For more than 150 combined years, Hamline University School of Law and William Mitchell College of Law have left an indelible mark on Minnesota’s legal community.
Graduates of these institutions reached the highest halls of power, litigated the most complex of cases, served our criminal justice system as both accomplished prosecutors and successful defense attorneys, became well-respected judges and scholars, and volunteered countless hours providing legal aid to those in need.
These institutions embraced innovative and flexible approaches to delivering legal education, opening the door to non-traditional law students and broadening the diversity of experience in the legal profession. By maintaining a focus on experiential learning and giving students extensive opportunities to gain real-world experience, they prepared generations of attorneys for the complex and unique challenges that come with a career in the law.
Just as these distinguished institutions helped shape our modern legal community in Minnesota, their respective law reviews—the Hamline Law Review and the William Mitchell Law Review—helped shape our modern legal discourse and scholarly debate. By serving as respected outlets for thoughtful, timely, and challenging articles, these publications helped inform and improve public policy, legal decision-making, and the practice of law in our state.
Now, we turn the page on these storied institutions, while taking time to celebrate their tremendous accomplishments and lasting legacy.
As we celebrate the successes of the past, we also look ahead to a new chapter for Minnesota’s legal community. The founding of Mitchell Hamline School of Law is a step toward the future of legal education in our state, and it will shape how we prepare law students for successful, productive careers, while ensuring we are able to meet society’s needs for legal services.