Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Center for Law and Business

Law and Business Certificate

Developing Lawyers, Leaders, and Entrepreneurs-at-Law

The Center for Law and Business Certificate is designed to help students build a legal education that matches their professional goals—whether that means practicing as a corporate attorney, taking on leadership or management roles, working in business operations, or forging a path as an entrepreneur-at-law.

The certificate provides a structured but flexible framework for selecting courses, externships, and experiences that align with each student’s individual career plans. It supports students pursuing both traditional legal careers and interdisciplinary roles that combine law, business, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

Students in the program are paired with faculty advisors, alumni, and professionals who bring real-world expertise across a range of industries. With their guidance, students design a focused plan of study grounded in business law fundamentals, practical experience, leadership development, and career strategy.

The Law and Business Certificate is not just an academic credential—it’s a tool to help students transition intentionally and confidently from law school into the professional world they are aiming to join.

Overview of Certificate Requirements

Students pursuing the Center for Law and Business (C-LAB) Certificate must complete a combination of coursework and practical experiences designed to align with their professional goals. The certificate requires nine credits in foundational courses (including Business Organizations, a transactions-focused course, and either Commercial Law Survey or Income Tax), plus twelve credits of electives.
Elective credits can be selected from a wide range of business-related courses, including offerings through other Mitchell Hamline centers including the Intellectual Property Institute, the Health Law Institute, and the Dispute Resolution Institute. Up to four of the required elective credits may be satisfied through approved practical experiences, such as clinics, externships, or other hands-on opportunities that integrate law and business skills.
Students may organize their electives around suggested career pathways, including:

  • General Business and Small Practice
  • Compliance
  • Data Management and Technology
  • Real Estate Development and Land Use
  • Tax
  • International Economic Development
  • Sport and Entertainment Law
  • Community Development Finance

Following a pathway is optional—students have full flexibility to design a course plan that best fits their specific career interests, whether traditional or interdisciplinary.

In addition to completing coursework and practical experience, students must engage in at least four business-related student activities during law school. Students must also complete the Advanced Research and Writing (ARW) requirement on an approved business law topic. If the ARW paper satisfies the academic expectations of another certificate program as well, a single paper may be used to fulfill the writing requirement for both certificates, provided the topic meets the substantive criteria of each.

To receive the C-LAB certificate, students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA across all certificate coursework.

A full description of eligible courses, pathways, practical experiences, and engagement activities is available in the Certificate Planning Worksheet.

Getting Started with the Law and Business Certificate

The Law and Business Certificate is open to all J.D. students at Mitchell Hamline. By starting the process early in your law school career, you’ll receive personalized advising tailored to your interests, strengths, and professional goals. The process unfolds in several key steps:

Phase 1: Learn and Apply

  • Review Program Materials: Begin by reading through the information on this webpage, including the Certificate Planning Worksheet.
  • Complete the Application Form: If the certificate aligns with your goals, fill out and submit the application form linked here.
  • Schedule Your Intake Meeting: Once you’ve submitted the form, schedule an intake appointment with the Center Director using this Bookings link: Book time with Vu-Dinh, Kim: CLAB Student appointment Please select a date that is at least one week from the time you book, to allow time for review and preparation.

Phase 2: Advising and Mentorship

  • Faculty Advisor Match: After your intake meeting, the Center Director will introduce you via email to a faculty advisor aligned with your interests.
  • Mentor Match: You will also be introduced to a professional mentor—either a Mitchell Hamline alum or a practitioner in your field of interest—who can support your professional development.
  • Bring Your Worksheet: You should bring your completed (or in-progress) Certificate Planning Worksheet to meetings with both your advisor and mentor, as it will guide the conversation and help ensure your plan supports your career goals.
  • Ongoing Check-ins: The frequency and format of future meetings will be decided between you and your advisor/mentor based on your needs and their availability.

Phase 3: Completion and Submission

  • Track Your Progress: Continue using the Certificate Planning Worksheet to record your coursework, practical experience, writing requirement, and student engagement activities.
  • Notify Your Academic Advisor: Students no longer need to submit a Notice of Completion form prior to graduation for courses or externships that count toward the CLAB Certificate. The Registrar’s Office will track students’ progress toward completion of the certificate. However, students are responsible for notifying their academic advisor each time they complete a course or approved externship that satisfies a CLAB Certificate requirement.
    • Example: If a student completes an approved externship that counts toward the CLAB Certificate, the student should notify their academic advisor. The advisor will then ensure the completion is noted and included in the student’s CLAB Certificate progress tracking.
    • Students are encouraged to monitor their progress and communicate regularly with their advisor regarding certificate requirements. If a student has not received confirmation that their CLAB Certificate requirements have been satisfied by one month prior to graduation, they should contact the Registrar’s Office to verify that all eligible credits have been properly recorded.

C-LAB Certificate: Quick Checklist