Services

Our team of experienced attorneys and educators work with students in a one-on-one or group setting to provide instruction on a variety of skills such as critical reading, case briefing, legal analysis, IRAC, outlining, time management, and exam preparation.  Tutors work with students both on campus and online, and tailor their teaching approach to each student’s individual needs.  Our tutors are available and ready to assist students during the day, in the evening, and on the weekends.

The Writing Center is staffed by two Legal Writing Specialists who advise students on all aspects of legal analysis and writing, including reading and using cases, formulating rules, constructing legal arguments, organizing analysis, and improving basic writing skills. Specialists are available to meet with students both in person (in room 153) and via Zoom.

Any student can request legal writing tutoring on the Academic Excellence webpage:

https://agresso.mitchellhamline.edu/MHSLTutoring/StudentAccess/stuAppForm.aspx

If a student wishes to work with a particular Specialist, they should note that in the comments section of the request form. In addition, students who are on campus can visit the Writing Center during drop-in tutoring hours, which are displayed below, on Canvas in the Lawyering course, and on monitors throughout the law school.

Upcoming drop-in tutoring hours in room 153:

• Monday, Nov. 18, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 5 – 6 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 19, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Students in both the Blended and on campus programs are welcome to use Writing Center services. Lawyering students can sign up for tutoring appointments as instructed by Canvas announcements. Appointments are scheduled for the days before major Lawyering assignments are due.

Guidelines for Academic Excellence Tutoring for Lawyering

If you have questions, contact one of the Legal Writing Specialists: Beth Honetschlager (beth.honetschlager@mitchellhamline.edu) or Mary Trevor (mary.trevor@mitchellhamline.edu)

We offer in-depth workshops throughout the school year to help students with a variety of skills such as critical reading, case briefing, legal analysis, IRAC, outlining, time management, and exam preparation.  During the summer, we offer a substantive and skills workshop series as a supplement to students’ commercial bar review course.  On-demand workshops can be found in the Academic Support Resource Library.

All incoming students in the day and evening programs are assigned to Learning Communities.  Learning Communities meet regularly and are designed to help students navigate the challenges of the first year of law school. Students will work on developing and improving key academic skills such as critical reading, case briefing, legal analysis, IRAC, outlining, time management, and exam preparation.  Students will also work on developing other critical lawyering skills such as professionalism, time management, and stress management.

Learning Communities are led by high-achieving, upper-class students recommended by the faculty who work closely with the Office of Academic Excellence, faculty, Student Services, and the Office of Career and Professional Development to develop exercises designed to improve students’ academic and non-academic skills, and to help students succeed during their first year of law school.