with a 37.3% acceptance rate the competition is real, so mid-150s applicants should strengthen every other part of the file. The practical read is that scores in the mid 150s keep you in the conversation in Maine, 158 puts you at the median, and low 160s or better make you a strong candidate.

On GPA, honesty requires a caveat. The disclosures cited in this guide give the LSAT median for the University of Maine but do not publish an absolute undergraduate GPA median, so this guide does not print a GPA number it cannot source. What the data does give is the shape of the GPA distribution through the gap between the 25th percentile and the median, which for the University of Maine is 0.29 grade points. A gap that wide signals that the school does not treat undergraduate GPA as a hard cutoff and will consider applicants whose grades sit below the class median when the rest of the file is strong. Treat GPA as a factor that flexes around a solid LSAT rather than a fixed threshold, and read the splitter section below for what that 0.29 spread means in practice.

Because there is only one ABA school in the state, your LSAT strategy for Maine is unusually clear. You are not calibrating across a dozen medians. You are aiming to clear or beat 158, and every additional point above that median improves both your admission odds and your scholarship leverage at the University of Maine. If a diagnostic puts you in the mid 150s, a focused retake is often the single highest-return move, because moving from below the median to at or above it changes your entire aid picture in Maine, and it does so at the one school that anchors the state.

Which Maine law schools are splitter friendly?

A splitter is an applicant with a high LSAT and a lower GPA; a reverse splitter has the opposite, a strong GPA paired with a lower LSAT. Schools that admit these profiles are called splitter friendly, and they are worth identifying because they reward applicants whose numbers are lopsided. Among law schools in Maine, the University of Maine reads as splitter friendly based on its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure.

The signal comes from the school's GPA spread. The University of Maine's 25th-to-median GPA gap is 0.29, computed from its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure, which is wide enough to indicate the school regularly enrolls students whose GPA sits noticeably below the class median. That is the classic splitter pattern: a candidate brings a competitive LSAT and leans on it to offset a softer GPA. If you have a 158 or better but an undergraduate record that dipped, Maine's only law school is a realistic target rather than a long shot, and the width of that 0.29 band is the reason.

Because Maine has a single ABA school, there is no in-state reverse-splitter alternative to compare against, and this guide will not invent a second school to make the comparison. If your profile is a high GPA with a lower LSAT, the same advice from the score section applies: the case for retaking the LSAT before you apply in Maine is strong, because at a school with a 158 median a competitive LSAT is what lets the file look past a below-median GPA. The narrow reality of a one-school state is that your splitter or reverse-splitter status is measured against one admissions committee, which makes the University of Maine's 0.29 GPA band genuinely useful to know before you apply to law schools in Maine.

What is the legal job market like in Maine?

The defining fact about the Maine legal market is retention. According to ABA Class of 2024 employment data, the University of Maine keeps 68% of its graduating class in Maine. That is a high retention rate, and it tells you that the state's only law school functions as the primary pipeline into the state's bar. If your goal is to practice in Maine, studying at the in-state school puts you inside the network of judges, firms, and agencies where most of your classmates will also land.

Maine's legal market centers on Portland, the state's largest city and its dominant legal and economic hub, where the largest firms, the federal courts, and much of the private-practice work concentrate. Augusta, the state capital, anchors state government, the courts, and public-sector legal work; Bangor serves the central and northern parts of the state; and Lewiston adds to the southern Maine market. Because the University of Maine's law program is based in Portland, its students sit in the middle of the state's busiest legal center throughout their studies, which supports the high 68% in-state retention figure.

Be realistic about scale. A single-school state with a small population supports a smaller bar than a large coastal market, so the number of the largest-firm and most specialized positions in Maine is limited, and competition for the most sought-after clerkships and government roles is real. The upside is that a high in-state retention rate and a tight professional community mean relationships built in law school carry directly into practice. This guide does not provide salary figures for Maine because the disclosures cited here do not include them, and it will not estimate earnings it cannot source.

The strategic takeaway is that Maine rewards commitment to the state. Because 68% of the University of Maine's class stays, the school's alumni network is dense within Maine, and its Portland base ties students directly to the market where most of them will practice. Applicants who want to practice elsewhere in New England can still do so, and the state's proximity to the wider regional economy helps, but the in-state advantages of studying at law schools in Maine are strongest for those who plan to stay in Maine.

Does Maine use the NextGen bar exam?

Yes. According to the NCBE, Maine has adopted the NextGen bar exam, with its first NextGen administration scheduled for July 2028. Maine is currently a Uniform Bar Examination jurisdiction, so until that transition it administers the UBE, and it will move to the NextGen exam at the July 2028 sitting. The NCBE has confirmed that the legacy UBE and its Multistate Bar Examination component end after the February 2028 administration nationwide, so Maine's last legacy UBE would fall in February 2028 and its first NextGen sitting follows at the very next administration in July 2028.

For applicants planning a timeline, the practical implication is straightforward. If you sit for the Maine bar before July 2028, you take the current UBE that Maine administers. If your bar sitting falls in July 2028 or later, you should plan for the NextGen exam, which is the NCBE's redesigned test built around integrated legal skills rather than the older format's separation of multiple choice and essays. Either way, the bar you take is set by when you sit it in Maine, not by when you enrolled, so a student starting at the University of Maine now should expect to sit the NextGen version.

Maine's current status as a UBE jurisdiction carries a portability benefit worth understanding. A UBE score earned in Maine can, subject to each jurisdiction's own rules and score requirements, be transferred to other UBE states, which is a real advantage in a New England region where Maine lawyers sometimes practice across state lines. As the country moves to NextGen, the NCBE is coordinating how scores and admissions will work across jurisdictions, so anyone sitting the exam around the 2028 transition in Maine should confirm the current rules with the Maine bar authorities before committing to a test date.

The bottom line for law schools in Maine is that bar planning is a scheduling exercise. Know your expected graduation date, check it against the July 2028 NextGen start the NCBE has set for Maine and the February 2028 nationwide end of the legacy exam, and prepare for whichever exam your sitting falls under. Because Maine has one law school, the University of Maine's own bar-preparation resources and pass-rate history are the most relevant benchmarks, and you should request those figures directly, since the disclosures cited in this guide do not include Maine bar passage rates.

Where can you take the LSAT in Maine?

LSAT test centers are available in Maine's major metros, but the specific locations offered change from cycle to cycle, so the reliable move is to consult LSAC's official test-center list at lsac.org when you register rather than relying on any fixed address. LSAC also administers the LSAT in a remotely proctored online format, which is often the most practical option for candidates in the more rural northern and eastern parts of Maine where in-person seats can be limited and travel distances are long.

Maine's largest metros, and therefore the areas where in-person testing and study resources cluster, include Portland, the state's largest city, along with Lewiston, Bangor, and the capital, Augusta. Portland is worth a specific mention for pre-law students because it is home to the University of Maine's law program, which makes it a natural place for in-state test takers already near campus. Applicants across law schools in Maine can check the current LSAC list for the seats nearest them and register early, since in smaller markets in-person seats fill and disappear faster than in large metro areas.

Whichever format you choose, treat the logistics of the LSAT in Maine as part of your preparation. Confirm the test date against your application timeline, secure your seat or online slot as soon as registration opens, and build your study calendar backward from the sitting. Because your target in Maine is a single median of 158, a well-timed, well-prepared LSAT is the most controllable variable in your entire application, and this guide will not print exact street addresses that change each cycle when LSAC's official list is always current.

Which Maine universities feed law school?

Maine's pre-law pipeline draws on the state's flagship and its well-known liberal arts colleges. The University of Maine, the state's public flagship whose main undergraduate campus is in Orono, is a common in-state feeder into law school, with undergraduate programs in political science, history, and the humanities that serve as traditional pre-law tracks. The University of Southern Maine in Portland, which shares a city with the law program, is another significant feeder, and together the University of Maine System campuses supply a broad base of in-state applicants.

Maine's private colleges add a distinctive strength to the pipeline. Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Bates College in Lewiston, and Colby College in Waterville are nationally regarded liberal arts colleges that send graduates into law schools across the country, and the University of New England contributes as well. Students from all of these universities apply to law schools in Maine and out of state, and none guarantees admission; a strong LSAT and a coherent application remain the decisive factors regardless of where you did your undergraduate work.

It is worth noting the general nature of this section: naming the University of Maine, Bowdoin, Bates, Colby, and the state's other universities as common pre-law feeders reflects the state's higher-education landscape, not a specific placement statistic. The disclosures cited in this guide do not attribute a placement rate to any Maine university, and neither does this guide. What matters for an applicant is that a pre-law path in Maine can begin at any accredited undergraduate program, and that the University of Maine's law program evaluates candidates on their LSAT, GPA, and application rather than on which Maine college they attended.

Frequently asked questions about law school in Maine

How many law schools are in Maine?

Maine has one ABA accredited law school, the University of Maine, whose law program is based in Portland. That single institution makes Maine one of the smallest legal-education markets in the country. Any list of law schools in Maine begins and ends with the University of Maine, which is why applicants to the state face one clear admissions target rather than a field of competing medians and price points.

What is the easiest law school to get into in Maine?

Because Maine has only one ABA law school, the University of Maine is by definition both the easiest and the most selective law school to get into in Maine. Its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure reports an acceptance rate of 37.3% and a median LSAT of 158, so it is selective but far from closed, and applicants near or below that median still have a realistic path when the rest of the file is strong.

What is the best law school in Maine?

The University of Maine is the best law school in Maine in the practical sense that it is the state's only ABA accredited option. With a median LSAT of 158 and full-time tuition of $26,100 from its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure, it pairs a solid admissions profile with moderate cost. For anyone committed to practicing in Maine, it is both the strongest and the sole in-state choice, with the deepest local alumni network.

What LSAT score do you need for law school in Maine?

The University of Maine reports a median LSAT of 158 in its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure, so 158 is the number to aim for at law schools in Maine. A score at or above 158 makes you competitive and strengthens your scholarship case. Given the 37.3% acceptance rate, applicants in the mid 150s remain in the conversation, though a higher score meaningfully improves both admission odds and aid in Maine.

How much does law school cost in Maine?

The University of Maine reports full-time tuition of $26,100 in its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure, which is moderate by national standards and a genuine advantage of studying law in Maine at a public program. That figure is tuition alone and does not include living expenses, fees, or books, and it can differ for out-of-state students. Applicants should confirm current residency-based rates and the total cost of attendance directly with the school.

Does Maine use the NextGen bar exam?

According to the NCBE, Maine has adopted the NextGen bar exam and will first administer it in July 2028. Until then Maine remains a Uniform Bar Examination jurisdiction, so it currently administers the UBE. The legacy UBE and MBE end after the February 2028 administration nationwide, so Maine's first NextGen sitting in July 2028 follows immediately after that national sunset of the older format.

Can you take the bar in Maine with an out-of-state degree?

Yes. Maine generally admits graduates of ABA accredited law schools from any state to sit its bar exam, so an out-of-state degree does not keep you from practicing in Maine. Maine is currently a UBE jurisdiction and moves to NextGen in July 2028 per the NCBE, so confirm the current exam, application deadlines, character requirements, and admission rules with the Maine bar authorities before you plan a sitting.

Which Maine law school has the best bar passage?

Maine has only one ABA law school, the University of Maine, so it is the sole in-state bar-passage benchmark by default. The disclosures cited in this guide cover medians, acceptance, and tuition but not Maine bar passage rates, so this guide does not state a figure. Request the University of Maine's current first-time and ultimate bar passage numbers directly from the school or its ABA 509 report.

Are there part-time or evening law programs in Maine?

The disclosures cited in this guide do not specify whether the University of Maine offers a part-time or evening program, so this guide does not claim one exists. Program format is an important detail for working applicants, so anyone needing a part-time or evening option in Maine should confirm directly with the University of Maine whether such a track is available for the entering class they are targeting.

Where can you take the LSAT in Maine?

LSAT test centers are available in Maine's major metros, including areas around Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, and Augusta, but the exact centers change each cycle. Check LSAC's official test-center list at lsac.org when you register. Many Maine candidates use the remotely proctored online LSAT to avoid long drives, which is often the most practical option in the state's more rural regions.

Which Maine law schools are splitter friendly?

The University of Maine reads as splitter friendly among law schools in Maine, based on its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure. Its 25th-to-median GPA spread of 0.29 is wide, indicating the school will reach below its GPA midpoint for applicants whose LSAT is strong. If you have a competitive LSAT and a softer GPA, Maine's only law school is a realistic target rather than a long shot.

Do you have to go to law school in Maine to practice there?

No. You do not have to attend law schools in Maine to practice in Maine; graduates of any ABA accredited school may sit the Maine bar. That said, the University of Maine keeps 68% of its class in the state per ABA Class of 2024 data, so the in-state school offers by far the strongest local network. Studying elsewhere is compatible with a Maine career if you plan for it.

Is the University of Maine affordable compared with other law schools?

By national standards, its cost is moderate. The University of Maine's full-time tuition of $26,100 from its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure is reasonable for a law degree, which is a genuine advantage of pursuing law schools in Maine at a public program. Affordability improves further when a strong LSAT earns merit aid. Remember that tuition excludes living costs and may vary by residency, so confirm the full cost of attendance with the school.

How competitive is admission to law school in Maine?

Admission to the University of Maine, the only ABA law school in Maine, is genuinely competitive. Its 2025 ABA 509 disclosure shows a 37.3% acceptance rate and a 158 median LSAT, so a little over a third of applicants are admitted and the target score sits eight points above the scale midpoint. Meeting or beating the median makes you a strong candidate; the wide 0.29 GPA band gives applicants with uneven records a real path.

Sources

Medians, acceptance rates, and tuition for law schools in Maine come from each school's 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosure, published on the ABA Required Disclosures portal at https://www.abarequireddisclosures.org/. Bar exam status for Maine, including its NextGen adoption and July 2028 first administration, comes from the National Conference of Bar Examiners at https://www.ncbex.org/. LSAT test-center information is maintained by LSAC at https://www.lsac.org/.

Plan your Maine application with a data-backed evaluation

Because Maine comes down to one clear target, a focused plan goes a long way. If you want a read on how your LSAT and GPA stack up against the University of Maine's numbers, and a concrete strategy for hitting or beating the 158 median, start here. Get your free Maine law school profile evaluation and turn the data in this guide into a personalized plan for law schools in Maine.