The purpose of the Parents Attending Law School (PALS) organization is:
Parents Attending Law School (PALS) is a support group and student organization open to all students enrolled at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. It is primarily focused on the needs of students with children or future parents. Law school is challenging enough as it is–and for parents, peer-to-peer support is critical to maintaining mental and emotional health and wellbeing. Our goal is to provide academic, emotional, and professional support to students throughout the academic year. In the spirit of community and accessibility, all PALS events will be family friendly.
2023-24 Officers
President
Serena Nguyen
Serena is a 3L, blended student from Las Vegas, NV. She also works full-time in Health Care Compliance and Clinical Quality. She graduated from University of California Davis with the intention of becoming a doctor, only to find that the life wasn’t for her. She then received an MBA emphasizing in Health Care Administration to be an advocate for patients in all healthcare related aspects. Now she is expanding her advocacy role even further by pursing her JD and providing support for multiple student organizations. She has been an officer with PALS since last year, creating a foundation of resources in preparation for the family she is hoping to start soon. She aims to be an advocate, guide, and resource for all PALS members and other students here at Mitchell Hamline.
Vice President/Secretary
Melanie opted for the very scenic route to law school that included a stint at the White House, teaching high school English for a few years, and as an accidental entrepreneur over the last thirteen years in the tech space. She resides with her husband and two incredibly active kids in her native San Antonio, TX. She is in her second term with the VIA Metropolitan Transit Board of Trustees, appointed by Mayor Ron Neurenberg. Melanie has a passion for advocacy, bringing legalese to the masses through plain English and championing POC and the disabled communities. This is her first year serving as a PALS officer, and she’s excited to get parents the tools and resources they need to succeed while also building community.
Treasurer
Lauren Brown
Lauren left a two-decade career as an investigative journalist to attend law school and spend more time with her kids. She has two daughters, one of which she welcomed into the world shortly before taking 1L finals. She resides with her husband outside of Pittsburgh. She served as PALS president during 2022-2023, where she fought to get childcare reimbursement provided and brought pregnancy and parenting concerns to administration. She’s a fierce advocate for pregnancy and parenting during law school and is always available as a listening ear.
Faculty Advisor
Gregory Duhl