Date post: | 01-Apr-2016 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | william-mitchell-college-of-law |
View: | 231 times |
Download: | 2 times |
A Law School for the Real World.
William mitchell iN
52 WORDS
That’s William Mitchell College of Law.
That’s practical wisdom.
ONe Of the tOp-RaNkeD cliNical pROgRamS iN the cOuNtRy.
A leader in teaching theory and practical, real-world skills. Robust
externship and mentoring programs. Faculty who teach, study, and
practice. A large, engaged, supportive alumni base. A commitment
to community service. Innovative enrollment options.
For 114 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. 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 new 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 11,000 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 from William Mitchell, 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.
The William Mitchell aDvaNtage
Number of years William mitchell has been opening the doors of opportunity for students from all walks of life and pioneering practical legal education
Number of William mitchell alumni serving on the minnesota court of appeals (out of 17 judges)
Number of court of appeals clerkships awarded to mitchell students in 2013 (out of 25 total)
Number of judicial clerkships awarded to mitchell students in 2013
Rank of William mitchell’s clinical program among the region’s law schools(u.S. News & World Report)
Number of William mitchell alumni who served as mentors to first-year students in 2013
Rank of William mitchell in a recent survey of 1,500 practicing attorneys in minnesota for “preparedness of graduates”
William mitchell by the numbers
114
9
13
43
1
1
116
Theory and practice: from day one, our classes teach theory, practical skills, and professionalism
Academics
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:
Traditional Full Time l On-campus l 4–5 classes per semester l Classes meet Monday through Friday
Traditional Part Time l On campus l 3–4 classes per semester l Classes meet at 6 pm three nights per week (with an occasional fourth night) Monday through Thursday
Hybrid Part Time l On-campus and online l 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
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: Advice and Persuasion (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.
“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, 3L
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.
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 in the Business Law Clinic and the Center for Law and Business 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 wisdomLearning by working with real clients on real cases
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 on the forefront of innovation today.
We believe that good lawyers know the law, 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 J.D. 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.
William mitchell clinics l Business Law Clinic
l Child Protection Clinic l Civil Advocacy Clinic
l Community Development Clinic
l Criminal Appeals Clinic
l Immigration Law Clinic
l Indian Law Clinic
l Intellectual Property Clinic
l Law and Psychiatry Clinic
l Legal Planning Clinic for Tax-Exempt Organizations
and Low Income Clients
l Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners Clinic
l Misdemeanor Clinic
l Reentry Clinic (helping women being released from prison)
l Self-Help Clinic (a student-run, not-for-credit clinic helping
people representing themselves in court)
l Veterans Law Clinic (a student- run, not-for-credit clinic serving military veterans)
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 8,000 clients during their
time at Mitchell through the Minnesota Justice Foundation, our
clinical program, and our externship program.
The William Mitchell Clinical Program
“When I am able to directly serve our clients, I am the one who benefits 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.”
l University of Minnesota Office of Institutional Compliance
(Compliance) l Department of Labor & Industry Chief Legal Counsel’s Office
(Labor Law) l Department of Transportation General Counsel’s Office
(Government) l Department of Public Safety Internal Affairs
(Government) l Department of Human Services General Counsel’s Office, Appeals & Regulations
(Government) l Public Utilities Commission
(Government, Compliance) l Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy
(Environmental, Public Policy) l Minnesota Pollution Control Agency General Counsel’s Office
(Government, Environmental, Compliance) l Minnesota State Colleges and Universities General Counsel’s Office
(Government, Compliance, Employment) l Hennepin County Title Examiner Office, Tax Services Contracts and Procurement
(Government, Tax) l United States Department of Agriculture
(Government, Compliance, Employment)
l Department of Veteran’s Affairs, Regional Counsel’s Office
(Government, Compliance, Health Care) l National Labor Relations Board, Regional Counsel’s Office
(Public Policy, Labor) l St. Croix County, Wisconsin, District Attorney’s Office
(Criminal) l Wilson Law Group
(Immigration) l NCS Pearson, Inc.
(Trademark) l Colich & Associates
(Criminal) l Kagan Binder
(Intellectual Property) l White Bear Lake Area Schools
(General Practice) l Jardine, Logan & O’Brien
(Litigation) l Paschal Nwokocha Law Offices (Immigration) l St. Paul City Attorney’s Office
(Civil & Criminal Divisions) l U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(Government) l Shepherd Data Services, Inc.
(E-Discovery & Litigation Management)
the William mitchell exteRNShip pROgRamWilliam 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. iN 2013, 300 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:
The William Mitchell legal residency programStudents in the legal residency program get to experience
the best of in-classroom and in-the-field education. They
participate in a three-credit seminar taught by a professor
with expertise in the area of law in which the student will
be working as a legal resident. Together, the students and
professors focus on developing lawyering skills such as
counseling clients and preparing for and appearing in court.
Students then venture into the real world to work at least three
full days each week at their residency sites, which have included:
minnesota public Defender’s Office
St. croix county District attorney’s Office
family law Referee–hennepin county
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
The William Mitchell campus is located in the Summit Avenue neighborhood in St. Paul, Minn. We’re located just minutes from the downtowns of Minneapolis and
St. Paul, which are home to state and federal government offices, top
law firms, and 18 Fortune 500 companies—all of which employ William
Mitchell graduates in leadership positions.
Because William Mitchell is an independent law school, our students
have the advantage of fully dedicated student services staff, financial
aid office, and a career and professional development team that is made
up of people with J.D.s who understand what it takes to land the right
job after graduation.
Our sole focus is the success of our students, and we take great pride
in helping students from all walks of life achieve their individual goals.
The William Mitchell on-campus experience
l Faculty who treat students like
colleagues
l A welcoming, collaborative,
supportive environment
l More than 65 student groups
focused on professional
development, political activities,
social justice, public service,
and recreation l 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
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.
William MitchellOn campus and in the community
From the bench and bar to the classroom: 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? 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.
In addition to teaching a slate of criminal law classes full time at Mitchell,
Sampsell-Jones is of counsel at the San Francisco law firm Riordan & Horgan,
one of the nation’s leading criminal appellate firms, working for high-
profile defendants such as Bonds and Phil Spector. He also volunteers for
Minnesota’s Appellate Defender’s Office, representing indigent defendants
appealing convictions for crimes ranging from simple assaults to murder.
“Practicing law makes me a better teacher,” he says. “It gives me a better
understanding of how the courts work, a better understanding of legal issues.
I can bring it all back to the classroom and show students how cases are being
prosecuted in the world.”
When Mitchell Professor ted
Sampsell-Jones teaches Evidence,
he has his students evaluate the
prosecution’s evidence from the Barry
Bonds case. In his Sentencing class,
his students write a memo from the
perspective of a Minnesota public
defender. It’s real-world work that
Sampsell-Jones knows personally.
PROFESSOR TED SAMPSELL-JONES: Bringing the Courtroom to the Classroom
See for Yourself
ScheDule a peRSONal viSitMeet students, professors, and Admissions representatives.
Tour campus. Sit in on a class. Envision yourself as a student
at William Mitchell.
JOiN uS at aN iNfORmatiON SeSSiONWe host several information sessions throughout the year.
Come to campus and learn more about how William Mitchell
can help you reach your goals.
learn more about William mitchell college of law 651–290–6476
wmitchell.edu
@875Summit
facebook.com/Williammitchellcollegeoflaw
Scholarships for students from all walks of life William Mitchell has a robust scholarship program designed for students from all walks of life. Scholarships are awarded based upon a variety of factors and range in value from 15 percent of tuition to 100 percent of tuition.
of students who entered last year received scholarship assistance100%
contact the William mitchell financial aid Office
A legal education is an investment that requires thoughtful planning—and we are here to help.
Financial Aid Office staff can help you understand your financial options and resources and welcomes your questions.
for a degree in
PRACTICAL WISDOM
Office of Admissions
875 Summit AvenueSt. Paul, Minnesota 55105
888-962-5529wmitchell.edu
01263 2014-06