Assistant Professor of Law
Assistant Professor of Law Eleanor Frisch (they/she) joined Mitchell Hamline in 2025 after more than a decade of experience in complex litigation and appellate advocacy. Frisch is an advocate for disability rights and frequently presents and writes on the topic of disability in the legal profession. They are the current president and part of the inaugural board of the Minnesota Disability Bar Association, which was only the second state-level disability bar association in the country.
Before she joined Mitchell Hamline, Frisch practiced in the federal district and appellate courts representing plaintiffs in class actions and in civil rights, consumer protection, immigration, employment, and employee benefit cases. Their scholarship, teaching, and speaking focuses on disability rights, accessibility in the legal profession, legal writing, and employment discrimination.
Education
J.D., University of Minnesota Law School, 2014
B.A., Trinity University, 2008
Relevant Experience
Mitchell Hamline School of Law: Assistant Professor of Law, 2025–Present
Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll: Of Counsel, 2025; Associate, 2022–24
Apollo Law: Attorney, 2018–22
Wilson Law Group: Associate Attorney, 2018
Nichols Kaster: Associate Attorney, 2015–18
8th Circuit Court of Appeals: Judicial Clerk to Hon. Roger L. Wollman, 2014–15
Boards and Committees
President of the Minnesota Disability Bar Association
Alternative Pathways Implementation Committee (Appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court).
Publications
Deborah Autrey, Lauren Clements, Kaitlyn Dennis and Eleanor Frisch, Navigating Leave for Legal Professionals with Disabilities, HENNEPIN LAWYER (Feb. 27, 2025), https://mnbars.org/?pg=HennepinLawyer&pubAction=viewIssue&pubIssueID=52288&pubIssueItemID=330768.
Michelle Yau & Eleanor Frisch, Congress Must Do More to Bolster ERISA Protections, LAW360 (Sept. 6, 2024), https://www.law360.com/articles/1877046/congress-must-do-more-to-bolster-erisa-protections.
Ann Motl, Brianna Chamberlin, Gordon Knoblach, Eleanor Frisch, & Lauren Clements, Building a More Accessible Bar, MINNESOTA STATE BAR ASSOCIATION (Jan. 30, 2023), https://www.lexblog.com/2023/01/30/building-a-more-accessible-bar/.
Michelle E. Drake & Eleanor Frisch, “The Fair Labor Standards Act,” ch. 2, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, The Complete Employment Lawyer’s Quick Answer Book (May 2017).
Brock Specht & Eleanor Frisch, Circuits Are Split on the Implied Requirement of Ascertainability Under Rule 23, AAJ CLASS ACTION LITIGATION GROUP NEWSLETTER (Summer 2016).
Eleanor Frisch, State Sexual Harassment Definitions and Disaggregation of Sex Discrimination Claims, 98 MINN. L. REV. 1943 (2014).
Steven Smith, David Schlesinger, & Eleanor Frisch, The Canary Sings Again: New Life for the Minnesota Whistleblower Act, BENCH & B. MINN. (Sept. 2013).
Presentations
“Mental Health Issues and Neurodivergence in the Legal Workplace,” Panelist, THIRTY-SIXTH ANNUAL CORPORATE COUNSEL SYMPOSIUM (Nov. 13, 2025).
“Appellate Practice and Procedure: Disability Inclusion in Appellate Practice,” MINNESOTA CLE (June 20, 2025).
“Resilience and Rights: Defending Disability Inclusion Amid DEI Rollbacks,” MINNESOTA WOMEN LAWYERS LUNCH HOUR (June 9, 2025).
“Recent Executive Orders: Navigating Legal Practice Through the Lens of Humanity, Equity, and Inclusion,” Panelist, MINNESOTA STATE BAR ASSOCIATION & TWIN CITIES DIVERSITY IN PRACTICE (Feb. 26, 2025).
“Navigating Leave for Legal Professionals with Disabilities,” Panelist, MINNESOTA STATE BAR ASSOCIATION SIGNATURE PROGRAM (Jan. 29, 2025).
“2024 ERISA Litigation Update,” Presentation, PRACTISING LAW INSTITUTE, Advanced Pension Plan Investments Conference (Nov. 19, 2024).
“Making Courts More Accessible,” Presentation to the Minnesota Supreme Court and Minnesota Court of Appeals Justices, Judges, Law Clerks, and Staff, MINNESOTA JUDICIAL BRANCH (July 26, 2024).
“Disability and Women+ in Law – What You Should Know,” Panelist, HENNEPIN COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION AND RAMSEY COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION SIGNATURE PROGRAM, 2024 Race & Equity Series (May 6, 2024).
“Navigating a Disability Diagnosis in Law School or Practice,” Panelist, MINNESOTA
DISABILITY BAR ASSOCIATION (Nov. 15, 2023).
“Making Your Bar Welcoming for People with Disabilities,” Panelist, ABA COLLABORATIVE BAR LEADERSHIP ACADEMY CONFERENCE (June 26, 2023).
“Out in the Open: Unseen Disability in the Legal Community,” Panel Moderator, FEDERAL
BAR ASSOCIATION, Minnesota Chapter Luncheon Series (Feb. 8, 2023).
