As part of its ongoing efforts to grow Maine’s in-demand attorney workforce and increase access to justice, the University of Maine School of Law (Maine Law) has entered into an agreement allowing students at the College of the Atlantic (COA) to begin law school during their senior year.
This new partnership between Maine Law and the College of the Atlantic creates an accelerated pathway for students to earn both an undergraduate degree and a Juris Doctor in just six years while reducing the time and cost of a legal education so they can enter the attorney workforce more quickly and with less debt.
COA is the latest postsecondary institution to join Maine Law’s innovative 3 + 3 program. Maine Law already maintains 3 + 3 agreements with all public universities within the University of Maine System as well as Husson University, St. Joseph’s College, and the University of New England. It also recently entered into a 3+3 agreement with the University of Alaska Fairbanks, as Alaska is the only state in the nation without a traditional, in-person law school.
The program has already helped graduates like Andy Almonte ‘25 build a clear and affordable pathway into the legal profession. A first-generation college student and participant in the 3 + 3 partnership between the University of Southern Maine and Maine Law, Almonte said the accelerated structure helped provide certainty as he navigated higher education for the first time.
The timeline is strict because it is accelerated,” Almonte said. “That meant I knew exactly what I was doing and when, and for someone new to the higher education environment, I found that very helpful.
Almonte entered Maine Law interested in labor law, but through coursework, internships, and mentorship opportunities, he discovered a passion for business and transactional law. After a 2L summer associateship with Choate, Hall & Stewart in Boston, he accepted a position with the firm’s corporate department following graduation.
Students who pursue the 3 + 3 pathway typically engage with their undergraduate academic advisor by the spring of their sophomore year before applying to Maine Law during their junior year, and receive advising support from both institutions.
“Generations of College of the Atlantic students have pursued work at the intersection of law, policy, and the public good. Establishing our first 3+3 partnership creates a clear, accelerated pathway for them, and Maine Law is an ideal partner—their strengths in environmental law, their Oceans and Coastal Law Clinic, and their Refugee and Human Rights Clinic offer excellent opportunities for our students,” says COA Provost Kourtney Collum. “This partnership supports COA students in bringing a human‑ecological perspective into the legal field, where their insights and experiences can make a real difference.”
“This program is about creating opportunity,” said Maine Law President and Dean Leigh Saufley. “The 3 + 3 pathway helps students pursue a legal education in a way that is more affordable, more accessible, and more direct, while still giving them the full Maine Law experience. We are excited to welcome College of the Atlantic students into a program that is already helping talented future lawyers launch meaningful careers in Maine and well beyond.”
Maine Law is experiencing remarkable momentum across every facet of its mission. Applications have increased by more than 80% this admissions cycle—far outpacing the national average—while enrollment continues to be strong. Maine Law remains among the nation’s top law schools, ranked No. 91 overall by U.S. News & World Report, with nationally recognized programs in environmental law and clinical training. Graduates continue to achieve outstanding outcomes, posting a first-time bar passage rate above the national average and strong employment results, including an exceptional number of judicial clerkships. Through its nationally recognized clinical programs, Maine Law students provide nearly 18,000 hours of pro bono legal services annually, representing hundreds of low-income clients and expanding access to justice across Maine.
