A senior judge trailblazing a path for women and reform in the legal system, a law firm founder with a passion for serving his alma mater, and associate counsel for the Minnesota Vikings are being honored with this year’s alumni awards from the Mitchell Hamline Alumni Association. They will be celebrated at the upcoming Alumni Awards Reception on February 18.
“Mitchell Hamline’s alumni are incredible forces of change in the legal profession, in their communities, and for our school,” said Allison Burke ’09, Mitchell Hamline’s interim vice president of development and alumni relations. “It is an honor to recognize the dedication and service showcased by this year’s award recipients.”
Senior Judge Leslie Metzen ’79
Senior Judge Leslie Metzen ’79 is being honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes alumni who demonstrate the highest values and ethical standards in achieving professional distinction or lasting contributions to their field of endeavor, including professional accomplishments of a distinctly creative or challenging nature or outstanding leadership within the profession.
“I am honored and humbled by this award. I have always thought I was blessed to work as a woman judge when that was a rarity,” said Metzen.
She was the first female district judge in Dakota County when she was appointed by then-Governor Rudy Perpich in 1986. She went on to be elected to her position in 1988, 1994, 2000, and 2006, and she served as chief judge of the First Judicial District from 1997 to 2001. During her judicial tenure, Metzen served on various groups dedicated to progressing law reform in areas related to domestic violence and juvenile delinquency. Among others, these experiences included being a founding member of the Dakota County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, serving as chair of the Committee to Revise Minnesota Rules for Juvenile Delinquency Proceedings, and being chair of the Conference of Chief Judge. Her dedication to law reform was honored with the 1999 Rosalie Wahl Judicial Award of Excellence from the Minnesota State Bar Association and the 2001 Minnesota District Judges’ Association Annual Award for Improvement of the Judicial System. She worked on the 360 Communities project with Dakota County for two years before going back to work as a part-time senior district judge in 2011.
Jeffry Collins ’21
Jeffry Collins ’21 is being honored with the Outstanding Alumni Award for his generous and varied contributions to Mitchell Hamline and his commitment to bolstering the ties between Mitchell Hamline and the Nevada legal community. The Outstanding Alumni Award is reserved for alumni who have demonstrated significant commitment to the law school.
“This recognition means so much to me, as I am profoundly grateful to Mitchell Hamline for believing in me and for the transformative impact it has had on my life,” Collins said. “To be counted among such distinguished past recipients is both humbling and inspiring. It is my sincere hope to continue sharing knowledge, guidance, and support with new students as they embark on their own journeys through law school.”
Collins’ passion for giving back to Mitchell Hamline is evident through his work on various programs and services. He began working as a Nevada bar mentor for recent graduates in November 2022, and, in a matter of months, he was supervising externships and tutoring for the Nevada bar. He also hosted an alumni and recruitment event to create community bonds for prospective and current students and alumni throughout Nevada. Collins is a frequent pro bono volunteer for Mitchell Hamline’s in person and blended-learning students alike—guiding students through landlord/tenant negotiations in the Capstone program, teaching client interview skills, and assisting in simulations where students prep legislative staffers. He has also been an adjunct professor in criminal law since 2023. In 2024, he founded Collins Law, an innovative law firm focusing on cryptocurrency, securities, trusts and estates, and taxation. He is currently writing a textbook and designing a course on cryptocurrency and securities law. After graduating from Mitchell Hamline, Collins earned his master’s in library and information science from Louisiana State University in 2024 and is working towards his master’s in wealth management at Texas A&M University.
Jeremiah Allison ’20
Jeremiah Allison ’20 is being honored with the Recent Alumni Award, which recognizes alumni who have made significant contributions to their community, Mitchell Hamline, and the legal profession within the first 10 years following graduation.
“This is the first award I’ve received in my few years of practice, and I must say, I’m deeply humbled and incredibly grateful for this recognition,” said Allison. “A quote I often turn to is, ‘Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.’ Always tap into the power you possess.”
Allison currently serves as associate counsel for the Minnesota Vikings, combining his experience as an attorney and former professional football player. His path—which took Allison from childhood in east Los Angeles to being an attorney for a Fortune 500 medical company and professional sports team before he turned 30—inspired him to help create opportunities for Black students and those from underserved communities to explore the legal profession. Since graduating from Mitchell Hamline in 2020, he developed in-depth curricula for students in elementary through high school, which he has taught in 10 schools in inner Los Angeles. He also serves the community through the Allison H.O.P.E. Foundation, which he established in 2019 to support basic needs for single mothers and families. Allison is a mentor to Mitchell Hamline law students and is active in the Minnesota legal community through organizations like Twin Cities Diversity in Practice. Prior to his role with the Minnesota Vikings, he served as a mergers and acquisitions attorney at Medtronic.
This year’s Alumni Award Reception will be on Tuesday, February 18, from 5 to 7 pm in the Mitchell Hamline auditorium. Those interested in attending are invited to register online.
Learn more about the alumni awards.