William Mitchell by the numbers
The William Mitchell ADVANTAGE
115
Number of years William Mitchell has been opening the doors of opportunity for students from all walks of life and pioneering practical legal education
9
Number of William Mitchell alumni serving on the Minnesota Court of Appeals (out of 19 judges)
10
Number of Court of Appeals clerkships awarded to Mitchell students in 2014 (out of 25 total)
40
Number of judicial clerkships awarded to Mitchell students in 2014
11
Consecutive years Mitchell’s clinical program has been among the top-ranked in the nation
104
Number of William Mitchell alumni who served as mentors to first-year students in 2014
1
Rank of William Mitchell in a recent survey of more than 1,750 attorneys in Minnesota for “preparedness of graduates”
For 115 years, William Mitchell has built a reputation in Minnesota and across the country as a law school that prepares students from all walks of life to hit the ground running as lawyers and leaders as soon as they graduate. That reputation will grow as William Mitchell joins forces in 2016 with Hamline University School of Law to become Mitchell Hamline School of Law, assuming ABA acquiescence. From day one, our students learn to think and act like lawyers. Our courses teach legal theory and skills. Students don’t just study contract law, they negotiate and write contracts in class. They file motions, negotiate deals, and advocate—all before they’ve completed their first year. Students also have opportunities to develop and hone their skills every year they’re on campus. Many 1Ls volunteer in the community through the Minnesota Justice Foundation and work as research assistants with the Public Health Law Center at William Mitchell. After the first year, every student who wants hands-on, practical experience can participate in our top-ranked clinical program, our externship program, or the legal residency program. Getting out of the classroom and into the field serves our students well. They gain real-world skills and experience. They also connect with our strong, supportive alumni network, which includes more than 12,000 attorneys and business professionals working at law firms large and small, businesses in an array of industries, government agencies, legal aid organizations, and public policy firms. Our alumni like helping Mitchell students succeed, and they work closely with our Career and Professional Development team to provide networking, job-shadowing, and employment opportunities. When you graduate, you’ll have the skills, knowledge, network, and confidence to start practicing law the first day on the job.
That’s the William Mitchell advantage.
Academics Our classes teach theory, practical skills, and professionalism
ENROLLMENT OPTIONS William Mitchell is the only ABA-accredited law school to offer three enrollment options to meet the needs of students from all walks of life:
Only at Mitchell: Deals and Dispute Resolution Innovation and a commitment to practical wisdom are William Mitchell hallmarks, so some of our classes are unlike anything you’ll find at other law schools. Deals and Dispute Resolution is a one-of-a-kind J-Term course that has been called “exhausting but exhilarating.” It’s also been called “the most realistic class” some students have ever taken. Over the course of five days, students work morning, noon, and night doing the work of a transactional lawyer. Under the supervision of 10 professors, they spend a pressure-filled and hectic week working on complex negotiations between two fictional companies.
Traditional Full Time THEORY AND DOCTRINE Courses integrate lectures, reading, and hands-on training. They empower students with the ability to think critically, argue compellingly, write sharply, negotiate successfully, and favorably complete transactions. By the time our students earn their degree, they have the skills, knowledge, professionalism, and experience to feel like confident lawyers. We call it practical wisdom.
SKILLS-BASED CURRICULUM Learning to practice law isn’t entirely about reading casebooks and listening to lectures. At Mitchell, students gain a distinct advantage in their education and professional careers during their first year of law school. All students take Writing and Representation: Advocacy and Problem Solving (WRAP). It features small-group classes designed to help students begin to master fundamental client representation skills such as interviewing clients, writing memos, researching the law, negotiating contracts, settling cases, and arguing motions. In addition, all Mitchell students take a hands-on skills-building Advocacy course that focuses on client representation and advocacy skills in a courtroom setting.
On-campus l 4–5 classes per semester l Classes meet Monday through Friday l
Traditional Part Time On-campus 3–4 classes per semester l First-year classes meet at 6 pm three nights per week (with an occasional fourth night) Monday through Thursday l l
Hybrid Part Time On-campus and online 3–4 classes per semester l Come to campus the first week of the first and third semester, come back to campus the last week of each semester for Capstone Week l l
“Deals and Dispute Resolution is different than a lot of the courses offered at Mitchell or any other law school. It’s a lot more hands-on—you’re thrown into the fire. You do a lot of negotiations, interviewing, and actually writing contracts. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it in the end.” – Nate Snyder ‘15
They prepare late into the night and negotiate during the day. They use their classroom knowledge to write contracts. They use the skills they’ve gained to advocate and negotiate. And by the end of the course, they know what it’s like to be a lawyer in the real world. This intense, skills-building course is something Mitchell has been doing for a long time, and it’s the model for the simulation courses that students who choose the hybrid enrollment option will experience during their on-campus Capstone Weeks.
Practical wisdom
Externship Program William Mitchell offers a variety of externships that allow our students to earn credit outside of the law school by working with practicing attorneys in the community.
Learning by working with real clients on real cases
In the last academic year, 247 students were awarded externships. They worked with public defenders to preserve the rights of the accused. They worked with state and county agencies to shape public policy and protect society’s most vulnerable. And they worked with federal judges to ensure the judicial system is just. Among the partners students have worked with are:
Gaining wisdom through practical, hands-on experience is a hallmark of a William Mitchell education. Our professors were pioneers in developing practical legal education—and they continue to be at the forefront of innovation today. We believe that good lawyers know the law and great lawyers have the ability to put it to work for their clients and communities. Mitchell students gain practical wisdom through our top-ranked clinical program, a robust externship program, a new legal residency program, and skills courses that are highly regarded for their rigor and real-world applications. Robyn Meyer-Thompson ’14 came to William Mitchell to earn a law degree and use it to help people who have traditionally struggled to access the justice system. By the time she graduated, she had already represented 15 clients in the Civil Advocacy and Immigration Law Clinics.
l University of Minnesota Office of Institutional Compliance (Compliance)
“When I am able to directly serve our clients, I am the one who benefits
l Department of Labor & Industry Chief Legal Counsel’s Office (Labor Law)
the most,” she says of her work with the clinics. “My decision to attend
William Mitchell was based on the strong reputation of its clinical program—and it has paid off tremendously. I feel equipped with the practical skills to represent low-income clients in the real world.” – Robyn Meyer-Thompson ‘14
Department of Transportation General Counsel’s Office (Government)
Clinical Program
Under the supervision of full-time professors, more than 200 students a year hone their skills and serve the public by working with clients who might not otherwise have access to legal representation. Students interview clients, write memos and briefs, represent clients in court, and argue cases before judges—all before they graduate. They help secure patents for new inventions, protect Native languages, reunite children with their parents, secure citizenship for new Americans, and help small-business owners connect with legal resources they otherwise could not afford. Their work in our clinics makes a positive difference—in their futures as well as in the lives of their clients. Our last graduating class worked with about 8,000 clients during their time at Mitchell through the Minnesota Justice Foundation, our clinical program, and our externship program.
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Business Law Clinic
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Child Protection Clinic
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Civil Advocacy Clinic
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Community Development Clinic
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Immigration Law Clinic
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Indian Law Clinic
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Intellectual Property Clinic
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Law and Psychiatry Clinic
Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners Clinic Reentry Clinic (helping women being released from prison)
Self-Help Clinic (a student-run, not-for-credit clinic helping people representing themselves in court) l
State Public Defender Post-Conviction Clinic l
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Public Utilities Commission (Government, Compliance)
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Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (Environmental, Public Policy)
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency General Counsel’s Office (Government, Environmental, Compliance)
William Mitchell Clinics
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l Minnesota State Colleges and Universities General Counsel’s Office (Government, Compliance, Employment)
St. Croix County, Wisconsin, District Attorney’s Office (Criminal) l
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Department of Human Services General Counsel’s Office, Appeals and Regulations (Government)
National Labor Relations Board, Regional Counsel’s Office (Public Policy, Labor) l
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Department of Public Safety Internal Affairs (Government)
Department of Veterans Affairs, Regional Counsel’s Office (Government, Compliance, Health Care) l
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Hennepin County Title Examiner Office, Tax Services Contracts and Procurement (Government, Tax)
l U.S. Department of Agriculture (Government, Compliance, Employment)
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Wilson Law Group (Immigration)
The legal residency program gives students in their final year of law school an opportunity for intensive practical training in the field. It is offered for 10–15 credits, which includes a weekly seminar and working 4–5 days per week at a residency placement. The two-credit weekly seminar focuses on development of professional judgment as well as doctrine and skills related to the residency. Residency sites have included:
NCS Pearson Inc. (Trademark) l
Colich & Associates (Criminal) l
Kagan Binder (Intellectual Property) l
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Legal Residency Program
White Bear Lake Area Schools (General Practice)
Minnesota Public Defender’s Office St. Croix County District Attorney’s Office
Jardine, Logan & O’Brien (Litigation) l
Paschal Nwokocha Law Offices (Immigration) l
Family Law Referee–Hennepin County
St. Paul City Attorney’s Office (Civil and Criminal Divisions)
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U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (Government) l
Shepherd Data Services Inc. (E-Discovery and Litigation Management) l
Minneapolis City Attorney’s Office Federal Public Defender’s Office United States Attorney’s Office Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid (Minneapolis and St. Cloud) Central Minnesota Legal Services Waggoner Law Office Colich & Associates
Life at Mitchell
What if you could study Indian law with a “genius-grant” winner who is a tribal court judge?
On campus, in the community
Professor Sarah Deer: MacArthur Fellow brings the real world into the classroom The William Mitchell campus is located on historic Summit Avenue in St. Paul, Minn. Summit features the longest stretch of preserved Victorian architecture in the country—perfect for strolling or biking. One street over is Grand Avenue, a destination for dining, shopping, and living. Mitchell’s campus is just minutes by car or light rail from the downtowns of Minneapolis and St. Paul, which are home to state and federal government offices, top law firms, and 17 Fortune 500 companies—all of which employ William Mitchell graduates in leadership positions. Roughly 3.5 million people call the Twin Cities home, drawn to world-class attractions including teams in all four major professional sports; an extensive network of parks, lakes, and trails; thriving nightlife; and more theater seats per capita than anywhere outside New York City.
The on-campus experience l
Faculty who treat students like colleagues
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A welcoming, collaborative, supportive environment
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More than 65 student groups focused on professional development, political activities, social justice, public service, and recreation
The only law school in the region to receive the “Military Friendly” designation l
Home of the Legal Practice Center, an “on-campus law firm” where students practice law l
Our large, supportive alumni community is a powerhouse in the region, and our alumni help our students by serving as mentors, teaching courses as adjunct professors, and helping them find jobs.
Nationally recognized, accomplished faculty What if you could study criminal law with a professor who currently defends the accused in court? Or Indian law with a tribal court judge who was awarded a MacArthur Foundation “genius grant” in 2014? What if you could study the First Amendment with a professor who used to be a CNN news producer?
At William Mitchell, you can. Our full-time professors don’t just research and teach law—they practice it. They work with Fortune 500 companies, law firms large and small, and government agencies. Their connections to the profession enhance the classroom experience and ensure that you’re learning the skills and knowledge that real lawyers use every day in the real world. That law you’re reading about? A Mitchell professor wrote it. Wondering about the legal defense strategy on a case? Ask the Mitchell professor who tried it. Questioning a legal policy? Work with a Mitchell professor to change it.
Professor Sarah Deer has established herself as one of the nation’s pre-eminent teachers, scholars, and practitioners through her legal work on violent crime on Indian reservations. Named a 2014 MacArthur Fellow for exceptional creativity and a promise for future advances based on a record of significant accomplishment, Deer brings extensive real-world experience to students in her Tribal Law, Criminal Law, and Criminal Procedure classes. A citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma, she is a nationally recognized expert in Native women’s issues. Prior to coming to Mitchell, she worked for the U.S. Department of Justice and the Tribal Law and Policy Institute. In addition to her full-time teaching schedule, Deer is also a tribal appellate court judge with appointments at Prairie Island Indian Court of Appeals and White Earth Nation. She coaches the Native American Law Student Association’s moot court team and has worked tirelessly with Mitchell faculty to create a nationally recognized Indian Law Program. Professor Deer embodies Mitchell’s commitment to practical wisdom, using teaching, scholarship, and service to create a more just society.
Financing your J.D. Scholarships for students from all walks of life A legal education is an investment that requires thoughtful planning—and we are here to help. William Mitchell has a robust financial aid program designed to support our diverse population. Scholarships are renewable and are awarded based upon a variety of factors. Financial Aid Office staff can help you understand your financial options and resources and welcomes your questions.
Contact the William Mitchell Financial Aid Office 651-290-6403 finaid@wmitchell.edu
Learn more about William Mitchell SCHEDULE A PERSONAL VISIT Meet students, professors, and Admissions representatives. Tour campus. Sit in on a class. Envision yourself as a law student here.
JOIN US AT AN INFORMATION SESSION We host several information sessions throughout the year. Come to campus and learn more about how William Mitchell can help you reach your goals.
SCHEDULE A PHONE APPOINTMENT While we love to have visitors on campus, we understand that it is not always possible, and we are available as a resource even if you are unable to meet in person. Speak with an Admissions counselor, current student, or faculty member to learn more about the application process and all that Mitchell has to offer. Phone: 651-290-6476 Email: admissions@wmitchell.edu Web: wmitchell.edu Twitter: @875Summit Facebook: Facebook.com/WilliamMitchellCollegeofLaw
for a degree in
PRACTICAL WISDOM
Office of Admissions 875 Summit Avenue St. Paul, Minnesota 55105 888-962-5529 wmitchell.edu 01360 2015-08