Visiting Professor of Law
Steve Aggergaard is an attorney and legal educator with significant experience in civil litigation, appellate law, legal ethics, and legal writing. For 12 years, he was a shareholder and associate attorney at Minneapolis law firms. Professor Aggergaard clerked for Hon. Paul A. Magnuson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota and Hon. Sam Hanson of the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Before becoming a lawyer, Steve was an editor and reporter at newspapers including the Saint Paul Pioneer Press. He has combined his law and journalism careers in several ways, most recently as a consultant who provides neutral fact-gathering investigations and reports for a Minnesota workplace-investigations firm.
Professor Aggergaard holds specialized interest in constitutional law, the First Amendment in particular. His most-recent law-review article is “The Question of Speech on Private Campuses and the Answer Nobody Wants to Hear.” More generally, he has written on legal topics for the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press, been a source for publications ranging from City Pages to the People’s Daily of China, and appeared on air for Minnesota Public Radio, FOX 9, WCCO-AM, and KFAI-AM.
An avid long-distance runner, Professor Aggergaard is the author of “The Law of Running: A Runner’s Guide to Legal Rights.”
Education
J.D., William Mitchell College of Law
M.S.J., Northwestern University
B.A., Augsburg College
Experience
Mitchell Hamline School of Law: visiting assistant professor, 2020–; instructor, 2017–20
Augsburg College: adjunct instructor, English department
University of Wisconsin-River Falls: adjunct instructor, department of journalism
Bassford Remele: shareholder and associate attorney
Rider Bennet: associate attorney
Judicial clerkships
U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, Hon. Paul A. Magnuson
Minnesota Supreme Court, Hon. Sam Hanson
Legal journals
Minnesota State Bar Association Publications Committee (2004–)
Editor-in-Chief, William Mitchell Law Review (2003–04)
Journalism experience
Saint Paul Pioneer Press
Duluth News Tribune
Fort Dodge (Iowa) Messenger
Bar admission
Minnesota
Wisconsin (inactive)
Pro bono
Minnesota Board of Public Defense, Appellate Office
Hennepin County Conciliation Court
Volunteer Lawyers Network
Chrysalis Center for Women
Student Press Law Center
Leadership and service
Chorus member, VocalEssence
Chorus representative, VocalEssence Board of Directors (two-year term)
Rose Ensemble Board of Directors
Memberships
Association of Legal Writing Directors
Legal Writing Institute
Association of American Law Schools sections on Legal Writing and Professional Responsibility
Awards and recognition
Minnesota “Super Lawyer” (2015–17) and “Rising Star” (2014)
Elmer Wiblishauser Award for Best Article, Bench & Bar of Minnesota (2015)
