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Q: What is your name, year, and degree program?
A: My name is Reiko Johnson, and I am a student in the residential J.D. program at UNH Franklin Pierce ½ðÁ«Ö±²¥, expecting to graduate in 2027.  

Q: Where are you from?  
A: I was born in Japan and later lived in both Seattle and Honolulu before eventually settling in New Hampshire. 

Q: What was your background before law school? 
A: My path to law school has been somewhat unconventional. I earned my undergraduate degree in Communications and worked for a year before pursuing a Master of Public Health in Honolulu. After that, I attended medical school and completed a family medicine residency in Seattle. I have now been practicing medicine for over twenty years. 

After the COVID pandemic, I founded a nonprofit free clinic in the Seacoast area to provide care to underserved patients. That experience deepened my interest in addressing systemic issues and social justice, and over time it became clear to me that legal training would allow me to contribute in a broader way. That realization ultimately led me to law school. 

Q: Why UNH Franklin Pierce? 
A: I have three daughters and needed to remain close to home, which made the Concord campus an ideal choice. UNH Franklin Pierce allowed me to pursue a legal education while staying connected to my family and community. 

Q: What is your involvement with the school community? 
A: Most of my involvement on campus has been through Students for Public Interest Law (PILaw), which a group of us helped launch during our first semester of law school. We learned that the school had not had an active public interest student organization for many years, and we were excited to help revive that tradition. 

In addition to PILaw, I serve on the boards of two other student organizations: One Hour Band, a relaxed music group that meets monthly to play together, and HeLPS, a student organization focused on healthcare law and policy. 

Q: What are some projects you’ve worked on lately? 
A: Through PILaw, we have organized fundraisers for local food pantries, hosted social events, and collaborated with other student organizations. One of our favorite events was an end-of-year class celebration we hosted after completing our oral arguments in front of ‘real’ judges – most of the 1L class and some professors joined us for a wonderful experience.  

Working with SBA and WLSA, we also helped establish a student food pantry called Franklin’s Cubbard. The launch event became a lively school-wide fundraiser where eleven professors volunteered to be pied to help raise awareness and support. 

Another PILaw project involved developing a resource website for local immigrants, ImmigrationHelpNH.com, supported by a grant from the UNH Alumni Association. The site launched recently, and we are excited to continue expanding its reach. 

This semester we began partnering with to give students the opportunity to shadow volunteer attorneys at the Landlord–Tenant Clinic on a weekly basis. It has been rewarding to help create opportunities for students to see pro bono legal work in action. 

Q: What has been the biggest impact or takeaway from your law school journey? 
A: One of the most eye-opening experiences for me has been studying healthcare law and realizing how deeply the legal system shapes American healthcare. Major legislation influences everything from insurance coverage to healthcare delivery, yet this legal aspect is rarely discussed in clinical training. Seeing the connection between law and medicine has been one of the most meaningful aspects of my legal education. 

Q: What's your favorite activity outside of school? 
A: Outside of law school, I enjoy exploring local restaurants such as on Main Street and , a small Korean restaurant run by a couple who moved here from Los Angeles. 

In my free time, I enjoy watching Japanese and Korean dramas as a way to relax, connect with family and friends, and I try to train for a half-marathon a few times each year. 

Q: What do you enjoy most about the UNH Franklin Pierce Law experience?  
A: One of the things I appreciate most about UNH Franklin Pierce is the strong sense of community. Law school is busy and demanding — students balance coursework, exams, residencies, internships, and programs like DWS and Law Review — yet there are many opportunities to connect with one another. Events such as Donuts with the Dean, Barrister’s Ball, and student organization events and panels bring students together outside the classroom. I have also appreciated how approachable and supportive the professors, faculty, and staff are. 

UNH Franklin Pierce feels collaborative rather than competitive, and I have valued the relationships I have developed with classmates, professors, and staff members across the school — from Kio at CAA and Seamus at the Jury Box to Hank and Rose in Facilities and the staff at the Rudman Center. My classmates, who are much younger, have been so kind, warm, and inclusive, and have really made my time here incredibly enjoyable.