Mitchell Hamline School of Law

What is the history of Mitchell Hamline School of Law?

Mitchell Hamline School of Law is a private law school in Saint Paul, Minnesota, formed in 2015 through the combination of William Mitchell College of Law and Hamline University School of Law. Its two predecessor schools help explain its present emphasis on professional legal education and options for students who cannot follow a conventional full-time schedule.

William Mitchell's history traces to the Saint Paul College of Law, founded in 1900. Hamline University School of Law opened in the 1970s. The combined school retained the Mitchell Hamline name and established its own identity as a law school rather than an undergraduate college within Hamline University. Around the time of the combination, its hybrid Juris Doctor program became an early example of an American Bar Association-approved JD that combines online instruction with required in-person learning.

What are the faculties and departments at Mitchell Hamline School of Law?

Mitchell Hamline is a specialized law school, not a university divided into undergraduate colleges. Its principal professional credential is the Juris Doctor, offered through scheduling formats that include full-time and more flexible study. Students seeking a bachelor's degree need to look elsewhere before applying for a JD.

Its academic work includes legal research and writing, professional responsibility, and the subjects tested in legal practice and on bar examinations. Clinics, externships, and institutes provide opportunities to focus on areas such as dispute resolution, health law, and public-interest work. The school also offers legal education beyond the JD; applicants to any non-JD program should check that program's current catalog for its credential, prerequisites, and eligibility to practice law. A non-JD legal studies credential does not itself qualify its holder for admission to a state bar.

What is the location of Mitchell Hamline School of Law?

Mitchell Hamline's campus is at 875 Summit Avenue in Saint Paul, Minnesota. This is an urban Twin Cities location near courts, government offices, nonprofit organizations, and legal employers - a practical consideration for students seeking local externships or part-time legal work.

Students should assess travel to the Summit Avenue campus separately from access to the broader Minneapolis-Saint Paul region. Public transit serves Saint Paul, but a particular route's usefulness depends on class times and where a student lives or works. Hybrid and part-time students should also account for required campus visits when comparing schedules and travel costs. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is the region's principal commercial airport.

What is the mission and vision of Mitchell Hamline School of Law?

Mitchell Hamline presents its educational purpose as providing rigorous, practical legal training that is accessible to students with different circumstances and career paths. Its mix of experiential learning and flexible JD formats reflects those stated priorities; whether a particular format meets a student's needs depends on its current attendance and course requirements.

The school is independent and does not have an undergraduate religious curriculum. Its name reflects the histories of its predecessor institutions, including Hamline University, but applicants should evaluate Mitchell Hamline's own policies and programs rather than assume that every Hamline University service applies to law students.