Director, Legal Writing
Professor of Law
Thomas Cobb is a professor of law and director of Mitchell Hamline’s legal writing program. He clerked for Justice Susan M. Leeson at the Oregon Supreme Court and was an Assistant Attorney General in the Appellate Division at the Oregon Department of Justice. He taught at University of Washington School of Law for 15 years before joining Mitchell Hamline.
Professor Cobb’s graduate studies include literature, rhetoric, and translation theory. He taught and studied in France under an IIE-Fulbright Grant, then received a fellowship to study literature and art history at the University of Chicago.
Professor Cobb’s current research interests include legal rhetoric, statutory interpretation, immigration law, and evidence.
Education
J.D., University of Minnesota
M.A., University of Chicago
M.A., Reed College
B.A., University of Alabama
Experience
Mitchell Hamline School of Law: professor of law, 2019–; director of legal writing, 2019–;
University of Washington School of Law: senior lecturer, 2008–19; lecturer, 2004–08
Oregon Department of Justice: Assistant Attorney General (honors program), Appellate Division, 2003–04
Oregon Supreme Court: judicial law clerk, Justice Susan M. Leeson, 2001–03
Federal Public Defender’s Office, Portland: law clerk, 2000
Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners (LAMP), University of Minnesota Law School: student attorney/student clinic director, 1999–2000
Sprenger & Lang: law clerk, 1999; legal assistant/network administrator, 1997–98
Legal Aid Society, Minneapolis: volunteer law clerk, 1997–98
Memberships
Minnesota Bar (active)
Oregon Bar (inactive)