Native American Law and Sovereignty Institute

“The practical skills and knowledge you learn at
Mitchell Hamline will help you in your Indian law practice.
You will be ahead of the curve.”
–Lenor A. Scheffler ’88 (Lower Sioux)
Former Mitchell Hamline Trustee

Specialize in Native American Law

Mitchell Hamline’s Native American Law and Sovereignty (NALS) Institute emphasizes practical legal education.

The Native American Law and Sovereignty Institute is unique as a legal program at the law school. The NALS Institute has dual purposes of furthering legal education in the field of Native American law and of recruiting, supporting, retaining, and graduating Native American law students. Further, we maintain a strong connection to the Indigenous peoples of this region and the sovereign Tribal Nations in Minnesota. Contributing to the strength of the law school in a variety of ways, the Institute is also engaged in highlighting and supporting the cultural and traditional Indigenous legal principles our Native faculty and students bring to the law school.

We will work with you to create a course of study tailored to your specific interests and career goals. You can choose from any of Mitchell Hamline’s enrollment options—study full time, part time, on campus, or partly online. Native Justice Scholarships guarantee that recipients will pay no more than $40,000 for their J.D. (excluding summer and J-Term courses). Pro-rated scholarship amounts are available for summer and J-Term.

Individual guidance to fit your goals

Our program is unique because our professors provide students with a high degree of individual attention. Faculty guide students through a specialized track featuring introductory courses such as Native American Law and Introduction to Tribal Law. Advanced courses cover topics including the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), tribal gaming, treaty rights, and cultural resources. Students can compete in national moot court competitions, and participate in clinics that offer real-world contributions to society and the law.

Courses and Curriculum

Learn from Native American law scholars and practitioners

Our law professors bring a wide range of experiences to the practice of law.

Professor EagleWoman’s experience includes serving as General Counsel to her own Tribal Nation, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, solo practice representing tribal individuals, working in a D.C. and two Oklahoma law firms representing Tribal Nations, and as a Tribal Court Trial Judge and Appellate Justice.

Additionally, the Native American Law and Sovereignty Institute proudly invites a number of notable scholars and practitioners to teach courses during the J-Term and summer sessions. Just this past summer, we had the honor of offering a course on the Indian Child Welfare Act taught by Justice Anne McKeig ’92.

Leadership and Faculty

Connect with us on social media:

The NALS Institute is officially on social media as of Spring 2021. Follow us on Twitter & Instagram for information on upcoming events and other exciting news!