CLAB creates the Ainsworth Memorial Award for Legal Innovation and Impact
We are saddened to share the passing of Louis Ainsworth, whose vision and generosity were instrumental in founding the Center for Law and Business at Mitchell Hamline School of Law.
The Ainsworth Memorial Award for Legal Innovation and Impact honors the legacy of Louis Ainsworth ’77, a treasured member of the Mitchell Hamline community whose vision and generosity helped shape the school’s identity as a leader in legal innovation. Ainsworth was passionate about the transformative power of legal education and believed deeply in the ability of law to drive meaningful change in society. Through his work as a professor, mentor, trustee, and director of the Center for Law and Business, he championed practical, forward-thinking approaches to legal education and inspired students to think boldly and lead creatively.
The Award recognizes a Mitchell Hamline Law Review Associate whose long paper demonstrates exceptional insight, originality, and potential for real-world impact. The award will be given to one outstanding student long paper completed through the Mitchell Hamline Law Review in either the spring or fall 2025 semester. No separate submissions are required; all eligible papers will be considered.
The winner will receive a $500 cash prize, and the selected paper will be published in the Mitchell Hamline Law Review. The recipient will be chosen by members of the Law Review Editorial Board.
Embrace the changing practice of law and become a leader in law and business
The Center for Law and Business (C-LAB) is more than just a hub for students headed into traditional corporate law. It’s a launchpad for anyone exploring how law connects to leadership, entrepreneurship, or systemic change. Whether you’re planning to join a firm, grow a nonprofit, manage a business, work in community economic development, or launch something entirely your own, C-LAB is here to support your vision.Our students come from all walks of life: career-changers, first-gen professionals, small business owners, nonprofit leaders, and entrepreneurial thinkers who see a JD as a tool to amplify the work they’re already doing—or the work they want to lead. C-LAB serves students interested not only in business law, but also in compliance, consulting, health law, legal operations, innovation, public interest finance, and community economic development—locally, nationally, and globally.
We offer events and programming throughout the year that are open to all students, regardless of certificate track. From panels on corporate board management and social enterprises, to workshops on financial literacy and legal tech, our goal is to spark ideas and build skills across the full spectrum of business and law.
C-LAB also takes students beyond the classroom—and beyond U.S. borders. Our study abroad programs in places like London and Kosovo allow students (and alumni!) to meet with lawyers, judges, entrepreneurs, and policy leaders while learning about health care systems, financial infrastructure, or economic development in the face of transitional justice issues—in different national contexts.
Students who work more closely with C-LAB through the certificate program receive personalized advising from faculty as well as professionals in the field—including alumni and other leaders—who bring deep, real-world experience across a range of legal-business careers. They help guide students toward both established and emerging opportunities.
At its core, C-LAB is about creating space for interdisciplinary thinking, diverse pathways, and practical preparation. In a world where the lines between legal, business, and civic leadership are increasingly blurred, we prepare students to lead with creativity, agility, and integrity—wherever their path takes them.
The Law and Business Certificate
Mitchell Hamline’s Law and Business Certificate helps students shape a legal education that supports a wide range of goals—from corporate practice and compliance to entrepreneurship, management, policy, and economic development. It also serves students interested in nonprofits and social enterprises, from sophisticated nonprofit finance to community-based real estate development. These opportunities span locally, nationally, and even internationally through our study abroad programs and clinical offerings—supported by customized coursework, advising, and real-world experience.
Law and Business CertificatePursue a joint-degree program with Hamline University
Students interested in combining legal training with business, leadership, and management skills may want to consider the dual J.D./M.B.A. program, offered in partnership with Hamline University’s School of Business. This program allows students to efficiently earn both degrees—saving time, tuition, and expanding their career opportunities across law, business, and nonprofit sectors. To learn more about how the program works, credit requirements, scheduling flexibility, and how it connects to the Law and Business Certificate, visit the FAQ page.
Study law, transitional justice, and economic development in Kosovo this summer
Spend a summer with us studying law, business, and transitional justice in Kosovo at the University of Pristina. Explore economic development, legal reform, and post-conflict reconstruction alongside attorneys, judges, and entrepreneurs from across the region and beyond.
International Comparative Law (Kosovo)
Study law and business in London this summer
Spend a summer with us studying law and business in London at Greenwich University. Gain access to an international community of attorneys working in law and business.
International Comparative Law (London)
London image by E. Dichtl from Pixabay