Mission
Parents and Caregivers Attending Law School (PALS) is designed to support parents, future parents, and caregivers navigating the challenging, yet rewarding, journey of law school. Welcoming all types of families, PALS offers peer support, resources, and information to help members balance their academic and caregiving duties. Our organization actively advocates for policies that benefit students that are parents and caregivers. With an emphasis on inclusivity and self-care, PALS organizes events promoting mental and physical well-being while balancing two demanding roles. Join us to connect with a community that understands and supports your unique challenges and triumphs. As we all know, it takes a village to raise a child or care for a family, and even more so while in law school. PALS is honored to be that village. If you’d like more information or to join P.A.L.S, please reach out to our Secretary, Ashley Pattain.
2024–25 Officers
President
Keisha Montgomery Torres
Hello and welcome to PALS! My name is Keisha Montgomery Torres and I am a 3L Blended student from North Alabama. I have two young kids, Freya (5) and Beric (3), that always keep life interesting and help me remember that it’s okay to have fun. Every time I feel like quitting or become overwhelmed, I just picture my children watching me walk across the stage as I graduate from law school. My favorite hobbies are reading, baking, and crocheting, and my favorite animals are alligators and sharks. I have a passion for helping others and plan to become a criminal defense attorney after graduation. I look forward to serving our parent and caregiver students as the PALS President and cannot wait to see what we can accomplish this year!
Vice President/Treasurer
Jonathan Mitchell
Jon worked as a World History teacher and Spanish interpreter for 10 years before starting Law School in the fall of 2023. He is from the Twin Cities, but has lived in Madison, Wisconsin; Merida, Venezuela; and Manizales, Colombia. He loves hiking and camping (especially in the Boundary Waters), running half-marathons, playing piano and guitar, and walking around the lakes with his family. He welcomed his baby boy, Griffin, a few weeks before his 1L Fall finals began and has greatly appreciated the community of parents at Mitchell Hamline. He became a PALS officer to build a stronger sense of community among parents on campus, help parents and expecting parents balance the joys and stresses of law school with their home life, and advocate for parents’ needs to the school administration.
Secretary
Ashley Pattain
Ashley Pattain is a local blended law student entering her final year at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Currently working full-time as a Senior PBM Analyst for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Ashley is making a significant career shift after nearly 20 years in healthcare. Her passion for community service is evident through her roles as a Board Member for Dress for Success Twin Cities and as a Sustainability Commissioner for the City of Minnetonka. In addition to serving as the Secretary for P.A.L.S., Ashley is active in several other student organizations. Her passion for caregiving stems from the joy her son brings to her life, who she describes as “the most amazing kid in the world!” Ashley looks forward to connecting with and advocating for other caregivers in her role with P.A.L.S.