Full-time on-campus and part-time evening students began classes Wednesday, Jan. 20, at the newly combined Mitchell Hamline School of Law.
Faculty and staff handed out Mitchell Hamline T-shirts and window stickers as students arrived on campus.
The day came with a proclamation from Gov. Mark Dayton declaring Jan. 20, 2016, Mitchell Hamline School of Law Day in Minnesota.
Mitchell Hamline was formed in December 2015 through the combination of William Mitchell College of Law and Hamline University School of Law.
Wednesday was the last in a series of “first days” for the combined school, which had welcomed J-term, weekend, and Hybrid Program students earlier in January.
Third-year student Evan Shapiro is confident the combination of the schools, and their legal programs, is a positive move.
“It’s good for the future,” Shapiro said. “The programs will help make the school stronger. It seems we took the assets of both schools and combined them to make the best of both worlds.”
Aaron Sagedahl, a 3L, agreed. Sagedahl said the combination puts several well-regarded programs under one roof.
“It’s nice that we have programs from both schools,” Sagedahl said. “I’ve taken advantage of the health law program, and the dispute resolution program … those are good things.”
According to U.S. News & World Report, Mitchell Hamline’s dispute resolution program ranks third in the nation, and its health law program ranks 13th among similar programs.
Sarah Olson, a third-year student, said MHSL combines the missions of its predecessor schools.
“Hamline’s foundation of nonprofit work and volunteering will come through stronger,” Olson said. “In combination with Mitchell’s practicality focus, with consistent assignments that keep you on top of what you would do as an attorney.”
Mitchell Hamline is the largest law school in the region, with approximately 1,000 students and more than 19,000 alumni. It has more enrollment options than any law school in the country, including full-time, part-time evening and weekend programs, and its innovative online/on-campus Hybrid Program.