School of Law

Hamline University, School of Law History

Hamline University School of Law was established in 1972 and is a private institution. The 50-acre campus is in an urban area located between St. Paul and Minneapolis. The primary mission of the law school is to educate students to apply legal knowledge with disciplined imagination, a global perspective, and creative conflict resolution skills. Students have access to federal, state, county, city, and local agencies, courts, correctional facilities, law firms, and legal aid organizations in the St. Paul area. The state capital is minutes away from the campus in St. Paul. Facilities of special interest to law students include an expanded Law Center designed for interaction with a moot court room with state-of-the-art technology. The library addition provides increased study space, and the entire building has wireless Internet access. Housing for students is readily available, both on and off campus. On campus, there is apartment-style housing, as well as dorm space. All law school facilities are accessible to the physically disabled.

Hamline University, School of Law Academics

In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M. Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 12 credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.A.M. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in Management), J.D./M.A.N.M. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management), J.D./M.A.O.L. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership), J.D./M.A.P.A. (Juris Doctor/ Master of Arts in Public Administration), J.D./M.F.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing), and J.D./M.L.I.S. (Juris Doctor/Master of Library and Information Science).

The School of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, international law, juvenile law, labor law, civil dispute resolution, commercial law, government and regulatory affairs, intellectual property, and social justice. In addition, 3- or 4-credit clinics provide upper-level students with practical experience in such areas as child advocacy, immigration law, public interest law, unemployment compensation law, alternative dispute resolution, trial practice, and education law. In seminars, 15 upper-level students per semester engage in an in-depth study of a selected topic for 3 credits. Internships for 3 credits offer upper-level students the opportunity to work with expert practitioners in various types of legal practice. Upper-level students may be research assistants for professors. Credit is given only if research assistance is structured as an independent study. Special lectures are open to the school community and to the public. Credit is not given. Opportunities for study abroad consist of summer programs at the University of Bergen (Norway), University of Rome (Italy), Queen Mary University of London (England), Central European University (Budapest, Hungary), and January term programs at Hebrew University (Jerusalem) and Puerto Rico. The Academic Success Program, which includes help with legal writing and substantive review of courses, is offered to students who need remedial assistance. Offerings include special scholarships and student organizations for minority students coordinated by the Assistant Dean for Student and Multicultural Affairs. A variety of student organizations exists to fit every interest. The most widely taken electives are Corporations, Evidence, and Criminal Procedure.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 88 total credits, of which 33 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law I, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Research and Writing, Property I, and Torts I. Required upper-level courses consist of a legal perspectives course, a seminar course, and Professional Responsibility. The required orientation program for first-year students is 2 to 4 days (part-time/full-time) and consists of an introduction to the school, campus, and legal studies and professional responsibility.

To graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0 and have completed the upper-division writing requirement. Students must take Professional Responsibility, a seminar, and a Legal Perspectives course.

Hamline University, School of Law Unique Programs

Library

The law library contains 149,913 hard-copy volumes and 127,308 microform volume equivalents, and subscribes to 1116 serial publications. Such on-line databases and networks as CALI, CIS Universe, DIALOG, Infotrac, Legal-Trac, LEXIS, LOIS, NEXIS, OCLC First Search, WESTLAW, Wilsonline Indexes, and CD-ROM are available to law students for research. Special library collections include a U.S. government selective depository collection. Recently, the library implemented a computer library expansion and upgrade, CD-ROM facilities, an automated circulation system, new offices, and improved lighting. The ratio of library volumes to faculty is 3748 to 1 and to students is 214 to 1. The ratio of seats in the library to students is 1 to 2.

Special Consideration

The law school recruits minority and disadvantaged students through strategic recruitment, diversity scholarships, and an admissions recruitment program geared specifically for minority students. The school also participates in CLEO. Requirements are not different for out-of-state students. Transfer students must have one year of credit, have attended an ABA-approved law school, and submit a letter of good standing and a transcript from the previous institution. Preadmissions courses consist of a 20-hour Legal Method/Practice class offered as part of orientation.

Hamline University, School of Law Admissions

In the fall 2007 first-year class, 1403 applied, 709 were accepted, and 225 enrolled. Three transfers enrolled. The median GPA of the most recent first-year class was 3.41. The lowest LSAT percentile accepted was 18; the highest was 96.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and take the LSAT. No specific undergraduate courses are required. Candidates are not interviewed.

The application deadline for fall entry is April 1. Applicants should submit an application form, LSAT results, transcripts, a personal statement, and 2 letters of recommendation. Notification of the admissions decision is 2 to 6 weeks after the file is completed. The latest acceptable LSAT test date for fall entry is February. The law school uses the LSDAS.

Hamline University, School of Law Financial Aid

About 90% of current law students receive some form of aid. The average annual amount of aid from all sources combined, including scholarships, loans, and work contracts, is $30,000; maximum, $42,400. Awards are based on need and merit. Required financial statement is the FAFSA. The aid application deadline for fall entry is open. Special funds for minority or disadvantaged students include the equivalent of 8 1/2 full-tuition scholarships. First-year students are notified about their financial aid application at time of acceptance.

Hamline University, School of Law Students

About 52% of the student body are women; 13%, minorities; 3%, African American; 5%, Asian American; 4%, Hispanic; and 1%, Native American. The majority of students come from the Midwest (85%). The average age of entering students is 26; age range is 21 to 49. About 29% of students enter directly from undergraduate school, 10% have a graduate degree, and 65% have worked full-time prior to entering law school. About 4% drop out after the first year for academic or personal reasons; 96% remain to receive a law degree.

Students edit the Hamline Law Review, the Hamline Journal of Public Law and Policy, and the Journal of Law and Religion. There are many moot court competitions, including the National Moot Court, the Frederick Douglass, and the Rich Intellectual Property Competition. Other competitions include Client Counseling and Negotiation. Law student organizations, local chapters of national organizations, and campus organizations include the Student Bar Association, Women’s Legal Caucus, Multicultural Law Students Association, Delta Theta Phi, Phi Alpha Delta, ABA Law School Division, Minnesota Justice Foundation, International Society, and Center for International Students.

The law school operates on a traditional semester basis. Courses for full-time students are offered both day and evening and must be completed within 5 years. For part-time students, courses are offered on weekends, and must be completed within 6 years. New full- and part-time students are admitted in the fall. There is an 8-week summer session. Transferable summer courses are offered.