Work directly with students
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Mitchell Hamline Connect
More about Mitchell Hamline Connect
Register:
Register at any timeMitchell Hamline Connect is a great way for alumni to provide quick, one-time help to students. You can sign up to provide informational interviews about your work, answer a question, offer a job shadow, and other low-commitment ways to be a networking resource for students.
Alumni needed: As many as possible! All alumni are welcome to register.
Hours required: You can decide how many students can reach out to you at any one time. You can also suspend your profile if you’re too busy for a month or two.
Time period: Ongoing
Events to attend: None.
More information:
Contact Mara.Pederson@mitchellhamline.edu
651-290-6426 -
Mitchell Hamline Mentors
More about Mitchell Hamline Mentors
Apply:
Application is only available from June-AugustThis program assists first-year students in their transition to law school by pairing two alumni co-mentors and one upper-class student mentor with a group of two first-year students for discussions and advice about how to brief cases for class discussion, how to study for exams, how to maintain a life outside of law school, which classes to take, and anything else the students have questions about.
Alumni needed: Depends on the number of first-year students who sign up, but generally we need about 100-120 alumni who graduated between two to six years ago. Because this is an academic-year program, we solicit volunteers during the summer for the following school year.
Hours required: Varies, but most groups get together three to four times as a group and additionally with individual students. You should expect to devote approximately 2-3 hours/month.
Time period: From September-April (academic year)
Events to attend: 4-6 (September Kick-off event; January Thaw event), plus additional events or meetings organized by each group.
More information:
See Mitchell Hamline Mentors
or contact Sharon.Goodyear @mitchellhamline.edu
651-290-7508 -
Adjunct faculty
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Externship Program
Field Attorney
Apply: Alumni Volunteer Form
An Independent Externship is a for-credit course in which the student takes responsibility for much of his or her own learning by working in field placement sites under the guidance of a field supervisor and faculty supervisor. Placement can be with for-profit or nonprofit entities, such as law firms, corporations, county and state offices, and nonprofit agencies.
Alumni needed: Unlimited
Hours required: Varies by placement.
More information:
See Externship Program on our website
or contact Jean.Backes @MitchellHamline.edu
651-290-6351 -
Job Shadow
Apply: Alumni Volunteer Form
Allow a student to shadow you at work and gain insight into the real-life work day of a practicing attorney.
Alumni needed: 50+ (in specific locations such as St. Cloud, Rochester, and Minneapolis-St. Paul, which may vary from year to year).
Hours required: ½ or full day.
Time period: Fall Break in October or Spring Break in March.
Events to attend: none (student will come to you).
More information:
Contact Sharon.Goodyear @mitchellhamline.edu
651-290-7508 -
Competition Coach
Moot Court, Negotiation, Client Counseling Competitions
Apply: Alumni Volunteer Form
Mitchell Hamline officially participates in 15–20 intraschool, regional, and national moot courts and competitions annually. We occasionally need individuals to take over the coaching duties for a specific moot court or competition. The coaches select and coach the Mitchell teams for the competitions and travel with the teams to regional and national moot courts and competitions.
Alumni needed: Varies by year. Former competitors are the ideal pool or, for subject-specific moot courts, alumni with expertise in that area of law.
Hours required: At least 10–20 hours/week during the moot court’s or competition’s period.
Time period: Competitions and moot courts generally fall into either a fall or spring period. The fall period is typically September–November; the spring period is typically January–March.
Events to attend: Team meetings and practices at least one to three times/week and three to four days out-of-town travel for regional or national competitions.
More information:
Contact Deb.Lange @mitchellhamline.edu
651-290-7673 -
Competition Judge
Apply: Alumni Volunteer Form
Experienced attorneys and judges are needed to act as members of three to five judge panels for various intraschool and regional moot court and lawyering skills competitions hosted by the school. Additionally, if we are hosting a regional appellate moot court competition, we need attorneys and judges willing to read and score moot court briefs.
Alumni needed: Any interested alumni, especially former moot court competitors. Moot courts have a specific case within a specific area of law and this can vary from year to year, so knowledge in the area of law for the current topic is necessary for brief-scoring judges.
Hours required: 4–10 hours
Time period: Generally weekends in October–November and/or February–April.
Events to attend: One or two per calendar year.
More information:
Contact Deb.Lange @mitchellhamline.edu
651-290-7673 -
Informational Interviews
Apply: Alumni Volunteer Form
Allow students or alumni to meet with you and ask questions about your work.
Alumni needed: Varies (depends on student or alumni requests).
Hours required: Varies (but you can determine how much time you have available).
Time period: Varies (depends on student or alumni requests).
Events to attend: None (student or alum will come to you).
More information:
Contact Sharon.Goodyear @mitchellhamline.edu
651-290-7508 -
Mock Interviews
Apply: Alumni Volunteer Form
Provide students with an opportunity to practice their interview skills prior to on-campus interviews and other recruitment programs. Generally, attorneys meet with two to four students individually for 30 minutes each (20 minute mock interview and 10 minutes of feedback).
Alumni needed: 25+
Hours required: 2–3
Time Period: Day and evening September (OCI Preparation); January or Spring Semester (MJF Public Interest Clerkships and MSBA Minority Clerkships).
Events to attend: 1
More information:
Contact Sharon.Goodyear @mitchellhamline.edu
651-290-7508 -
Self-Help (Pro Se) Clinic
Apply: Alumni Volunteer Form
Work with students to provide pro bono legal assistance to patrons in the areas of family law and criminal expungement at Mitchell Hamline’s Self-Help Clinic, which runs Saturday mornings during the fall and spring semesters.
Alumni needed: 25+
Hours required: 2 per month
Time Period: Saturday mornings from 10 am-12 pm
Events to attend: Depends on your availability
More information:
Contact Alison.Morris @mitchellhamline.edu
651-290-6452
Speak at an event
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Career Speaker
Apply: Alumni Volunteer Form
Speak to students about your life as a lawyer in your particular practice area (family law, securities litigation, real estate, “non-traditional”) or practice setting (non-profit, big law firm, solo practice) to help students understand various career opportunities. Alumni needed: Varies
Hours required: 2–3 hours
Time period: Usually scheduled during an afternoon or early evening.
Events to attend: One
More information:
Contact Jessica.Bergman @mitchellhamline.edu
651-290-6460
Serve on a board or committee
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Alumni Association Board of Directors
Apply: Alumni Volunteer Form
Vacant positions on the alumni board are filled through a nomination process that usually occurs January–February annually.
The alumni board serves as a link between the alumni community and the school, providing guidance to the school on issues related to alumni and promoting mutually beneficial connections between the school and its alumni, and among the alumni community.
Alumni needed: Twenty-one alumni serve on the alumni board at a time, but the number of vacant positions varies from year to year, and is generally no more than three to four each year.
Hours required:Varies, depending on role on board (officer or member) and committee assignments, but minimum of approximately 20–30 hours per year.
Time period: Up to three 2-year terms.
Events to attend: Four -five board meetings a year, plus committee meetings and attendance at additional school events.
More information:
See Alumni Board on our website
Contact Alison.Morris @mitchellhamline.edu
651-290-6452 -
Golf Committee
Apply: Alumni Volunteer Form
Help plan and ensure the success of the annual alumni golf tournament by recruiting players, sponsors, and prize donors.
Alumni needed: 12–15
Hours required: 10–15 hours plus afternoon of golf
Time period: February–May
Events to attend: Two to three meetings, plus the golf tournament
More information:
see Golf Tournament on our website
Contact Alison.Morris @mitchellhamline.edu
651-290-6452 -
Tomljanovich Tea for Women in Law Planning Committee
Apply: Alumni Volunteer FormHelp plan the annual Women in Law CLE and Tea.
Alumni needed: 20–30
Hours required: Approximately 6–8 (depends on what committee you serve on and what role you take on)
Time period: January–April
Events to attend: usually one meeting, plus CLE and Tea
More information:
See Women in Law Tea on our website
Contact Alison.Morris @mitchellhamline.edu
651-290-6452
Help with fundraising
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Law Firm Giving Challenge
Team Captain
Apply: Alumni Volunteer Form
Lead efforts in your firm or organization to encourage 100 percent of Mitchell Hamline alumni to give to the Annual Fund. Enter into a friendly competition with others who are also striving to increase their participation rates. Firms and organizations with at least five Mitchell Hamline alumni are welcome to participate in this program.
Alumni needed: At least one captain at each firm/business with 10 or more Mitchell Hamline alumni.
Hours required: Varies
Time period: March–June
Events to attend: None
More information:
See the Law Firm Giving Challenge on our website
or contact Allison.Burke @mitchellhamline.edu
651-695-7608